Hollywood producer Linda Obst, who worked on several hit films including Sleepless in Seattle, has died at the age of 74 after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Obst, who executive produced the 1993 romantic comedy starring Tom Hanks and Nan Ryan, died Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles, his son Oly Obst told The Hollywood Reporter.
Oli called her late mother a “wonderful mother, sister and best friend” and “a pioneer and fierce advocate for women.”
Ollie said he and his wife Julie “will miss her” and “she was my mother and my daughters are incredibly grateful to have her as a grandmother.”
Oli, a producer who served as his mother's manager, told THR that he was “surrounded by loved ones” when his late mother died.
Hollywood producer Linda Obst died at age 74 due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Photograph taken in New York in 2019.
Obst was executive producer of Sleepless, the hit 1993 romantic comedy Seattle, starring Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan and Rose Mallinger.
Obst's other credits include 1983's Flashdance, 1989's Adventures in Babysitting, 1991's The Fisher King, 1997's Contact, 2003's How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and 2014's Interstellar.
Obst received an Emmy nomination for Best Miniseries in 1999 for his work on Julia Styles in the 1960s. In recent years, Obst has produced television shows such as Hot in Cleveland, The Hot Zone, Good Girls Revolt and Helix.
Obst's brother, Rick Rosen, head of television at the WME agency, said in a statement to the outlet that his late sister “was always happy when she was with her family.”
“Our family is proud of the career she had and the role model she was for women in the industry, but more than that, we will always remember her incredible love for our family,” Rosen said.
Obst opened up about his health battle in a February post, joking that COPD means “in Spanish, 'I fucked up my lungs,'” there is no cure and it gradually worsens until death.
Obst said he smoked cigarettes and marijuana for five decades and hopes his decline can give others a reason to kick their habits because they might follow the same path.
He had to use a small oxygen device to help him breathe in his final years, the statement noted.
“I really want people to know that you can fall victim to the fickle finger of fate and I want to make clear the consequences of smoking,” Obst told the publication. “This is not the way you want to spend your retirement or your last 10, 20, 30 years.”
Obst died Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by his loved ones, his son Oly Obst told THR. Photographed in 2019 in Los Angeles.
Obst was also a producer on 1989's Adventures in Babysitting, starring (from left) Anthony Robb, Elizabeth Shue and Keith Coogan.
One of his first notable projects came with 1983's Flashdance, starring Jennifer Beals.
The outlet praised Obst as a “fierce advocate for women” and a networking expert who has developed “close, long-lasting relationships” with people across Hollywood, including CAA executive Bryan Lourd.
Lourd previously told the outlet that Obst was “very insightful and intelligent about how things worked and how movies were put together” and had “crazy intuitive taste and vision.”
He added: 'He loved the audience as much as he loved the filmmakers and understood that ultimate success is when you tick both boxes to do the best with the best people and create a satisfying and entertaining experience for the audience.'
Originally from Harrison, New York, Obst has also written a pair of show business books: 1996's Hello, He Light & Other Tales from the Hollywood Trenches and Sleepless in Hollywood: Tales from the New Abnormal in the Movie Business , 2013.
As news of his passing spread, many of his peers fondly remembered Obst for his contributions to the entertainment industry.
Director Paul Feig said: “It's very sad. I was lucky enough to meet Linda many years ago and she is a very beautiful and intelligent person. This is a very sad loss for the industry. My heart goes out to her son Oli and all her family. RIP Linda.'
As news of his passing spread, many of his peers fondly remembered Obst for his contributions to the entertainment industry.
Screenwriter John Shaywitz called Obst, who was once his boss, an “absolute legend” in life.
“Working for Linda Obst was the first thing I did when I came to Los Angeles 15 years ago,” Shaywitz said. 'He was an incredible producer and told me exactly what I needed to hear to move forward. I have learned a lot from her… Today the sky has another star. DIE AND WAKE UP, LINDA.'
Agent Joe Veldre wrote: 'RIP Lynda Obst. A prolific producer and writer who shaped the film industry in many ways. Hello, He Light & Other Tales from the Hollywood Trenches is essential reading for anyone traveling to Hollywood. We will miss her.'
According to THR, Obst's family is hosting a private funeral and is planning an event in his honor next year with the Producers Guild of America.
