Goldwyn Jr was part of one of Hollywood’s major dynasties
Samuel Goldwyn Jr, a champion of independent film and son to one of the founding fathers of Hollywood cinema, has died aged 88.
Among his achievements, he was credited with giving Julia Roberts her big break in the 1988 comedy-drama, Mystic Pizza.
A confessed Anglophile, he financed and produced many British films including The Madness of King George, Truly Madly Deeply and Kenneth Branagh’s Henry V.
He died from congestive heart failure, his son told the Los Angeles Times.
“The independent film business really began with Sam in the late 70s,” said Tom Rothman, head of Sony’s TriStar pictures.
“People forget how many filmmakers broke through because of him,” he told Deadline Hollywood.
“There was Kenneth Branagh, Anthony Minghella, Ang Lee, David Lynch and John Sayles. Sam was a dose of class in a rough and tumble business.”
Coming-of-age drama Mystic Pizza gave Julia Roberts (right) her first major role
Goldwyn Jr was born on 7 September, 1926 and grew up as a self-confessed “Hollywood brat” in Los Angeles.
His father, a Polish immigrant, was one of the founders of Paramount Studios and the “G” in MGM. His mother was actress Frances Howard.
After attending the University of Virginia and serving in the Army, Goldwyn Jr worked as a theatrical producer in London.
While in the UK, he took a job working for J Arthur Rank, earning his first film credit as associate producer on the crime thriller Good-Time Girl – which was Diana Dors’ first film.
Goldwyn Jr attended his first Oscar ceremony aged 11 and worked in editing rooms during school holidays
After returning to Hollywood, he launched his production company Formosa Productions. His first film, the Robert …read more
Source:: BBC Entertainment
