John Calley, best known for producing Catch-22, died earlier today in his California home. Calley was one of Hollywood's most influential producers before becoming Sony Picture's CEO in 1996. During his time there, he oversaw the production of countless blockbusters, including both the Men in Black and Spider-Man trilogies. His family has organized a small memorial service in his memory.
Sir Howard Stringer, Chief Executive Officer of the greater Sony Corporation, offered these words today:
John Calley will be remembered in the history of Hollywood as an extraordinary studio chief, who ran three studios with a maximum of taste and a minimum of tyranny. Even today, the quality of his movies still have contemporary resonance. The Remains of the Day and A Clockwork Orange demonstrate vividly the twin contrasts of British society that together explained the riots. Catch 22 and The Americanization of Emily capture the unsettling ambivalence towards war you might expect from a former American soldier. Men in Black and Spider-man revealed he could partner with a younger executive like Amy Pascal and discover a whole new audience. But John was more than a brilliant executive. I’m not sure he would even like that title. He was a wonderful raconteur, up there with Mike Nichols, Michael Caine and Peter Ustinov who could hold your attention for hours with rich anecdotes that capture the human dimensions of his beloved film industry; love’s labors never lost as long as he was there to remember them. His sense of humor made us delighted when we shared his adventures, and envious when we did not. Even in his lengthy illness he never lost his charm or ever felt sorry for himself. Life without his friendship will be so much less joyous. His generosity of spirit made those of us lucky enough to work with him feel we had a loyal and unique companion for life. We did.
Amy Pascal, who worked with Calley on
Men in Black and
Spider-Man, added her condolences:
John Calley was more than a mentor and boss he was the most extraordinary and generous friend. He had a steely business mind and the soul of an artist. His sense of humor about the business never made him cynical or got in the way of his passion for movies and directors. John's taste may have seemed idiosyncratic but his pulse was unerring. How could one person have championed All the President's Men, Blazing Saddles, The Exorcist, Dirty Harry, Klute, A Clockwork Orange, at the exact right moment in time? Those are the instincts of a one-of-a-kind executive. He never pandered to the audience, he never accepted conventional studio wisdom and he never lost his enthusiasm. John was my guiding light. He taught me everything.