George Clooney is honoring the memory of his “Ocean’s Eleven” producer Jerry Weintraub in a poignant statement released to TheWrap.
Weintraub died in Santa Barbara of heart failure on Monday. He was 77.
Read Clooney’s full statement below:
“In the coming days there will be tributes, about our friend Jerry Weintraub. We’ll laugh at his great stories, and applaud his accomplishments. And in the years to come the stories and accomplishments will get better with age, just as Jerry would have wanted it. But not today. Today our friend died. To his family and friends, Amal and I send our love. And to those who didn’t know him we send our deepest sympathy. You would have loved him.”
Another high profile member of the “Ocean’s” tribe, Brad Pitt, issued the following statement through representatives, saying “he was an absolute original. I loved him and will genuinely miss him.”
Weintraub’s film credits include “The Karate Kid,” “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Nashville” and “National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation.”
His 2014 climate change documentary “Years of Living Dangerously” netted him the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series. The year prior he took home Outstanding Miniseries or Movie for “Behind The Candelabra.”
Before getting into the movie business, Weintraub had a successful career in music. He was the personal manager of John Denver, and also managed or promoted several heavyweight acts including Frank Sinatra, Led Zeppelin, Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond and the Carpenters.