David Matalon Dies: TriStar Pictures Co-Founder & Longtime Regency CEO Who Produced ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’ Was 82
David Matalon, a longtime film executive and indie film producer who co-founded and ran TriStar Pictures, led Regency Enterprises for a dozen years and was EVP at Columbia Pictures International, died Monday of natural causes at his Beverly Hills home, Searchlight Pictures said. He was 82.
Born on July 5, 1943, Matalon produced or exec-produced a half-dozen indie films during the 1990s, including the Johnny Depp-Leonardo DiCaprio starrer What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Hear No Evil starring Marlee Matlin, the Bruce Willis-led Color of Night and Breaking Up with Russell Crowe and Salma Hayek.
Before that, Matalon began his career earlier at Columbia Pictures International, where he rose to Executive Vice President. He left to co-found and serve as president of TriStar Pictures, where he was key in shaping its early identity and strategic direction before exiting for Regency Enterprises.
He led Regency as CEO from 1995-2008, helping it grow into one of the largest independent film studios with such acclaimed films such as Best Picture Oscar nominee L.A. Confidential, Heat, Fight Club, Unfaithful, Entrapment and The Fountain. During Matalon’s tenure running its day-to-day operations, Regency solidified its place in the industry by inking an exclusive 15-year distribution deal with 20th Century Fox.
When he left Regency in July 2007, then-Fox Filmed Entertainment chairmen Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman said in a statement: “David Matalon is one of a rare breed of movie giants: smart, wise, creative, with great integrity and, above all else, a gentleman.”
After exiting Regency, he established a production company on the Fox lot. His final credit was as exec producer on writer-director Guy Moshe’s 2010 martial arts actioner Bunraku, starring Josh Hartnett and Woody Harrelson.
Matalon is survived by his daughters, Michelle and Shirlee; his brothers, Roy and Amnon; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
