Paul Pumpian obit

Film, TV Producer Paul Pompian Dies at 72

 He was not on the list.

Award winning motion picture and television producer Paul Pompian, best known for films including “The Watcher,” “Swimming Upstream,” “Waste Land,” Truman Capote’s “Children on Their Birthdays,” “Resurrection,” “The Stepford Children,” “Time Served,” “Guests of the Emperor,” “The Preppie Murder,” “Fatal Deception: The Marina Oswald Story,” “Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story” and “Joshua,” died of leukemia on January 1 at the City of Hope in Duarte, Calif. He was 72.

Pompian produced more than 50 film and TV productions, working first with Roger Corman’s New World Pictures beginning in 1971, and then with MGM, Universal Pictures, Lionsgate, AEG, and his own production company.

At the time of his death, Pompian had several projects in various stages of development, including “Operation Family Secrets” based on his Random House book co-authored by Keith and Kent Zimmerman. He was also in pre-production on “Short Cut Man” written by Preston Sturges Jr. and to be directed by Neil Tardio, and “Odd Man Out,” based on the New York Times bestselling book by Matt McCarthy. He was also developing projects with comedian Tom Dreesen and actor William Shatner.

His most recent film, “Waste Land,” written and directed by Rebekah Chaney and starring Chaney and Ryan O’Neal, was the winner of the 2007 Boston Film Festival for best actress and director. In 2005 Pompian produced “Swimming Upstream,” starring Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis, which was nominated for five Australian Academy Awards and released to critical acclaim by MGM/UA.

From September 2000 until July 2004 Pompian was executive vice president of Philip Anschutz’s AEG/Crusader Bristol Bay Entertainment.

In 2001 Mr. Pompian produced “Joshua,” based on the bestselling novel and starring Tony Goldwyn, F. Murray Abraham and Giancarlo Gianinni and served as executive producer on “Children on Their Birthdays,” based on the Truman Capote short story. Artisan/Lionsgate released both films. In 1999, Pompian produced the Universal Pictures release “The Watcher,” starring Keanu Reeves, James Spader and Marisa Tomei.

Pompian had extensive experience with co-productions throughout the world, including Eastern and Western Europe, Russia, the Czech Republic, Germany, France, the U.K.. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Africa and the Middle East. He was an early proponent for filming in tax incentive locales and produced throughout North America, Latin and Central America and Asia.

Born in Chicago, Pompian graduated from Loyola U. in Chicago and the New College School of Law in San Francisco. After serving in the U.S. Army (378th Chemical Combat Support) in Berlin, Germany and 5th U.S. Army Headquarters, Pompian returned to Chicago to work for the late Mayor Richard J. Daley at the Chicago Committee on Criminal Justice. Later, he wrote, produced and directed documentaries, commercials and industrial films in Chicago. In 1971 Pompian moved to Los Angeles and worked with Roger Corman at New World Pictures.

He was a member of the Directors Guild of America, Producers Guild of America, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Television Academy of Arts & Sciences and the Screen Actors Guild.  He had been a guest lecturer and visiting instructor at Loyola U., U. of Alberta Film and Television Institute, USC School of Cinema, Yale U. School of Drama and numerous filmmaker conferences and festivals.

Pompian received awards including the Christopher (for achieved artistic excellence in films affirming the highest values of the human spirit), the Venice Palm and an Emmy.

He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Polly. A public memorial honoring Pompian’s life and career will be held in the near future in Los Angeles. Donations may be made to the City of Hope.

Writer

Jeff Fahey, Bo Hopkins, and Catherine Oxenberg in Time Served (1999)

Time Served

3.8

TV Movie

Writer (as Paul Pompian)

1999

 

Foofur (1986)

Foofur

5.9

TV Series

written by (segment "You Dirty Rat")

1986

1 episode

 

The Flintstone Comedy Show (1980)

The Flintstone Comedy Show

6.5

TV Series

story

1980

1 episode

 

Jeff Altman, Keiko Masuda, and Mie in Pink Lady (1980)

Pink Lady

4.2

TV Series

writer

1980

6 episodes

 

Lucy Moves to NBC (1980)

Lucy Moves to NBC

7.0

TV Movie

Writer (as Paul Pompian)

1980

 

Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond in Donny and Marie (1975)

Donny and Marie

6.2

TV Series

written by

1977–1979

5 episodes

 

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jack Klugman (1978)

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jack Klugman

7.9

TV Special

Writer

1978

 

Shake, Rattle and Roll (1977)

Shake, Rattle and Roll

6.8

TV Series

writer

1977

13 episodes

 

Blast-Off Buzzard (1977)

Blast-Off Buzzard

5.3

TV Series

writer

1977

13 episodes

 

C B Bears (1977)

C B Bears

5.7

TV Series

writer

1977

13 episodes

 

Undercover Elephant (1977)

Undercover Elephant

6.2

TV Series

writer

1977

13 episodes

 

Posse Impossible (1977)

Posse Impossible

6.3

TV Series

writer

1977

13 episodes

 

Scooby's Laff-A Lympics (1977)

Scooby's Laff-A Lympics

7.3

TV Series

story (1978)

1977–1979

 

Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular

TV Special

written by (as Paul Pumpkin)

1976

 

Chesty Anderson U.S. Navy (1976)

Chesty Anderson U.S. Navy

4.1

story and screenplay (as Paul Pompian)

1976

 

Joys! (1976)

Joys!

6.7

TV Special

Writer (as Paul Pompian)

1976

 

Actor

Liberty (1986)

Liberty

5.6

TV Movie

1st Businessman (as Paul Pompian)

1986

 

Shattered Spirits (1986)

Shattered Spirits

6.0

TV Movie

Salesman (as Paul Pompian)

1986

 

Chesty Anderson U.S. Navy (1976)

Chesty Anderson U.S. Navy

4.1

Dr. Cheech's Assistant (as Paul Pompian)

1976

 

Street Girls (1975)

Street Girls

4.3

Irv (as Paul Pompian)

1975

 

Producer

Velocity

7.9

producer (as Paul Pompian)

2007

 

Waste Land (2007)

Waste Land

7.0

Short

producer (as Paul Pompian)

2007

 

Swimming Upstream (2003)

Swimming Upstream

7.0

producer (as Paul Pompian)

2003

 

Tom Arnold, Christopher McDonald, Sheryl Lee, Joe Pichler, Jesse Plemons, and Tania Raymonde in Children on Their Birthdays (2002)

Children on Their Birthdays

6.3

executive producer (as Paul Pompian)

2002

 

Joshua (2002)

Joshua

6.6

producer (as Paul Pompian)

2002

 

The Watcher (2000)

The Watcher

5.3

executive producer (as Paul Pompian)

2000

 

Jeff Fahey, Bo Hopkins, and Catherine Oxenberg in Time Served (1999)

Time Served

3.8

TV Movie

executive producer (as Paul Pompian)

1999

 

Christopher Lambert in Resurrection (1999)

Resurrection

6.1

executive producer (as Paul Pompian)

1999

 

Christopher Lambert in Gideon (1998)

Gideon

6.5

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1998

 

Linda Evans, Lisa Hartman, James Farentino, Bruce Greenwood, and Cliff Robertson in Dazzle (1995)

Dazzle

5.9

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1995

 

Dolph Lundgren and Maruschka Detmers in Hidden Assassin (1995)

Hidden Assassin

5.1

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1995

 

The Wyatts

TV Movie

producer

1994

 

Helena Bonham Carter and Frank Whaley in Fatal Deception: Mrs. Lee Harvey Oswald (1993)

Fatal Deception: Mrs. Lee Harvey Oswald

5.7

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1993

 

Silent Cries (1993)

Silent Cries

6.2

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1993

 

Patrick Duffy and Lynda Carter in Daddy (1991)

Daddy

5.7

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1991

 

Joanna Cassidy and Marcy Walker in Bar Girls (1990)

Bar Girls

5.2

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1990

 

Dangerous Passion (1990)

Dangerous Passion

4.4

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1990

 

The Preppie Murder (1989)

The Preppie Murder

5.4

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1989

 

Fatal Judgement (1988)

Fatal Judgement

6.4

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1988

 

Weekend War (1988)

Weekend War

6.1

TV Movie

executive producer

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1988

 

Once a Hero (1987)

Once a Hero

7.0

TV Series

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1987

1 episode

 

The Stepford Children (1987)

The Stepford Children

5.0

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1987

 

Liberty (1986)

Liberty

5.6

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1986

 

Convicted (1986)

Convicted

6.3

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1986

 

Shattered Spirits (1986)

Shattered Spirits

6.0

TV Movie

executive producer (as Paul Pompian)

1986

 

Silent Witness (1985)

Silent Witness

6.2

TV Movie

supervising producer (as Paul Pompian)

1985

 

Deadly Messages (1985)

Deadly Messages

6.0

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1985

 

Robert Mitchum and Virginia Madsen in The Hearst and Davies Affair (1985)

The Hearst and Davies Affair

5.6

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1985

 

Through Naked Eyes (1983)

Through Naked Eyes

5.7

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1983

 

I Want to Live (1983)

I Want to Live

6.6

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1983

 

Hear No Evil (1982)

Hear No Evil

5.7

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1982

 

Jamie Lee Curtis, Robert Reed, and Bruce Weitz in Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story (1981)

Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story

5.6

TV Movie

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1981

 

The $1.98 Beauty Show

7.1

TV Series

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1978

78 episodes

 

Chesty Anderson U.S. Navy (1976)

Chesty Anderson U.S. Navy

4.1

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1976

 

Street Girls (1975)

Street Girls

4.3

producer (as Paul Pompian)

1975

 

Production Manager

Waste Land (2007)

Waste Land

7.0

Short

production manager (as Paul Pompian)

2007

 

Swimming Upstream (2003)

Swimming Upstream

7.0

unit production manager (as Paul Pompian)

2003

 

Joshua (2002)

Joshua

6.6

unit production manager (as Paul Pompian)

2002

 

The Watcher (2000)

The Watcher

5.3

unit production manager (as Paul Pompian)

2000

 

Christopher Lambert in Resurrection (1999)

Resurrection

6.1

production manager: USA (as Paul Pompian)

1999

 

Christopher Lambert in Gideon (1998)

Gideon

6.5

production manager (as Paul Pompian)

1998

 

Second Unit or Assistant Director

Christopher Lambert in Resurrection (1999)

Resurrection

6.1

second unit director: Chicago (as Paul Pompian)

1999

 

Self

Lunch

Short

Self (as Paul Pompian)

2007