Legendary Hollywood film executive and indie film producer David Matalon, a longtime co-founder and former president of TriStar Pictures, head of Regency Enterprises and EVP at Columbia Pictures International, died of natural causes at his Beverly Hills home at the age of 82 on Tuesday, December 2. The news was confirmed by Searchlight Pictures. During his career, he produced numerous iconic movies, including the Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio vehicle What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Hear No Evil starring Marlee Matlin, the Bruce Willis starring Colour of Night and Breaking Up, which starred Russell Crowe and Salma Hayek.
Tom Rothman, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures' Motion Picture Group, who worked alongside David during his time with Regency, paid tribute to the icon. "Anyone who had the privilege, as I did for many years, of working with David in the trenches of the film business knew they could always count on his strength, wisdom, integrity and guts. He was a rare breed of the old school and will be greatly missed. I extend my deepest condolences to his family in this hard time," he said in a statement.
Another former colleague, Dory Benami, said he had shaped th eir professional life as they remembered David in a lengthy Facebook post. "I worked for him at New Regency, and those years shaped my professional life. I arrived without a clear sense of where I fit in the business. Regency and David helped give me direction.
"David worked in a very direct way. He asked hard questions. He expected you to know your material and to stand behind your decisions. It pushed you to sharpen your thinking and operate at a higher level. That was his way of teaching.
"...He was also a character in the best sense. He was the one person on the Fox lot who managed to get approval for a smoking office. It fit him perfectly. It was the only place in Hollywood where you were encouraged to light up.
"...David Matalon left a mark on the industry and on the people who worked under him. I am grateful for the role he played in my professional development. May his memory be a blessing."
Another friend paid tribute writing: "I am so sad to hear this. He was such a kind, wonderful and inspiring man! May he rest in peace and his legacy will live on!"
David's career began at Columbia Pictures International, where he rose through the ranks to become Executive Vice President. He departed that role to co-found TriStar Pictures, where he also served as president of the company.
He exited there to run Regency Enterprises, where he remained as CEO from 1995 to 2008. After leaving Regency, he established his own production company on the Fox lot. His final credit was as executive producer on writer-director Guy Moshe's 2010 martial arts film Bunraku, starring Josh Hartnett and Woody Harrelson.
He is survived by his daughters, Michelle and Shirlee; his brothers, Roy and Amnon; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
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