Mace Neufeld, producer of ‘The Omen’ and the Jack Ryan spy franchise, dies
He was not on the list.
Producer Mace Neufeld, whose credits over his nearly 50-year Hollywood career included hits such as “The Omen,” “The Hunt for Red October” and “The Equalizer,” has died at his home in Beverly Hills.
Neufeld died peacefully in his sleep Friday morning, according to his wife, Diane Conn. He was 93.
A prolific producer with old-school Hollywood charm and a Renaissance-man résumé, Neufeld had a knack for identifying properties that would connect with a wide audience, regardless of genre. But he found some of his greatest successes with thrillers, shepherding to the big screen five films featuring author Tom Clancy’s CIA analyst Jack Ryan, including “Patriot Games,” “Clear and Present Danger” and “The Sum of All Fears,” as well as 1987’s “No Way Out,” with Kevin Costner, and 2014’s “The Equalizer,” starring Denzel Washington.
“I was blessed to have the privilege to work with Mace on several of his films, including the Jack Ryan series,” former Paramount Pictures chief Sherry Lansing said. “Mace was an extraordinary producer, and the films he made will live on forever.”
The son of a New York stockbroker, Neufeld studied 17th century metaphysical poetry at Yale before making a sharp turn toward the entertainment business. After working as a songwriter (Sammy Davis Jr. recorded his song “Blues to End the Blues”), Neufeld established himself as a successful talent manager, building a roster of clients including Randy Newman, Don Knotts, Captain & Tennille, The Carpenters and Jim Croce.
After relocating to Los Angeles, Neufeld moved into producing TV and movies in the 1970s, notching a big-screen hit right out of the gate with the 1976 horror film “The Omen.” Centered on a creepy, demonic boy named Damien, the film, which starred Gregory Peck, became one of the highest-grossing blockbusters of that year.
“He was a great risk-taker,” said Neufeld’s son-in-law, screenwriter and producer Trey Callaway. “He mortgaged his house to make ‘The Omen’ and then just never looked back from that.
“But I think the reason people hold him in such high regard is that he always put the project and the artists first. It was never about the deal for him. It was always about, ‘How can I find the best people to help me tell the best story?’ ”
In 1990, Neufeld brought Clancy’s Jack Ryan to the big screen with “The Hunt for Red October,” starring Sean Connery as a Soviet submarine captain seeking to defect with the help of Alec Baldwin’s Ryan. The film grossed more than $200 million worldwide, spawning an enduring franchise that over the years would feature some of Hollywood’s most prominent leading men in the role of Ryan, including Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck and Chris Pine.
“Mace was a showman from another era, a minstrel on a seemingly perpetual search for the next story to share with the world,” said director Phillip Noyce, who helmed two Jack Ryan films, 1992’s “Patriot Games” and 1994’s “Clear and Present Danger” as well as 1997’s “The Saint,” which Neufeld produced.
“Just a few days ago, with his body obviously slowing down due to the weakness of age, he was nevertheless pressing me to take home three books that he planned to adapt into a new film,” Noyce added. “And before I left he broke into song, perfectly reciting the full lyrics of a 1937 hit tune that had captured his imagination as a teenager. “
Indeed, Neufeld continued working late into his life, serving as executive producer on Amazon’s series “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,” with John Krasinski taking on the character.
”You go out and find good material and you stick with it and don’t give up on it,” Neufeld told The Times in 2014. “ I figure I’ll continue doing movies as long as I can tie my own shoelaces.”
Neufeld, who was predeceased by first wife Helen, is survived by his wife, children Bradley, Glenn and Nancy, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Film
Year Film Credit Notes
1976 The Omen Executive producer
1978 Damien: Omen II Executive producer
1979 The Frisco Kid
1981 The Funhouse Executive producer
1985 The Aviator
Transylvania 6-5000
1987 No Way Out Executive producer
1989 The Punisher Associate producer
Uncredited
1990 The Hunt for Red October
1991 Flight of the Intruder
Stone Cold
Uncredited
Necessary Roughness
1992 Patriot Games
1994 Beverly Hills Cop III
Clear and Present Danger
1997 The Saint
1998 Blind Faith Executive producer
Lost in Space Executive producer
Black Dog Executive producer
1999 The General's Daughter
2000 Bless the Child
2002 The Sum of All Fears
2003 Gods and Generals Executive producer
2005 Asylum
Sahara
2009 Invictus
2012 Zambezia Executive producer
2014 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
The Equalizer
2018 The Equalizer 2
As an actor
Year Film Role
2002 The Sum of All Fears WHCA Dinner Chairman
Thanks
Year Film Role
2015 Jasmine Special thanks
2017 Heart, Baby
Television
Year Title Credit Notes
1975 The Owl and the Pussycat Television film
1977–78 Quark Co-executive producerExecutive producer
1980 Angel on My Shoulder Executive producer Television film
1981 East of Eden Executive producer
American Dream Executive producer
1985 A Death in California Executive producer
1991 White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd Co-executive producer Television film
Omen IV: The Awakening Executive producer Television film
1992 Lightning Force Executive producer
1996 Gridlock Executive producer Television film
Woman Undone Executive producer Television film
For the Future: The Irvine Fertility Scandal Executive producer Television film
1998 Escape: Human Cargo Executive producer Television film
2001 Love and Treason Executive producer Television film
2018–19 Jack Ryan Executive producer
TBA Outrider Executive producer
As writer
Year Title Notes
1960–61 Laugh Line Devised by
As an actor
Year Title Role
1968 Get Smart Herbert
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