LOS ANGELES — Brad Grey, one of Hollywood’s most prolific producers and a former Paramount Studios chief, has died of cancer, it was reported today. He was 59.
Grey died Sunday night at his home in Holmby Hills, surrounded by his family, according to the celebrity news website TMZ.com. He stepped down from his post as Chairman/CEO of Paramount a few months ago after serving for 12 years.
Grey co-founded Plan B Entertainment with Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston and served as executive producer of several landmark TV shows and films, such as “The Sopranos,” “The Larry Sanders Show,” “The Departed,” “Happy Gilmore” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
“Brad Grey loved show business and devoted his entire professional career to bringing compelling stories, poignant images and memorable entertainers to audiences who loved them,” Grey’s family said in a statement published in the Los Angeles Times.
Grey was hired by former Viacom CEO Tom Freston to run Paramount Pictures in 2005, replacing Sherry Lansing. Grey led the acquisition of DreamWorks SKG, the studio created by Steven Spielberg, David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Grey is survived by his wife, Cassandra Grey; their son Jules; his three grown children, Sam, Max and Emily, from his marriage to Jill Grey; his mother, Barbara Schumsky; his brother, Michael Grey; and his sister, Robin Grey.
There will be a small private funeral service this week, and a memorial service will be scheduled in the coming weeks, the family told The Times.
