Indie film champion Goldwyn Jr. dies at 88
LOS ANGELES – Samuel Goldwyn Jr., a champion of the independent film movement and son to one of the founding fathers of Hollywood cinema, has died. He was 88.
Goldwyn’s son told the Los Angeles Times his father died Friday from congestive heart failure.
Goldwyn produced low-budget hits like “Mystic Pizza” starring Julia Roberts and “Cotton Comes to Harlem” in the 1970s and 80s.
His company was one of the largest indie film operations. His final production credit was for “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” in 2013.
Goldwyn’s father was one of the founders of Paramount Studios.
In 1986, Goldwyn told the Times his goal was to appeal to sophisticated movie lovers. He said he was brought up in “a tradition of patience,” seeing his father produce now classic films like “Wuthering Heights” that weren’t an immediate success.