David Matalon obit

David Matalon Dies: TriStar Pictures Co-Founder & Longtime Regency CEO Who Produced ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’ Was 82

 

He was not on the list.

David Matalon, a longtime film executive and indie film producer who co-founded and ran TriStar Pictures, led Regency Enterprises for a dozen years and was EVP at Columbia Pictures International, died Tuesday of natural causes at his Beverly Hills home, Searchlight Pictures said. He was 82.

Born on July 5, 1943, Matalon produced or exec-produced a half-dozen indie films during the 1990s, including the Johnny Depp-Leonardo DiCaprio starrer What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Hear No Evil starring Marlee Matlin, the Bruce Willis-led Color of Night and Breaking Up with Russell Crowe and Salma Hayek.

Before that, Matalon began his career earlier at Columbia Pictures International, where he rose to Executive Vice President. He left to co-found and serve as president of TriStar Pictures, where he was key in shaping its early identity and strategic direction before exiting for Regency Enterprises.

He led Regency as CEO from 1995-2008, helping it grow into one of the largest independent film studios with such acclaimed films such as Best Picture Oscar nominee L.A. Confidential, Heat, Fight Club, Unfaithful, Entrapment and The Fountain. During Matalon’s tenure running its day-to-day operations, Regency solidified its place in the industry by inking an exclusive 15-year distribution deal with 20th Century Fox. He left in July 2007.

Tom Rothman, who now is Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group, was co-chair of Fox Filmed Entertainment during Matalan’s Regency days. “Anyone who had the privilege, as I did for many years, of working with David in the trenches of the film business knew they could always count on his strength, wisdom, integrity and guts,” he said Tuesday in a statement to Deadline. “He was a rare breed of the old school and will be greatly missed. I extend my deepest condolences to his family in this hard time.”

After exiting Regency in July 2007, he established a production company on the Fox lot. His final credit was as exec producer on writer-director Guy Moshe’s 2010 martial arts actioner Bunraku, starring Josh Hartnett and Woody Harrelson.

Matalon is survived by his daughters, Michelle and Shirlee; his brothers, Roy and Amnon; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.