Frank Capra Jr, film and television producer, born March 20 1934; died December 19 2007
Frank Capra Jr., son of the legendary Hollywood director, who rose through the ranks to become a movie producer and for the last decade was president of EUE Screen Gems Studios, died on December 19, 2007, of prostate cancer at the age of 73.
Frank first came to Wilmington as a producer in 1983 to scout locations for "Firestarter," a 1984 film starring Drew Barrymore. The picture's executive producer, Dino De Laurentiis, was so taken with the area that he built what is now the EUE Screen Gems Studio complex on 23rd Street. The George Cooney family bought the operation in 1997 and brought Frank back to Wilmington as president of the renamed EUE Screen Gems Studios.
Frank was active in the international film industry and the local community. In 1999, he was granted a star on Wilmington's "Walk of Fame." That same year, UNCW awarded him an honorary doctorate of fine arts for his contributions as the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Film Studies. He was a member of the Governor's Film Council and helped pass the state film incentive program that has brought new life to the film business in the state and Wilmington. He was vice-chairman of the Wilmington Regional Film Commission, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Director's Guild of America, of which his father was a founding member. The DGA recognized Frank with a special award in 2001 for his efforts to promote filmmaking in North Carolina. He was the honorary grand marshal of the North Carolina Azalea Festival parade in 2005. The UNCW Alumni Association named him "Citizen of the Year" for 2007.
Frank Capra, Jr. remained president of EUE Screen Gems Studios, which has nine soundstages and is the largest film production center east of California, until his death. A memorial will be held at 11 a.m. this Tuesday, February 12, at Thalian Hall.
Published in the Wilmington Star-News from Feb. 9 to Feb. 11, 2008
Info from multiple publications:
Born in Los Angeles to Capra's second wife, Lucille Rayburn Warner, the young Capra planned to be a scientist, and gained a degree in geology in 1955. But he got a job making technical documentaries for a tool company owned by Howard Hughes. This led to his working as assistant on a number of television shows until he enlisted in the Signal Corps at the start of the Vietnam war. For three years, he taught combat film photography to soldiers stationed in New Jersey, before serving in Vietnam.
On leaving the army, he became executive producer on hit films including Play It Again, Sam (1972) and three sequels to the hugely popular Planet of the Apes (1971-73). None of these bore any comparison with his father's movies, but Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977), which he produced, was the barely watchable updated remake of his dad's Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939).
Born Again (1978) told of the conversion to Christianity of Charles Colson (Dean Jones), imprisoned for his part in the Watergate scandal. The proselytising film was produced by Avco Embassy, of which Capra Jr was president.
Frank Capra Jr is survived by his wife, two sons from his first marriage, one of whom, Frank Capra III, is an assistant director, and a daughter from his second marriage.
He is survived by his wife, Debra; a daughter, Christina; two sons, Frank Capra III and Jonathan Capra, both assistant directors; and a granddaughter.
Donations may be made to the Frank Capra, Jr. Film Studies Scholarship Fund, c/o Marla Rice Evans at the U. of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 South College St., Wilmington, NC 28403.
Frank Capra Jr., son of the legendary Hollywood director, who rose through the ranks to become a movie producer and for the last decade was president of EUE Screen Gems Studios, died on December 19, 2007, of prostate cancer at the age of 73.
Frank first came to Wilmington as a producer in 1983 to scout locations for "Firestarter," a 1984 film starring Drew Barrymore. The picture's executive producer, Dino De Laurentiis, was so taken with the area that he built what is now the EUE Screen Gems Studio complex on 23rd Street. The George Cooney family bought the operation in 1997 and brought Frank back to Wilmington as president of the renamed EUE Screen Gems Studios.
Frank was active in the international film industry and the local community. In 1999, he was granted a star on Wilmington's "Walk of Fame." That same year, UNCW awarded him an honorary doctorate of fine arts for his contributions as the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Film Studies. He was a member of the Governor's Film Council and helped pass the state film incentive program that has brought new life to the film business in the state and Wilmington. He was vice-chairman of the Wilmington Regional Film Commission, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Director's Guild of America, of which his father was a founding member. The DGA recognized Frank with a special award in 2001 for his efforts to promote filmmaking in North Carolina. He was the honorary grand marshal of the North Carolina Azalea Festival parade in 2005. The UNCW Alumni Association named him "Citizen of the Year" for 2007.
Frank Capra, Jr. remained president of EUE Screen Gems Studios, which has nine soundstages and is the largest film production center east of California, until his death. A memorial will be held at 11 a.m. this Tuesday, February 12, at Thalian Hall.
Published in the Wilmington Star-News from Feb. 9 to Feb. 11, 2008
Info from multiple publications:
Born in Los Angeles to Capra's second wife, Lucille Rayburn Warner, the young Capra planned to be a scientist, and gained a degree in geology in 1955. But he got a job making technical documentaries for a tool company owned by Howard Hughes. This led to his working as assistant on a number of television shows until he enlisted in the Signal Corps at the start of the Vietnam war. For three years, he taught combat film photography to soldiers stationed in New Jersey, before serving in Vietnam.
On leaving the army, he became executive producer on hit films including Play It Again, Sam (1972) and three sequels to the hugely popular Planet of the Apes (1971-73). None of these bore any comparison with his father's movies, but Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977), which he produced, was the barely watchable updated remake of his dad's Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939).
Born Again (1978) told of the conversion to Christianity of Charles Colson (Dean Jones), imprisoned for his part in the Watergate scandal. The proselytising film was produced by Avco Embassy, of which Capra Jr was president.
Frank Capra Jr is survived by his wife, two sons from his first marriage, one of whom, Frank Capra III, is an assistant director, and a daughter from his second marriage.
He is survived by his wife, Debra; a daughter, Christina; two sons, Frank Capra III and Jonathan Capra, both assistant directors; and a granddaughter.
Donations may be made to the Frank Capra, Jr. Film Studies Scholarship Fund, c/o Marla Rice Evans at the U. of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 South College St., Wilmington, NC 28403.
Frank Capra Jr, film and television producer, born March 20 1934; died December 19 2007
Frank Capra Jr., son of the legendary Hollywood director, who rose through the ranks to become a movie producer and for the last decade was president of EUE Screen Gems Studios, died on December 19, 2007, of prostate cancer at the age of 73.
Frank first came to Wilmington as a producer in 1983 to scout locations for "Firestarter," a 1984 film starring Drew Barrymore. The picture's executive producer, Dino De Laurentiis, was so taken with the area that he built what is now the EUE Screen Gems Studio complex on 23rd Street. The George Cooney family bought the operation in 1997 and brought Frank back to Wilmington as president of the renamed EUE Screen Gems Studios.
Frank was active in the international film industry and the local community. In 1999, he was granted a star on Wilmington's "Walk of Fame." That same year, UNCW awarded him an honorary doctorate of fine arts for his contributions as the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Film Studies. He was a member of the Governor's Film Council and helped pass the state film incentive program that has brought new life to the film business in the state and Wilmington. He was vice-chairman of the Wilmington Regional Film Commission, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Director's Guild of America, of which his father was a founding member. The DGA recognized Frank with a special award in 2001 for his efforts to promote filmmaking in North Carolina. He was the honorary grand marshal of the North Carolina Azalea Festival parade in 2005. The UNCW Alumni Association named him "Citizen of the Year" for 2007.
Frank Capra, Jr. remained president of EUE Screen Gems Studios, which has nine soundstages and is the largest film production center east of California, until his death. A memorial will be held at 11 a.m. this Tuesday, February 12, at Thalian Hall.
Published in the Wilmington Star-News from Feb. 9 to Feb. 11, 2008
Info from multiple publications:
Born in Los Angeles to Capra's second wife, Lucille Rayburn Warner, the young Capra planned to be a scientist, and gained a degree in geology in 1955. But he got a job making technical documentaries for a tool company owned by Howard Hughes. This led to his working as assistant on a number of television shows until he enlisted in the Signal Corps at the start of the Vietnam war. For three years, he taught combat film photography to soldiers stationed in New Jersey, before serving in Vietnam.
On leaving the army, he became executive producer on hit films including Play It Again, Sam (1972) and three sequels to the hugely popular Planet of the Apes (1971-73). None of these bore any comparison with his father's movies, but Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977), which he produced, was the barely watchable updated remake of his dad's Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939).
Born Again (1978) told of the conversion to Christianity of Charles Colson (Dean Jones), imprisoned for his part in the Watergate scandal. The proselytising film was produced by Avco Embassy, of which Capra Jr was president.
Frank Capra Jr is survived by his wife, two sons from his first marriage, one of whom, Frank Capra III, is an assistant director, and a daughter from his second marriage.
He is survived by his wife, Debra; a daughter, Christina; two sons, Frank Capra III and Jonathan Capra, both assistant directors; and a granddaughter.
Donations may be made to the Frank Capra, Jr. Film Studies Scholarship Fund, c/o Marla Rice Evans at the U. of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 South College St., Wilmington, NC 28403.
Frank Capra Jr., son of the legendary Hollywood director, who rose through the ranks to become a movie producer and for the last decade was president of EUE Screen Gems Studios, died on December 19, 2007, of prostate cancer at the age of 73.
Frank first came to Wilmington as a producer in 1983 to scout locations for "Firestarter," a 1984 film starring Drew Barrymore. The picture's executive producer, Dino De Laurentiis, was so taken with the area that he built what is now the EUE Screen Gems Studio complex on 23rd Street. The George Cooney family bought the operation in 1997 and brought Frank back to Wilmington as president of the renamed EUE Screen Gems Studios.
Frank was active in the international film industry and the local community. In 1999, he was granted a star on Wilmington's "Walk of Fame." That same year, UNCW awarded him an honorary doctorate of fine arts for his contributions as the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Film Studies. He was a member of the Governor's Film Council and helped pass the state film incentive program that has brought new life to the film business in the state and Wilmington. He was vice-chairman of the Wilmington Regional Film Commission, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Director's Guild of America, of which his father was a founding member. The DGA recognized Frank with a special award in 2001 for his efforts to promote filmmaking in North Carolina. He was the honorary grand marshal of the North Carolina Azalea Festival parade in 2005. The UNCW Alumni Association named him "Citizen of the Year" for 2007.
Frank Capra, Jr. remained president of EUE Screen Gems Studios, which has nine soundstages and is the largest film production center east of California, until his death. A memorial will be held at 11 a.m. this Tuesday, February 12, at Thalian Hall.
Published in the Wilmington Star-News from Feb. 9 to Feb. 11, 2008
Info from multiple publications:
Born in Los Angeles to Capra's second wife, Lucille Rayburn Warner, the young Capra planned to be a scientist, and gained a degree in geology in 1955. But he got a job making technical documentaries for a tool company owned by Howard Hughes. This led to his working as assistant on a number of television shows until he enlisted in the Signal Corps at the start of the Vietnam war. For three years, he taught combat film photography to soldiers stationed in New Jersey, before serving in Vietnam.
On leaving the army, he became executive producer on hit films including Play It Again, Sam (1972) and three sequels to the hugely popular Planet of the Apes (1971-73). None of these bore any comparison with his father's movies, but Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977), which he produced, was the barely watchable updated remake of his dad's Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939).
Born Again (1978) told of the conversion to Christianity of Charles Colson (Dean Jones), imprisoned for his part in the Watergate scandal. The proselytising film was produced by Avco Embassy, of which Capra Jr was president.
Frank Capra Jr is survived by his wife, two sons from his first marriage, one of whom, Frank Capra III, is an assistant director, and a daughter from his second marriage.
He is survived by his wife, Debra; a daughter, Christina; two sons, Frank Capra III and Jonathan Capra, both assistant directors; and a granddaughter.
Donations may be made to the Frank Capra, Jr. Film Studies Scholarship Fund, c/o Marla Rice Evans at the U. of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 South College St., Wilmington, NC 28403.
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