John Daly, the British-born producer of 13 Oscar-winning movies including “Platoon” and “The Last Emperor” who helped launch the careers of many A-list directors and actors, has died. He was 71.
Daly, who was chairman of Film and Music Entertainment Inc., died Friday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after struggling with cancer, said his daughter, Jenny Daly.
Over a career that spanned four decades, Daly helped to produce films that earned 13 Oscars for Best Picture and 21 Oscar nominations, as well as numerous Golden Globes and other awards.
Daly’s companies boosted the career starts of seminal directors such as Oliver Stone (“Platoon,” ”Salvador”), Bernardo Bertolucci (“The Last Emperor”) and Robert Altman (“Images”), as well as actors Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves and Julia Roberts.
“John was truly a giant in the industry who changed filmmaking for the better,” said Lawrence Lotman, chief financial officer and acting chief executive officer of Film and Music Entertainment Inc., in a statement.
Born in London, Daly joined with British actor David Hemmings in 1967 to form Hemdale, a company that managed rock bands such as Yes and Black Sabbath.
Hemdale later became a leading independent film producer and distributor in Great Britain with movies such as “Tommy,” according to a biography issued by Film and Music Entertainment Inc.
Under Daly’s stewardship, Hemdale produced more than 100 films that grossed more than $1.5 billion.
Since 2003, Daly had been at the helm of Film and Music Entertainment Inc. In 2004, he produced, co-wrote and directed “The Aryan Couple,” starring Martin Landau, which received awards at film festivals around the world.
He is survived by three sons, Michael, Julian and Timothy, and one daughter.
Where The Buffalo Roam Signs Director Geordie Stephens For Spots and Branded Content
Production company Where The Buffalo Roam (WTBR) has signed director Geordie Stephens for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. Stephens is known for his subtle performance-driven comedic style, emphasizing art direction, production design, and cinematography. Previously represented by Tool of North America, Bullitt and FANCY, Stephens has a commercial portfolio which includes such global brands as Mini Cooper, HP, Toyota, Bud Light, and Burger King. A former agency creative, Stephens transitioned to the director’s chair following a lengthy career on the agency side as a creative at Butler, Shine & Stern and CP+B Miami, among other shops.
PJ Koll, WTBR co-founder and executive producer, said of Stephens, “His expertise and talent perfectly complement our creative strengths, enhancing our ability to deliver at the highest level. We feel incredibly fortunate to have him join the herd.”
“When I met Tim [WTBR exec producer Pries] and PJ, we immediately hit it off,” added Stephens. “They’re super sharp, funny, and good people who have assembled a very interesting mix of talent with different skills. As a director, I’m always looking for simple human truths that everyone can relate to in a humorous and smart way. The Buffalo team specializes in the small wink, so they get my sense of humor and will give me the platform to keep pushing great work forward.”
During his advertising career, Stephens spearheaded campaigns for IKEA, Truth, Virgin Atlantic, Burger King, Sprite, and Volkswagen. His work also won top prizes at the Cannes Lions and Clios and has been honored by numerous One Show and AICP awards.
Raised in an artistic community in California’s Marin County by his writer-mother and... Read More