Nancy St. John obit

Nancy St. John, VFX Producer on ‘Gladiator,’ Dies at 70

 

She was not on the list.

Veteran visual effects producer Nancy St. John, whose credits include the films “Babe” and “Gladiator” (both of which won VFX Oscar kudos), has died at the age of 70, the Visual Effects Society confirmed.

St. John held a career in VFX and computer animation that spanned more than four decades. She was a former VES executive board committee member who received the distinction of Fellow in 2021.

“Nancy and I served together on the Society’s executive committee, and she passionately represented the worldwide members,” past VES chair Jeffrey A. Okun said in a statement. “She was a vibrant, creative person and a knowledgeable practitioner who helped so many individuals and VFX companies along the way – always generous with her wit and wisdom, but also always aware of the bottom line. She will be sorely missed, and the world is now a little colder because she has moved on.”

St. John’s career in VFX and computer animation included stints at Robert Abel & Associates, Digital Productions, National Center for Supercomputing Applications, Pacific Data Images, Industrial Light & Magic, Rhythm & Hues, Mill Film and Prime Focus. Her credits also includes VFX Oscar-nominated “I, Robot” and a string of films including “Bill & Ted Face the Music, “Ender’s Game,” “Men in Black 3,” “Immortals,” “James and the Giant Peach,” 2016’s “Ghostbusters” and 2012’s “Total Recall.”

Her contributions to the community included terms as both first and second vice chair of the VES board of directors, membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences VFX branch and VFX executive committee, and membership in the Producers Guild.

 

Visual Effects

Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates, and Alfre Woodard in Summer Camp (2024)

Summer Camp

4.4

visual effects producer

2024

 

LaKeith Stanfield in The Changeling (2023)

The Changeling

5.8

TV Series

visual effects producer

2023

1 episode

 

Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx in Strays (2023)

Strays

6.3

visual effects producer

2023

 

Fear of Rain (2021)

Fear of Rain

5.9

visual effects producer

2021

 

Keanu Reeves, William Sadler, Alex Winter, Kristen Schaal, Sharon Gee, Anthony Carrigan, Samara Weaving, Kid Cudi, and Brigette Lundy-Paine in Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)

Bill & Ted Face the Music

5.9

visual effects producer

2020

 

Julianne Moore, Timothy Hutton, Bette Midler, Enid Graham, Olivia Olson, Janelle Monáe, Alicia Vikander, Lulu Wilson, and Ryan Kiera Armstrong in The Glorias (2020)

The Glorias

6.0

visual effects producer (as Nancy St John)

2020

 

Neil Patrick Harris, Malina Pauli Weissman, Louis Hynes, and Presley Smith in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017)

A Series of Unfortunate Events

7.7

TV Series

visual effects producer

2017

8 episodes

 

Leslie Jones, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Chris Hemsworth, and Kristen Wiig in Ghostbusters (2016)

Ghostbusters

6.8

visual effects producer

2016

 

Christian Bale in Out of the Furnace (2013)

Out of the Furnace

6.7

executive visual effects producer: Prime Focus

2013

 

Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, Abigail Breslin, Asa Butterfield, and Hailee Steinfeld in Ender's Game (2013)

Ender's Game

6.6

senior visual effects producer

2013

 

Milla Jovovich in Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)

Resident Evil: Retribution

5.3

visual effects executive producer: Prime Focus Vancouver

2012

 

Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, and Colin Farrell in Total Recall (2012)

Total Recall

6.2

executive producer: Prime Focus

2012

 

Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, and Josh Brolin in Men in Black³ (2012)

Men in Black³

6.8

executive producer: Prime Focus VFX

2012

 

Mickey Rourke, Stephen Dorff, Henry Cavill, Isabel Lucas, Daniel Sharman, Kellan Lutz, Luke Evans, and Freida Pinto in Immortals (2011)

Immortals

6.0

visual effects consultant

2011

 

Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish, Anna Friel, and Johnny Whitworth in Limitless (2011)

Limitless

7.4

senior visual effects producer

2011

 

Nicolas Cage in Season of the Witch (2011)

Season of the Witch

5.4

visual effects producer: additional photography

2011

 

Helen Mirren and Djimon Hounsou in The Tempest (2010)

The Tempest

5.3

visual effects consultant (uncredited)

2010

 

Paul Bettany in Legion (2010)

Legion

5.3

visual effects producer

2010

 

Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Paulson, Scarlett Johansson, Gabriel Macht, and Eva Mendes in The Spirit (2008)

The Spirit

4.7

senior effects producer

2008

 

Julia Roberts and Dominic Scott Kay in Charlotte's Web (2006)

Charlotte's Web

6.3

visual effects consultant

2006

 

Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Cate Blanchett, Bud Cort, Anjelica Huston, Michael Gambon, and Owen Wilson in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

7.2

visual effects producer

2004

 

Will Smith in I, Robot (2004)

I, Robot

7.1

producer: motion capture unit

visual effects consultant

2004

 

And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself (2003)

And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself

6.5

TV Movie

visual effects producer

2003

 

Tim Allen in The Santa Clause 2 (2002)

The Santa Clause 2

5.7

visual effects consultant

2002

 

Susan Sarandon, Alec Baldwin, Jon Lovitz, Tobey Maguire, Joe Pantoliano, Michael Clarke Duncan, Sean Hayes, Glenn Ficarra, Danny Mann, and Billy West in Cats & Dogs (2001)

Cats & Dogs

5.2

production executive: Mill Film Ltd.

2001

 

David Duchovny, Julianne Moore, Seann William Scott, and Orlando Jones in Evolution (2001)

Evolution

6.1

visual effects producer

2001

 

Russell Crowe in Gladiator (2000)

Gladiator

8.5

production executive: Mill Film Ltd.

2000

 

Elizabeth Daily and Danny Mann in Babe: Pig in the City (1998)

Babe: Pig in the City

5.8

production executive: Mill Film Ltd.

1998

 

Will Smith and Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State (1998)

Enemy of the State

7.3

production executive: Mill Film Ltd. (uncredited)

1998

 

Paul Terry in James and the Giant Peach (1996)

James and the Giant Peach

6.7

visual effects producer

1996

 

James Cromwell, Christine Cavanaugh, Charles Bartlett, Jacquie Brennan, Michael Edward-Stevens, Miriam Flynn, Danny Mann, Miriam Margolyes, and Magda Szubanski in Babe (1995)

Babe

6.9

visual effects producer

1995

 

Producer

Keanu Reeves, William Sadler, Alex Winter, Kristen Schaal, Sharon Gee, Anthony Carrigan, Samara Weaving, Kid Cudi, and Brigette Lundy-Paine in Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)

Bill & Ted Face the Music

5.9

second unit producer (as Nancy St John)

2020

 

Jurassic World VR Expedition (2018)

Jurassic World VR Expedition

4.2

Video Game

creative producer

2018

 

Cinema/Vérité (2001)

Cinema/Vérité

7.4

Short

co-producer

2001