Steven Daniel Reuther (November 2, 1951 – June 5, 2010) was an American producer and executive producer.[1]

Steven Reuther
Born
Steven Daniel Reuther

(1951-11-02)November 2, 1951
DiedJune 5, 2010(2010-06-05) (aged 58)
OccupationProducer
Years active1986–2009
Spouses
(m. 1979; div. 1982)
Natalie Zimmerman
(m. 1989; div. 1993)
Children1

Life and career

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Born in St. Petersburg, Florida, in his early twenties, Reuther was rendered quadriplegic in a motor accident; after ten years of rehabilitation, he made a full recovery.[2][3] Reuther came to Los Angeles, California in the late 1970s. He landed his first job in the mailroom at William Morris Agency, quickly becoming the first assistant to Stan Kamen. Leveraging his relationship with Kamen, he worked with such stars as Donald Sutherland, Jon Voight, Goldie Hawn and Sally Field.

He became an expert in film finance and structured numerous movies, pioneering the use of Canadian tax structures[clarification needed].

Reuther served as VP of Galactic Films, where he helped develop Adrian Lyne's 9½ Weeks. He then segued to Vestron Pictures in 1986, serving as the executive producer of Dirty Dancing and other pictures. He then partnered with Arnon Milchan at New Regency developing pictures including Sidney Lumet's Family Business, and The War of the Roses. He went on to produce and executive produce more than 35 films in partnership with Milchan, including the 1990 smash Pretty Woman, which launched Julia Roberts. In March 1994, Reuther announced that he had formed a new film production company, Douglas/Reuther Productions, in partnership with Michael Douglas.[4]

In 1998, Reuther created Bel-Air Entertainment, and served as its chairman and CEO. While at Bel-Air he was most proud of his movie Pay It Forward, whose title became entered everyday culture. He also shepherded Proof of Life, Sweet November, Rock Star and Collateral Damage.

His feature film credits include Dirty Dancing (1987), Pretty Woman (1990), Sommersby (1993), The Client (1994), and Face/Off (1997), The Rainmaker (1997) and Sweet November (2001)

Reuther died on June 5, 2010, after a battle with cancer at age 58.[5][6] A memorial service was held at the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine.[7]

Filmography

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He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

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Year Film Credit Notes
1986 9½ Weeks Associate producer
1987 Dirty Dancing Executive producer
China Girl Executive producer
1988 And God Created Woman Executive producer
Call Me Executive producer
Paramedics Executive producer
1989 Parents Executive producer
Big Man on Campus Executive producer
Hider in the House Executive producer
1990 Pretty Woman
Catchfire Executive producer
Love Hurts Executive producer
1991 Guilty by Suspicion Executive producer
1992 The Mambo Kings Executive producer
The Power of One Executive producer
Under Siege
That Night
1993 Sommersby
Made in America Co-executive producer
Striking Distance Executive producer
1994 The Client
1995 Boys on the Side
1996 The Ghost and the Darkness Executive producer
1997 Face/Off Executive producer
The Rainmaker
2000 Ready to Rumble Executive producer
The Replacements Executive producer
Chain of Fools Executive producer
Pay It Forward
Proof of Life Executive producer
2001 Sweet November
Rock Star Executive producer
2002 Collateral Damage
2005 Man of the House
2009 The Ugly Truth Final film as a producer
Production manager
Year Film Role
1987 Promised Land Executive in charge of production
Thanks
Year Film Role
1994 Second Best Thanks

Television

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Year Title Credit Notes
2001 Watching the Detectives Executive producer Television film

References

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  1. ^ "PASSINGS: Steven Reuther, Yvonne Stevens, Macklin Fleming". Los Angeles Times. June 8, 2010. p. AA6. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Heidi von Beltz: Soul Survivor". Entertainment Weekly.
  3. ^ "The Heidi Chronicle | the Stacks Reader".
  4. ^ "The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California on March 25, 1994 · Page 52". Newspapers.com. 25 March 1994. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  5. ^ Barnes, Mike (7 June 2010). "Producer, film exec Steven Reuther dies". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  6. ^ Dickey, Josh (7 July 2010). "Steve Reuther, Producer and Executive Behind 'Pretty Woman,' Dies". The Wrap. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  7. ^ "REUTHER, Steven D. Memorial Service Saturday, June 26, 2010, 11:00 a.m., Self-Realization Fellowship Center, The Lake Shrine/ Windmill Chapel, 17190 W. Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272". Los Angeles Times. June 24, 2010.
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