LEO JAFFE, FORMER HEAD OF COLUMBIA PICTURES.Byline: The New York Times Leo Leo, in astronomy Leo [Lat.,=the lion], northern constellation lying S of Ursa Major and on the ecliptic (apparent path of the sun through the heavens) between Cancer and Virgo; it is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Jaffe, well known for decades as an influential deal maker in Hollywood and as a philanthropist, died Wednesday at his home in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. after a long illness. He was 88. In a world where executives often move from one studio to another, Jaffe was noteworthy for spending his entire career at one company, Columbia Pictures. He ran the studio in the 1960s and 1970s and he helped build it into one of the strongest in the industry, based in part on his friendships with some of Hollywood's most powerful producers and directors. During his days at Columbia Pictures it produced such classic films as ``Lawrence of Arabia Lawrence of Arabia: see Lawrence, T. E. Lawrence of Arabia T. E. Lawrence (1888–1935), legendary hero, led Arab revolt against Turkey. [Br. Hist.: Benét, 572] See : Adventurousness ,'' ``On the Waterfront,'' ``Porgy porgy (pôr`gē), common name for members of the Sparidae, a family of small-mouthed fishes with strong teeth adapted for crushing their food of shellfish and crustaceans. and Bess,'' ``Lord Jim,'' ``A Man for All Seasons'' and ``Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.'' Jaffe also was active in numerous philanthropies. Among others, he received honors from several Jewish organizations, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the White House. Jaffe was never known as an executive with a keen eye for a script or a talented actor. But he developed relationships with a number of prominent figures in Hollywood and helped cut some of the deals that brought them to Columbia. These included Sam Spiegel, Ray Stark, Otto Preminger, Stanley Kramer and even Steven Spielberg, who directed ``Close Encounters of the Third Kind'' for Columbia Pictures. Jack Valenti, chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America, said, ``In the 31 years I knew him, I never went to him with a plea for help that he didn't come through.'' Jaffe was active in various philanthropies, and received a special Oscar, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, for 1978. He also received the Humanitarian Award from the March of Dimes
Jaffe was twice widowed and he is survived by his third wife, Anita. He also is survived by three sons, Stanley, the former president of Paramount Communications and now the head of Jaffilms, a production company associated with Columbia Pictures, Howard and Ira; two daughters, Marcia and Andrea; a stepdaughter step·daugh·ter n. A spouse's daughter by a previous union. stepdaughter Noun a daughter of one's husband or wife by an earlier relationship Noun 1. , Marilyn Hessel; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. |
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