News | Entertainment
11 Nov 2024 14:33
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Hollywood production icon Robert Watts has died aged 86

    The passing of the revered movie boss, renowned for collaborating with George Lucas to produce 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones', was announced on Tuesday (01.10.24), with Julian Owen from Alliance Agents confirming his death


    He told The Hollywood Reporter about the British-born production titan's death: "We were with him for a decade taking him to conventions all over the world, where he could connect with fans and talk about his career."

    Robert was said to have died on Monday (30.09.24) in his sleep at his home in East Sussex.

    Along with his work with director Steven Spielberg to produce 'Indiana Jones', Robert worked on pioneering live animation 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit', which came out in 1988, as well as 'An American Tail: Fievel Goes West' three years later.

    He was production supervisor under the production designer John Barry on 'Star Wars', with the pair travelling to Morocco and Tunisia to scout locations, and he went on to do third unit directing.

    He said in a 2011 interview about the experience: "We were under a great deal of pressure from 20thCentury Fox.

    "They were under great financial problems themselves and did not believe in the movie.

    "At the time, we were the only Fox movie then shooting anywhere in the world. "Their eyes were focused on us, and George was under a great deal of pressure. As a result so were we all."

    Robert went on to become associate producer on 'Star Wars' sequel 'The Empire Strikes Back' in 1980, and was co-producer on its follow-up 'Return of the Jedi', which came out three years later. (1983).

    Born in London on 23 May, 1938, Robert's grandfather Walter Meade was a screenwriter whose credits included the iconic movie 'Scott of the Antarctic' starring John Mills.

    He did two years of national service in Nigeria, then got into the film industry working as a runner on the 1960 comedy 'A French Mistress'.

    Robert was a second assistant director on 'The Man in the Middle' and Roman Polanski's 'Repulsion' horror from 1965.

    His other notable production credits included being a location manager on Stanley Kubrick's seminal '2001: A Space Odyssey', as well as on 'Papillon' from 1973, which starred Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.

    © 2024 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     11 Nov: Jamie Oliver was left embarrassed when a diner mistook his guest Oprah Winfrey for Whoopi Goldberg
     11 Nov: China's Taobao trying to crack Taiwan market during Singles' Day shopping festival
     11 Nov: Catherine, Princess of Wales will "hopefully" be well enough to embark on royal tours next year
     11 Nov: Susan Sarandon doesn't think about age or gender when it comes to relationships
     11 Nov: Frankie Muniz insisted he was "OK" after crashing his car in a NASCAR race
     11 Nov: Olivia Colman thinks she'd be a "mess" if she used social media
     11 Nov: King Charles led the UK in two minutes of silence at the National Service of Remembrance on Sunday (10.11.24)
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Some selection food for thought for All Blacks coach Scott Robertson ahead of the final two tests of the year More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    China's Taobao trying to crack Taiwan market during Singles' Day shopping festival More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Jamie Oliver was left embarrassed when a diner mistook his guest Oprah Winfrey for Whoopi Goldberg 14:32

    Business:
    China's Taobao trying to crack Taiwan market during Singles' Day shopping festival 14:17

    National:
    Firearms law reform: the case for making club membership compulsory for NZ gun owners 14:07

    Politics:
    A huge boost for New Zealanders with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder 14:07

    Entertainment:
    Catherine, Princess of Wales will "hopefully" be well enough to embark on royal tours next year 14:02

    Golf:
    Steve Alker's late career renaissance has bagged him another season-long crown on golf's PGA Champions Tour 13:47

    Health & Safety:
    Health New Zealand Waitemata's care of a man fell short of expected standards - at least four times 13:47

    Entertainment:
    Susan Sarandon doesn't think about age or gender when it comes to relationships 13:32

    Cricket:
    Three Black Caps are set to bolster Wellington ahead of their Plunket Shield title defence 13:27

    International:
    Wallabies coach plays down grand slam dreams despite England victory, Wales defeat 13:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd