News | Entertainment
11 Nov 2024 13:03
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: 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)
     11 Nov: Kelly Reilly's success "hasn't happened overnight"
     11 Nov: Susan Sarandon thinks the world needs to rediscover the attitude of the 60s
     11 Nov: Pamela Anderson is "grateful" for all the troubles she's experienced in her life
     11 Nov: Olivia Rodrigo's family believe her success was written in the stars
     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
    Good news for Kiwi dairy farmers, and more could be on the way More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Frankie Muniz insisted he was "OK" after crashing his car in a NASCAR race 13:02

    Cricket:
    Black Caps quick bowler Lockie Ferguson snared a rare hat-trick but still feels he let his team mates down in the series-levelling T20 against Sri Lanka in Dambulla 12:57

    Entertainment:
    Olivia Colman thinks she'd be a "mess" if she used social media 12:32

    Golf:
    Golfer Steve Alker is poised to win the season-long title on the PGA Champions Tour for a second time 12:27

    Business:
    Good news for Kiwi dairy farmers, and more could be on the way 12:07

    Entertainment:
    King Charles led the UK in two minutes of silence at the National Service of Remembrance on Sunday (10.11.24) 12:02

    Business:
    Disappointment over the timing of proposed job cuts at Sistema's Auckland plant 11:57

    Entertainment:
    Kelly Reilly's success "hasn't happened overnight" 11:32

    Tennis:
    Taylor Fritz has started the ATP tennis finals in Turin with a straight-sets victory over Daniil Medvedev 11:27

    Politics:
    Why the German government collapsed and what to expect now 11:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd