Francis Ford Coppola, Brett Morgen, actress Ali MacGraw and many more are mourning the Monday death of Robert Evans, the legendary film producer and Paramount Pictures chief in the ’60s and ’70s.
Coppola honored Evans for his contributions to “The Godfather” films when he was at Paramount and for his help as an independent producer on Coppola’s “The Cotton Club” from 1984.
“I remember Bob Evans’ charm, good looks, enthusiasm, style, and sense of humor. He had strong instincts as evidenced by the long list of great films in his career,” Coppola said in a statement to TheWrap. “When I worked with Bob, some of his helpful ideas included suggesting John Marley as Woltz and Sterling Hayden as the Police Captain, and his ultimate realization that ‘The Godfather’ could be 2 hours and 45 minutes in length; also, making a movie out of ‘The Cotton Club’ — casting Richard Gere and Gregory Hines, and bringing Milena Canonero, George Faison, Richard Sylbert, and many other talented people to work on the film. May the kid always stay in the picture.”
Paramount Pictures also issued a statement on Monday honoring the legacy of its former boss.
“Hollywood has lost one of its most influential and iconic figures in the inimitable Bob Evans. He was a valued and beloved partner to Paramount Pictures for over half a century, and his contributions to our organization and the entertainment industry are innumerable and far-reaching. As an actor, a producer and a leader, he has left an indelible mark on our studio and the world of film. His influence will be felt for generations to come. We extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones,” the studio said in a statement.
Actress Ali MacGraw, Evans’ third wife of six, issued a statement on Monday mourning his loss.
“Our son Joshua and I will miss Bob tremendously and we are so very proud of his enormous contribution to the film industry. He will be remembered as a Giant,” MacGraw said.
Many others in Hollywood were fans of Evans’ autobiography “The Kid Stays in the Picture” from 1994, as well as the subsequent documentary of the same name. The film’s director, Brett Morgen, said on Twitter that he was “funnier, sweeter and more charming than the character he created.”
“Bob Evans produced some of the greatest films of all time, but the greatest production of all, was his life,” Morgen said. “When you were with Bob, there was nowhere else on Earth you’d rather be.”
Evans is the producer of “Chinatown” and led Paramount back to its glory days between 1967 and 1974. An individual close to Evans told TheWrap he died Saturday. Details about the cause of his death were unknown. He was 89.
See more reactions from Hollywood about his passing below:
Bob Evans produced some of the greatest films of all time, but the greatest production of all, was his life.
When you were with Bob, there was nowhere else on Earth you’d rather be.
He was funnier, sweeter and more charming than the character he created. pic.twitter.com/aO7BjnayVp
— Brett Morgen (@brettmorgen) October 28, 2019
RIP to a legend. #RobertEvans ? https://t.co/tjxdmPzReX
— natasha lyonne (@nlyonne) October 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/chrismcquarrie/status/1188883335663308800?s=20
If you love movies and haven't read, listened to the audiobook or seen the documentary of Robert Evan's 'The Kid Stays in the Picture', you need to rectify this immediately. Farewell to one of the best producers (and characters) in cinema. https://t.co/ynMYpv7weW
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) October 28, 2019
Listening to Patton Oswalt's Robert Evans piece in celebration of this uniquely weird character. RIP. https://t.co/U1Z6BNMr4s
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) October 28, 2019
You god damn better believe Robert Evans died, baby. Like a thunder shot over the industry. Not even Steve McQueens cock died a more glorious death. Already put my obituary in turnaround, with Robert Towne set to do rewrites. RIP baby, in capital letters https://t.co/wKnsRen3B3
— Matt Oswalt (@MattOswaltVA) October 28, 2019
RIP Robert Evans, the last mogul who embodied the gamblers hubris, white powder excess and open collared style of LA better than anyone in the late 20th Century.
He made a dozen great films & The Kid Stays in the Picture audiobook and doc are as good as any of them too. Boffo. pic.twitter.com/pGr9bsZKDP
— Otto Von Biz Markie (@Passionweiss) October 28, 2019
The kid has left the picture: Robert Evans is dead at 89 and a single tweet cannot contain the absurd multiplicity of his career. The only producer short of Selznick whose life was as entertaining as (and more bonkers than) his movies. https://t.co/A2PF2zWwnX
— Ty Burr (@tyburr) October 28, 2019
Based on his 1994 autobiography of the same name, The Kid Stays in the Picture is such a good doc. Robert Evans, man. Here with Ali McGraw, his third of six wives, he could have been a movie character, an idea that surely would have delighted him. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/5W2Z1h6ftS
— ?? Laurie Brookins ?? (@StyleWriterNYC) October 28, 2019