Hollywood producer Richard Zanuck dies at 77

Legendary producer Richard Zanuck died of a heart attack on Friday at the age of 77. Zanuck, who is famous for his films “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Jaws,” and “The Sting,” passed away at his home in Beverly Hills. The late producer was the son of studio executive Darryl F. Zanuck, who famously fired Richard from 20th Century Fox in 1970.

Director Steven Spielberg, who put out his first film “The Sugarland Express” in Zanuck’s studio, said in a statement, “In 1974, Dick Zanuck and I sat in a boat off Martha’s Vineyard and watched the mechanical shark sink to the bottom of the sea … Dick turned to me and smiled. ‘Gee, I sure hope that’s not a sign.’ That moment forged a bond between us that lasted nearly 40 years. He taught me everything I know about producing. He was one of the most honorable and loyal men of our profession and he fought tooth and nail for his directors.”

Zanuck is survived by his wife, Lili Fini Zanuck, as well as his four children: Virginia, Janet, Harrison and Dean.