The kid exits the picture: Producer Robert Evans dead at 89

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

It is with a heavy heart that I report the passing of Robert Evans, one of the most prolific producers to ever play the Hollywood game. During his long-standing career, Evans served as Paramount Pictures' production chief in the late 1960s and ’70s. As the youngest studio production boss at the time, Evans quickly gained notoriety for contributing to such films as THE GODFATHER, THE GODFATHER: PART II and LOVE STORY. He also acted as a producer for such classics as ROSEMARY'S BABY and CHINATOWN, a film that won him a 1975 Oscar nomination.

Evans began his Hollywood tenure as an actor, appearing as a bullfighter in Ernest Hemingway's THE SUN ALSO RISES. In time, he lent his unique talents to a myriad of film projects, including THE COTTON CLUB, which took several years to shoot and had gone way over budget. Sadly, the film arrived in 1984 as a box office bomb. Not to let the nightmare that was THE COTTON CLUB dissuade him from doing what he loved most, Evans soldiered on. In 2003, Evans landed another major hit thanks to the romantic comedy HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS, starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey.

If you're looking to get inside Evans' head, and learn a few tricks of his trade, you should check out his memoir, "The Kid Stays in the Picture," which was later turned into a documentary film. In the book, Evans recounts his journey from actor to Paramount Pictures production chief and, later independent producer. He also touches on his trying times while addicted to cocaine, as well as other scandals that cropped up along his winding path.

Unfortunately, Evans suffered a stroke in 1988 that left him partially paralyzed. Evans recovered from the incident, though two more strokes followed that same year. Amazingly, Evans was able to bounce back from each episode, and lived to be 89-years-old.

Rest in peace, Mr. Evans. Your contributions to film will never be forgotten.