By Robert Goldrich

LOS ANGELES --

Executive producer Craig Rodgers, who had a hand in developing the careers of assorted directors and served as a mentor to many throughout the industry, passed away on Feb. 16 due to complications from an automobile accident. He was 52.

Rodgers had been home recuperating after the accident, which took place several days prior, when he experienced trouble breathing. He died shortly thereafter. According to an informed source, an autopsy found that the impact of the car accident caused what had initially been undetected heart damage to Rodgers, resulting in a heart attack.

Rodgers’ sudden passing shocked the many in the industry whose lives were touched by him. Several colleagues of Rodgers declined to be interviewed, explaining that they were too saddened to speak publicly about their friend.

SHOOT, though, connected with a few who reminisced. “It’s hard for me to talk about,” said Don Block, a principal in GARTNER, who first met Rodgers back in the late 1980s at now former production house GLG. Block, talking to SHOOT via phone from a shoot in Seattle, recalled that when Rodgers first came to GLG, he brought a director into the company fold. “I didn’t know Craig at all back then–but Craig being Craig, he made himself known. From that point on, Craig started coming in every day. I hadn’t hired him. I wasn’t paying him. But it didn’t take long for me to find out what a real talent Craig was. We hired him and we were together for about 12 or 13 years. He was instrumental in building GLG and a number of the operating companies we had at the time. He helped develop business, was a great recruiter, great in sales. He was a great executive producer, taking on the role fully when he went on to run Straw Dogs, which we started. Craig was simply one of the most talented people I’ve ever run into in this business. On the road with him, you’d stop in a corner shop in New York or a hotel in Paris, and everybody knew him and loved him.”

Block and Rodgers reunited professionally last year when Rodgers joined GARTNER, bringing director David Cornell with him. “He was the same old Craig and it was a pleasure working together again,” related Block. The reunion, though, lasted but six months as Rodgers looked to move beyond commercialmaking into feature films. “He was my best friend over the years. I will never forget him,” affirmed Block.

Rodgers was on his way to realizing those alluded to feature film aspirations. He had most recently begun working with David Zander, president of MJZ, on some feature projects.

Chris Messiter, executive producer at MacGuffin Films, was a close friend of Rodgers for 24 years. “He was a larger than life character, the most positive guy you’re ever going to meet,” said Messiter of Rodgers. “He never wasted time being angry with anybody. He lived life to the fullest. He was a successful businessman–he and Jesse [Dylan] were successful partners at Straw Dogs and then at Form. But more importantly, Craig was a great friend. We spoke many times a day, dating back to when he was at GLG and I was at [sister company] GARTNER. He was an impactful guy with a big heart, a very wonderful, unique gentleman who will be sorely missed by a lot of people.”

Producer, director and creative consultant Ken Yagoda, perhaps best known for his earlier tenure as director of broadcast production at Y&R New York, related,  “I am proud that I could call Craig Rodgers my friend…and I know that he could call me his friend too. That maniacal laugh of his has been ringing in my mind….His heart was so big and so full of life and love. I think that all who knew him had some ‘Crazy Craig’ story that caused an eye roll and an ‘Oh my God’ to it. Craig was unique.. He reminded me of absolutely no one. He was unpredictable and wasn’t so good at telling time but he had an enormous capacity for loving life. He was a big noisy lug who could squeeze you with joy until you felt like your guts would explode. I wanted to tell a story about Craig, but there isn’t enough room on this page. It seems almost impossible to imagine that I won’t see him again.  But, that laugh lingers on. I hope it echoes in my mind and in the minds of all those who loved the big lug. My friend, the unforgettable Craig.”

Rossi Cannon, executive producer/partner at Tate USA, worked with Rodgers for eight years at Form as a sr. exec producer. She said of Rodgers’ passing, “Craig wouldn’t want anyone feeling sad. He didn’t live life like that. He lived life enjoying each moment.  When you shine like Craig did, you can’t last forever. He was such a force of nature. While he was at home after the accident, even though he had sustained major injuries, Craig was still working, emailing. He lived his life to the fullest until the very end. He loved every moment. He was an inspiration to me. Craig would want us all to celebrate our moments together. He brought a smile and laughs to people.”

Cannon is helping to organize a get together celebrating Rodgers’ life. “He wouldn’t want to call it a memorial but a celebration,” she observed. The celebration–open to all who care to pay their respects and reminisce–is slated for this coming Saturday, March 3, starting at 2:30 pm at Tate USA’s Santa Monica quarters.

Rodgers is survived by his wife, parents and a twin brother.

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