Producer and three-time Emmy winner Jerry Weintraub, best known for his work on The Karate Kid and Ocean's Eleven, has died at 77, according to multiple reports. He died at 77 in Santa Barbara, California, his representatives told The Associated Press.
Before his success as a producer for film and television, Weintraub was a music management talent agent who started out at MCA Records and went on to work with music hitmakers, including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton.
After segueing into film production with Robert Altman's musical, Nashville, Weintraub set his sights on the motion picture industry, and briefly served as CEO of United Artists before launching his own company, Jerry Weintraub Productions.
Under the company, he produced the original Karate Kid as well as its 2010 remake, along with the Oceans franchise and Behind the Candelabra. Weintraub was working on the HBO series The Brink and an upcoming Tarzan remake, starring Margot Robbie.
In 2010, Weintraub published a memoir, When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man. In 2011, HBO aired a documentary about Weintraub, titled His Way.
He was also a close confidant of George H.W. Bush, who sent out a statement mourning Weintraub's death.
Statement by President @GeorgeHWBush on the passing of Hollywood producer and close friend Jerry Weintraub: pic.twitter.com/IKOBCogUYZ— Jim McGrath (@jgm41) July 6, 2015
“In the coming days there will be tributes, about our friend Jerry Weintraub. We’ll laugh at his great stories, and applaud his accomplishments,” George Clooney said in a statement to Variety. “And in the years to come the stories and accomplishments will get better with age, just as Jerry would have wanted it. But not today. Today our friend died. To his family and friends, Amal and I send our love. And to those who didn’t know him we send our deepest sympathy. You would have loved him.”
Other celebrities also celebrated Weintraub's on social media.
Jerry Weintraub is larger than life. He was a giant in Hollywood & his heart was so big it lit up the town. My thoughts are with his family.— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) Jul 06 2015
So sad at loss of Jerry Weintraub, you were 1 of a kind, my friend. Last of a breed. So glad I got to be "that kid" — Ralph Macchio (@ralphmacchio) Jul 06 2015
Shocked to learn of the passing of Jerry Weintraub. I just saw him last week. This is a great loss to show business, what a legend.— Larry King (@kingsthings) July 6, 2015
I already miss my pal Jerry Weintraub. It's hard to imagine a world without him.— Tony Danza (@TonyDanza) Jul 06 2015