Production exec positively impacted the creative, business--and most importantly, the human--sides of the commercialmaking industry
The production community said goodbye far too soon to Dan Duffy, a wonderful friend and colleague who passed away unexpectedly due to complications from surgery on April 28 at the age of 57. Duffy was one of the industry’s most accomplished veteran production executives, known for his grace under pressure, sharp wit, innate ability to connect people and unfaltering work ethic. But perhaps even more, Duffy was known for his sense of humor, good natured demeanor and positivity no matter how big or small the challenge.
Duffy led a storied career in advertising and was an asset to every company he worked with. He kicked things off at TBWA\Chiat\Day, learning from the likes of long-time agency production department head Richard O’Neill, then quickly moving up the ranks to produce award-winning campaigns for Infiniti and Energizer. He was later recruited by Wieden+Kennedy Portland where he was the original agency producer on the now iconic ESPN “This Is SportsCenter” campaign, producing over 200 commercials, while also turning out many spots at Wieden for Nike. Duffy most recently served as managing director and executive producer at production house Eleanor. This followed a remarkable tenure at Hungry Man which he joined in 1998, serving as a founding member of the Los Angeles office and executive producer for nearly 25 years. Duffy managed and contributed to the careers of dozens of commercial directors, consistently discovering new talent and igniting potential in existing directors. He was part of projects that won many of advertising’s most prestigious awards, including a Cannes Palme d’Or, Emmys, DGA Awards, Clios and AICP honors.
Duffy grew up in the Southern California city of Torrance, the youngest of three siblings. He was crazy about the Los Angeles Kings and Broncos (Ford, not Denver). He loved photography, playing soccer, punk rock, good whiskey and crazy hats, in no particular order! He headed north for college, earning a BA in Advertising from San Jose State University’s Journalism Department. Dan’s career quickly hit the fast track, but he still found time to court a young Oregonian in Los Angeles, going all out helping her move to San Francisco their first month dating. Duffy married that girl–his loving wife and partner Sonja–in 1997. They had a beautiful life and two children who Duffy loved to the moon and back. He is survived by Sonja, their daughter, Bridget, 21, an English major studying at the University of Washington, and their son AJ, 18, who graduates in June from El Segundo High School, Class of 2024. He is also survived by his mother Joann, 87, brother Michael, 62, sister Julie, 60, five nephews and two nieces, fondly referred to as his “nibblings.”
Duffy was a life-long animal lover and advocate. He had many family pets throughout the years, including Pokie the Tortoise who now lives with his cousin Chris. He also leaves behind his beloved dog Mr. T and Luna the cat.
Rest in peace, Duffy.
In lieu of sending flowers, the Duffy family would appreciate any friends wishing to make a donation in Dan’s memory do so for Stand-Up To Cancer.
James Earl Jones, Lauded Actor and Voice of Darth Vader, Dies At 93
James Earl Jones, who overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen — eventually lending his deep, commanding voice to CNN, "The Lion King" and Darth Vader — has died. He was 93.
His agent, Barry McPherson, confirmed Jones died Monday morning at home in New York's Hudson Valley region. The cause was not immediately clear.
The pioneering Jones, who was one of the first African American actors in a continuing role on a daytime drama and worked deep into his 80s, won two Emmys, a Golden Globe, two Tony Awards, a Grammy, the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors and was given an honorary Oscar and a special Tony for lifetime achievement. In 2022, a Broadway theater was renamed in his honor.
He cut an elegant figure late in life, with a wry sense of humor and a ferocious work habit. In 2015, he arrived at rehearsals for a Broadway run of "The Gin Game" having already memorized the play and with notebooks filled with comments from the creative team. He said he was always in service of the work.
"The need to storytell has always been with us," he told The Associated Press then. "I think it first happened around campfires when the man came home and told his family he got the bear, the bear didn't get him."
Jones created such memorable film roles as the reclusive writer coaxed back into the spotlight in "Field of Dreams," the boxer Jack Johnson in the stage and screen hit "The Great White Hope," the writer Alex Haley in "Roots: The Next Generation" and a South African minister in "Cry, the Beloved Country."
He was also a sought-after voice actor, expressing the villainy of Darth Vader ("No, I am your father," commonly misremembered as "Luke, I am your father"), as... Read More