Legendary producer dies at 91
Dino De Laurentiis has passed away at the age of 91.
The Italian producer cut his teeth in the industry as an actor in the late ’30s before amassing a producing career that would see him shepherding films like Federico Fellini’s La Strada. Danger: Diabolik and Barbarella came later on in the ’60s, followed by King Kong in the ’70s and a spate of genre fare (let’s not forget Conan the Barbarian) in the ’80s.
He brought Hannibal Lecter to the screen in Manhunter and gave us a wild vision of Flash Gordon. De Laurentiis also traveled into the Amityville house for Amityville II: The Possession. And he put himself behind Stephen King adaptations like The Dead Zone, Cat’s Eye and Maximum Overdrive.
He later revisited Lecter for Hannibal, Red Dragon and Hannibal Rising. De Laurentiis’ children carry on his legacy in filmmaking.
In my time writing about this genre we all know and love, one highlight was meeting De Laurentiis who jokingly told me if he ever produced a “versus” film he’d like to see Hannibal Lecter versus King Kong. A big personality versus a giant monkey. The man not only proved to be an absolute pro, but one with a terrific sense of humor as well.
Source: Ryan Turek, Managing Editor
