Gray Frederickson Dies: ‘Godfather’ & ‘Apocalypse Now’ Producer Was 85
Gray Frederickson, an Oscar-winning co-EP on The Godfather films and Apocalypse Now who one of the busiest and most respected producers and production executives of the 1960s through the ‘80s, died November 20 of prostate cancer in Oklahoma City. He was 85. His wife, Karen, confirmed his death.
Born in Oklahoma, Frederickson moved to Hollywood in the early ‘60s and quickly acquired expertise as a line producer. He produced the 1971 comedy Making It at 20th Century Fox and joined with Al Ruddy to produce Little Fauss and Big Halsy (1970) with Robert Redford at Paramount.
Related Story
Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery
Becoming a trusted adviser to Francis Ford Coppola, Frederickson was a co-executive producer on The Godfather, The Godfather Part II — sharing a Best Picture Oscar for the sequel — and Apocalypse Now, spending many months beside Coppola in the Philippines and other Asian locations.
His association with Coppola continued on other films including One from the Heart (1981) and The Outsiders (1983) into a Coppola-directed 2015 experiment in live theater titled Distant Vision.
His producing credits also include the “Weird” Al Yankovic starrer UHF (1989), Ladybugs with Rodney Dangerfield (1992) and South of Heaven, West of Hell (2000) with Billy Bob Thornton.
Frederickson also served in other production positions, becoming VP Physical Production at Lorimar in the 1980s.
On The Godfather, Frederickson’s close ties with Coppola were especially important given ongoing disagreements between the studio and producer Ruddy, who was briefly fired mid-production. Frederickson was the only producer present when Marlon Brando performed his surprise “audition” for the lead role during preproduction.
Frederickson had two children. Following his Hollywood career, he semi-retired to Oklahoma where he produced several independent movies and taught filmmaking at Oklahoma City Community College, being elected to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame a year ago.
Must Read Stories
Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, EPs On Epic Series Finale & Spinoffs
Michael Bass, CNN Programming Chief & Ex-Zucker Lieutenant, Sets Exit
‘Wakanda Forever’ Notches $67M 2nd Frame; ‘Menu’ Bests ‘Chosen’; ‘She Said’ Silent
Inspiring Governors Awards Ceremony Honors Fox, Warren, Weir & Palcy
Read More About:
Source: Read Full Article