Frank price, former universal and Colombian studio, dies at 95

Veteran Image and television production execution Frank pricewho had more than one round and MCA / Universal and Columbia images, died on Monday in Santa Monica. He was 95 years old.

His son Roy Price, former President Amazon Studios, reported his death, Posting on x“My father, Frank cost, died in a dream in his sleep this morning at 95. He lived full of life and we will miss him deeply.”

One of the rare travel writers – producers that increase through the rows to stick to television and film divisions, in Ceto Television on Television, a period of great prosperity for the company, with such series as “Kojak” and “Baretta” and “Baretta”. “He moved to become the President of Colombian paintings in 1978. year, and then the” Kramer “,” Tootsie “,” Gandhi “and” Ghostbusters “and” Karate Children “were released in the MCA to launch universal pictures, he added his hit (and Oscar) List with “out of Africa” ​​and such success in Hi Office as “back to the future”, “Dovnet”, “” Mask “and” Secret of My Success “.

Back to Colombia in 1990. year, he was responsible for “his” league “and” Dracula “.

“Kramer vs. Kramer” (five Oscars), “Gandhi” (eight) and “from Africa” ​​(seven), all awarded the Academy of Academy under her class.

Moreover, it could boast that 10 biggest successes were made under his supervision, grabbed more than $ 1.5 billion – a very impressive number in the 90s.

But the price also had to take responsibility for the Universal “Howard Duck”, one of the legendary Fiane with a large budget budget together with the “heavenly gate” and “Ishtar”. The film helped to bring his friendship and a business alliance with the President of MCA Sidney Sheinberg on a sudden end. Later, when Sony Pictures President Peter Guber decided to hire a former Warner Bros. Ekecutive Mark Canton to head Columbia’s head in 1991. year, she got a sudden thanks, although she allegedly paid $ 10 million for inconvenience.

The price was quite soft in the city where it was known that higher executives were to crack China with their high decibel shouting. He helped work in the Age of Prosperity for Film Ekecas. Once, he and Alan Ladd Jr. (At the 20th century, the heads of the paid studio in the work, far exceeded their predecessors, although their fees were later dwarf by Michael Eisner and Guber.

In 1959. he joined the Universal as an associate producer and a writer on “Virginian”. Two years later he was promoted in the Producer of the Exec. Similar to glory on “ironside” and “a thief is needed.” During the same period, he produced NBC TV film “Let Doomsdai”, which attracted 30 million viewers.
He was a higher VP universal television until 1971. years and Ekec VP two years later. In 1974. he was appointed President of Universal Television and the VP of the MCA Mountain 1975. Years. Until 1977. was elected the MCA Board of Directors.

Under his presidency, Universal TV praises such series as “Kojak”, “Baretta”, “a man of six million”, “quinci”, “incredible hulk” “” Bionic “and” Rockford “.”

The miniseries “a rich man, poor man” and “centenial” and broadcast during this period, as well as such body teleps as “duel”, “this summer” “execution of a private sliver” and “case of rapes”.

1978. Lined in the pictures of Columbia to become the president of his film division. His personal cause, “Blue Lagoon” has become a magic carton, as well as “stripes”, “Ghostbusters” and “Tess”. In 1979. and 1982. years, Coler won the Oscar for “Kramer against Kramer” and “Gandhi”, although it is The latter was pickup.

The price of stars continued to grow as he became President-director. But after Columbia sold Coca-Cola, the price has become engaged in the fight for power with her superior, Francis (Fai Vincent Jrkom. He once resigned to become an independent producer and reassessed.

But the tension continued, and the price left in 1983. years to return to MCA, where President of Criticism for Film Picture and Vice President MCA Inc. was appointed. Oscar Oscar was flagged for his story and the stumbling, and the studio “in the future and megahit” back into the future and megahit “back into the future and megahit” back to the future and megahit “back to the future and Megahit “back to the future and megahit” in the future and megahit “back to the future and megahit” back to the future and megahit “back to the future and megahite” in the future and megahite “back.”

But so spent disappointments like $ 38 million “Legal Eagles” and catastrophic $ 35 million “Howard Duck” brought an aggravating relationship with MCA Sid Sheinberg to report fists.

In 1986 he resigned, setting up his $ 3 million a year, a five-year contract. He then started its production from the company’s entertainment, joint investment with tristar pictures, which later absorbed Sony pictures of fun. The film “Bear” was his first main release, and then “Gladiator” Gladiator “Gladiator” and “Hexed”.

In 1990. under the Guber / Peter regime, he returned to the position of President Columbia image. “Boiz Nth Hood” was registered, “My little girl” and “Prince of Tide” on his resume before he was necurely moved in favor of Mark Canton.

His Ignomini award was an independent offer for production and severance pay from $ 10 million.

The price was occupied by the producer in the middle of the end of the 90s. He produced the story of African American Vietnam “The Holling Dead” with a romantic drama “Circle of friends”, was also in 1995. years of EMMI Nominations, which achieved EMMI nominations in the execution of television caps Kaioril category.

He produced on the Catholic-Thematic Film “Mariette in Ecstasi” next year about Stigmati and comedy “Killing Murder”, “Starring Day Aikroid, Lily Tomlin and Jack Lemmon.

In 1997 he produced a family adventure “Zeus and Rokanna”, and the price entertainment continued to produce films, including “Shadowlands” and “Bronxku Story”.

William Francis Price Jr. He was born in Decature, and sick, and grew up in Flint, Michi. In the high school, he worked as a copy of the boyfriend and police journalist for Flint magazine, and then a year within the Navy program of UNEV, editing of Navy newspapers.

He graduated in Michigan State U., at the top of journalism.

After moving to New York, it was hired by CBS as an editor and writer of such TV programs as “Studio”, “” Ford Theater “and” Playhouse 90 “, and then on NBC on” Matinee Theater “.

The price was served on the Governor of the Academy of Moving Arts and Science, the Committee of Commissioners of the Bureau of Sundance for Film and Television and the Board of Directors of the Association for the Association of Images in Motion. He also served as a SSC chairman at the Committee Committee Committee in Cinema-Television.

The name was appointed executor of the year in 1980. National Association of Theater Owners.

He survived his Catherine, sons, David, Roi and William, who is married Megan; and 14 grandchildren.