Lynda Obst, a seasoned movie producer whose work ranged from the Oscar winners “Flashdance” and “Interstellar” to the romantic comedy classics “Sleepless in Seattle” and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” has died. He was 74 years outdated.
Obst died Tuesday morning in Los Angeles, her son, producer and supervisor Oliver Obst, confirmed to the Times. The reason for loss of life was not revealed. “She was certainly one of a form,” Oliver Obst mentioned.
“My mom was a pioneer and a fierce advocate for ladies. She was additionally a tremendous mom, sister and finest buddy,” he added in an announcement to the Times. “(My spouse) Julie and I are extremely grateful that she was my mom and that my daughters have been in a position to have her as a grandmother. We will miss her deeply. ”.
Lynda Obst’s brother, Rick Rosen, a high TV agent at William Morris Endeavor, informed the Times on Tuesday that his sister was a power of nature.
“We have been so pleased with her and what she was in a position to accomplish when it was so troublesome for ladies within the movie business,” Rosen mentioned. “She paved the best way for ladies within the business. He fought his manner ahead.”
He added: “She was so captivated with her work and her artwork. But greater than something, household was extra necessary. She was so pleased with her son, Oly, and her granddaughters. Family was every part to her.”
Lynda Obst died months after revealing to the Hollywood Reporter February who had been dwelling for years with power obstructive pulmonary illness, COPD. “Spanish for ‘I fucked my lungs,’” he joked magazine on the time, as he mirrored on his storied profession and detailed his varied therapies.
“I’m previous the purpose the place there may be an official remedy, so I am going to the restrict and research every part. I’m a science geek, and now’s the proper time to do it,” she informed THR. “I’ll do two extra therapies and see if it helps. I imagine in dedication.”
Obst’s producing profession might be traced again to the early Eighties, when she obtained her first credit score as an affiliate producer on Adrian Lyne’s “Flashdance.” The movie earned a number of Oscar nominations and received the unique tune award in 1984 for Irene Cara’s infectious “Flashdance…What a Feeling.”
The subsequent few years had extra Oscar winners and contenders in retailer for Obst, who would go on to supply “The Fisher King” with Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges and ultimately assist deliver “This Is My Life” and “Sleepless In” of her buddy Nora Ephron. Seattle” on the display screen.
Released in 1993, “Sleepless in Seattle” starred Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan as long-distance love pursuits and earned two Oscar nominations, for authentic screenplay and authentic tune. While romantic comedies — together with “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” “Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging” and “One Fine Day” — have been robust entries on Obst’s resume, he additionally utilized his expertise to thrillers and science fiction. movies together with “Contact,” “The Siege” and, most notably, Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning “Interstellar,” launched in 2014.
Obst, certainly one of Hollywood’s most distinguished feminine producers, defined on the Golden Globes in a 2022 interview as a result of he thinks ladies are good producers.
“I believe ladies are extraordinarily nurturing as a result of we’re moms,” she mentioned, emphasizing ladies’s independence, multitasking expertise and compassion.
Lynda Rosen Obst was born on April 14, 1950. She grew up in Harrison, New York, and graduated from Pomona College in Claremont, the place she studied philosophy. He had additionally studied at Columbia University.
Before turning to producing, Obst had labored as a journalist, serving as an editor on the New York Times Magazine.
After transferring to Los Angeles together with her then-husband, Obst started her profession in Hollywood at Casablanca Records and FilmWorks, in keeping with THR, the place she drew on her information of the publishing world to amplify writers, together with co-writing ” Flashdance” Tom Hedley. She additionally labored with the Geffen Co. underneath David Geffen earlier than beginning her solo producing profession within the late Eighties. website said.
Obst’s movie credit additionally embody “Adventures in Babysitting,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hope Floats” and “Someone Like You.” In current years, she has served as an government producer on TV collection together with “Helix,” “Hot in Cleveland,” “Good Girls Revolt” and “The Hot Zone.”
Also an Emmy-nominated producer, she channeled her Hollywood experiences into the books “Hello, He Lied” and “Sleepless in Hollywood.”
Months earlier than his loss of life whereas battling COPD, Obst mentioned that “being inventive provides me power.”
He informed THR: “I’d be bored out of my thoughts if I wasn’t working, and I’m nonetheless doing a very good job.”
Times author Meg James contributed to this report.
