M.T. Vasudevan Nair, celebrated Indian screenwriter, director and novelist, died on Dec. 25 at a hospital in Kozhikode after being admitted for breathing difficulties. He was 91. His contributions to Malayalam-language cinema and literature redefined storytelling in the southern Indian state of Kerala where he was born. Nair’s early exposure to traditional folktales and the […]

Richard Perry, a prominent record producer who helped craft dozens of hits with a polished pop sound throughout the 1970s and ’80s, such as Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain,” died Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 82. His friend Daphna Kastner Keitel told the New York Times he died of cardiac arrest. Perry started out […]

Lenny Borger, who served as Variety‘s Paris correspondent and film reviewer throughout the 1980s and who championed French cinema for decades as a researcher and subtitle expert for numerous films including Jean-Luc Godard’s “Breathless,” died Dec. 23 in Paris. He was 73. Producer Serge Bromberg reported that he died after a long illness. Borger was […]

Shyam Benegal, a pivotal figure in Indian cinema known for his incisive and socially conscious storytelling, died on Monday in Mumbai following a chronic kidney ailment, his daughter confirmed to India Today. He was 90. His career, spanning over five decades, left an indelible mark on the film industry, blending art with activism and bridging […]

Waymond Lee, best known for his role in Comedy Central’s “Workaholics,” has died. He was 72. TMZ was the first to report the news and received confirmation of Waymond Lee’s passing via his wife, Diane Lee, and his sister, Norine Lee. The actor died Dec. 18 after a long battle with ALS, otherwise known as […]

Art Evans, a film and television actor known for his roles in “Die Hard 2” and “Fright Night,” died Dec. 21. He was 82. Evans’ death was confirmed to Variety by publicist Erica Huntzinger. The cause of death was not disclosed, although the obituary noted he “passed away peacefully” while “surrounded by family.” In a […]

Aziza “Z” Barnes, a poet and writer for the FX drama “Snowfall” and Netflix’s “Teenage Bounty Hunters” has died. They were 32. Their family confirmed via a rep that Barnes died of suicide on Dec. 15. No further details were released. “With heavy hearts, we regret to inform you of the passing of an undeniable […]

Victoria Preminger, daughter of director Otto Preminger, died Feb. 7 in Studio City, Calif. following a fall at home. She was 63. Her mother was actress Hope Bryce Preminger and her uncle was film producer Ingo Preminger, the literary agent who represented clients such as Dalton Trumbo and Ring Lardner, who were both blacklisted throughout […]

Zakir Hussain, virtuoso of the tabla instrument and a towering figure in Indian classical music, died on Dec. 15 of chronic lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, at a hospital in San Francisco. He was 73. “His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to […]

Jill Jacobson, a film and television actress known for her work on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and the primetime soap opera “Falcon Crest,” died Dec. 8 in Los Angeles. She was 70 years old. Jacobson’s death was confirmed to Variety by publicist Daniel Harary, a friend of Jacobson’s, who noted the actress died after […]

Children’s Diabetes Foundation founder Barbara Davis and her daughter Dana share the remarkable impact David Foster has made over the past 28 years to bring awareness and financial support to families whose children have type 1 diabetes. Here’s their story: Since 1996, when David Foster joined the Carousel of Hope family as music director, his […]

Carol Goldwasser, a casting director known for her work shaping young talent on shows like “Hannah Montana,” died Dec. 5 at her home in Palm Springs after surgery. She was 67. Goldwasser’s death was confirmed to Variety by her friend, manager Theodore Gekis. Goldwasser worked in Los Angeles and New York for over two decades, […]

Saban Films has promoted its top executive team and extended their deals through 2026, Variety has exclusively learned. Bill Bromiley has been promoted to Vice-Chairman, where he will work on advancing key strategic goals, while Shanan Becker and Jonathan Saba will now serve as Co-Presidents. Becker will focus on the company’s financial and operational functions […]

Martha Luttrell, a talent agent who represented a notable array of directors, actors, writers and musicians, died on Dec. 9 in Calabasas, Calif. She was 80. Luttrell’s death was confirmed to Variety by her friend Holly Goldberg Sloan, with the cause being pancreatic cancer. As a one-time representative for directors Martin Campbell, Paul Weiland, Mick […]

Michael Cole, who played Pete Cochran, one of the three hip young cops on “The Mod Squad,” died Tuesday. He was 84. Cole’s reps said he died “peacefully this morning, surrounded by loved ones, after living a full and vibrant life.” Born on July 3, 1940, in Madison, Wisc., Cole guested on shows like “Gunsmoke” […]

Paul Maslansky, a producer behind films such as “Police Academy” and “Return to Oz,” died on Monday of natural causes at a hospital in Los Robles, Calif. He was 91. Maslansky collaborated frequently with Oscar winner Alan Ladd Jr. Together they worked on “The Russia House,” “Death Line,” “Race With the Devil” and “Damnation Alley.” He […]

Mark Withers, a television actor known for portraying Ted Dinard in the original “Dynasty” series, died Nov. 22. He was 77. Mark Withers’ death was confirmed by his daughter, Jessie Withers. The cause was pancreatic cancer. His daughter remembered him fondly, writing: “He confronted his illness with the same strength and dignity he brought to […]

Thom Christopher, who portrayed the mobster Carlo Hessler in the ABC soap opera “One Life To Live,” died Thursday in New York. He was 84. His longtime friend Steve Bergman confirmed his death with a loving message on Facebook. In it, Bergman explains that Christopher had been unwell for some time. His message read, “Thom […]