The producer and director of the film “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” was 82 years old
David Matalon, a longtime movie executive and independent film producer who co-founded and ran TriStar Pictures, ran Regency Enterprises for a dozen years and was executive vice president of Columbia Pictures International, died Tuesday of natural causes at his home in Beverly Hills, Searchlight Pictures said. He was 82 years old.
Born July 5, 1943, Matalon produced or produced a half-dozen independent films in the 1990s, including the Johnny Depp-Leonardo DiCaprio protagonist. What eats grapes Gilbert, Hear no evil with Marlee Matlin, the project led by Bruce Willis Color of the night And Break with Russell Crowe and Salma Hayek.
Prior to that, Matalon began his career 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 played a key role in defining its initial identity and strategic direction before leaving Regency Enterprises.
He led Regency as CEO from 1995 to 2008, helping it become one of the largest independent film studios with such acclaimed films as a Best Picture Oscar nominee. LA Confidential, Heat, Fight Club, Unfaithful, Trapping And The Fountain. While Matalon ran its day-to-day operations, Regency solidified its place in the industry by signing a 15-year exclusive distribution deal with 20th Century Fox. He left in July 2007.
Tom Rothman, who today serves as chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group, was co-chairman of Fox Filmed Entertainment during the Matalan regency era. “Everyone who had the privilege, as I did for many years, to work with David in the trenches of the film industry knew they could always count on his strength, wisdom, integrity and courage,” he said in a statement to Deadline on Tuesday. “He was a rare breed of the old school and will be greatly missed. I send my deepest condolences to his family at this difficult time.”
After leaving Regency in July 2007, he started a production company on the Fox lot. His final credit was as executive producer of writer-director Guy Moshe’s 2010 martial arts action film. Bunrakuwith 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.
