Richard Zanuck, legendary Hollywood producer, has died of an apparent heart attack at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 77 years old, husband of Lili Fini Zanuck and brilliant son of famed Hollywood film titan Darrly F. Zanuck.
The younger Zanuck was given scripts to read by his father at an early age and spent his summers working for his dad at 20th Century Fox. In later years, during the filming of the costly "Cleopatra" (with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton) the studio business was facing an economic downturn. The elder Zanuck asked his son who to pick to run the studio? Richard answered, "Me!". And Richard got the job.
Artistic clashes between the father and son ensued and apparently the two did not speak for several years. Eventually the two came together and made peace. Richard is probably best known as Producer of "Jaws" and "Driving Miss Daisy" which he co-produced with David Brown and Lili Fini Zanuck. His film credits are too numerous to list.
How tragic to have lost Andy Griffith, Ernest Borgnine and Richard Zanuck in the recent past. Zanuck is survived by his wife Lili, sons Dean and Harrison and daughters Virginia and Janet.
