LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) — Brad Grey, a veteran talent manager and a former longtime head of Paramount Studios died on May 14th after a battle with cancer. He was 59.
From 2005, Grey led Paramount Studios for more than a decade, overseeing some of the studio's most successful projects, including the Mission Impossible and Transformers franchises but was ultimately forced out earlier this year after a string of flops such as Ben-Hur and Zoolander 2 left the studio facing losses of almost $500 million.
In addition to his role as a studio head, Grey was also a well-regarded manager who, in 1991, helped to transform Brillstein-Grey Entertainment into one of Hollywood's most successful management and production companies.
During his tenure there, Grey produced successful television projects such as The Larry Sanders Show, Real Time With Bill Maher, The Sopranos, News Radio and It's The Gary Shandling Show.
Shandling later sued Grey for $100 million, alleging breach of duties and related claims, asserting that Grey steered talented writers and producers to other projects. Grey counter-sued, alleging breach of contract but both lawsuits were eventually settled out of court.
In 2002, Grey launched the successful film production company Plan B Entertainment with Jennifer Anniston and Brad Pitt, leading to films such as Year of the Dog, The Departed, Moneyball, 12 Years A Slave and numerous others.
Grey is survived by his wife Cassandra Grey, their son Jules, three children, Sam, Max and Emily from and earlier marriage, as well as a brother and sister.
According to Variety, a memorial service will be scheduled in the coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC. – Staff Writers
