"As president of worldwide production for Columbia Pictures, John Veitch oversaw the production of over 300 films. He also served with the executive branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for three decades.
Veitch began his career as an actor, appearing in such films as Billy Wilder's Stalag 17 and Fred Zinnemann's From Here to Eternity before becoming an assistant director and production manager. As such, he worked with the likes of Wilder, John Ford and George Stevens.
In 1961, he came to Columbia Pictures where he remained for the next quarter century, lasting through some 14 management changes before being named production chief in 1979. While at Columbia he oversaw such films as Tootsie, Kramer vs. Kramer, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?, A Man for All Seasons, Taxi Driver and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. He set up his own company, John Veitch Prods., at Columbia in 1987. Subsequently, he produced such films as Fast Forward, Suspect, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Fly Away Home.
Veitch became co-chairman of Lions Gate division LG Pictures in 1998, a post he held at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife of 41 years, Carol Lee, his son Jonathan and the latter's wife Sarah, daughter Jonna and her husband John Carls, and four grandchildren, along with his three sisters: Ann McGale, Mary Veitch and Jean Layh. Services were held at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Los Angeles."
Veitch began his career as an actor, appearing in such films as Billy Wilder's Stalag 17 and Fred Zinnemann's From Here to Eternity before becoming an assistant director and production manager. As such, he worked with the likes of Wilder, John Ford and George Stevens.
In 1961, he came to Columbia Pictures where he remained for the next quarter century, lasting through some 14 management changes before being named production chief in 1979. While at Columbia he oversaw such films as Tootsie, Kramer vs. Kramer, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?, A Man for All Seasons, Taxi Driver and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. He set up his own company, John Veitch Prods., at Columbia in 1987. Subsequently, he produced such films as Fast Forward, Suspect, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Fly Away Home.
Veitch became co-chairman of Lions Gate division LG Pictures in 1998, a post he held at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife of 41 years, Carol Lee, his son Jonathan and the latter's wife Sarah, daughter Jonna and her husband John Carls, and four grandchildren, along with his three sisters: Ann McGale, Mary Veitch and Jean Layh. Services were held at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Los Angeles."
"As president of worldwide production for Columbia Pictures, John Veitch oversaw the production of over 300 films. He also served with the executive branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for three decades.
Veitch began his career as an actor, appearing in such films as Billy Wilder's Stalag 17 and Fred Zinnemann's From Here to Eternity before becoming an assistant director and production manager. As such, he worked with the likes of Wilder, John Ford and George Stevens.
In 1961, he came to Columbia Pictures where he remained for the next quarter century, lasting through some 14 management changes before being named production chief in 1979. While at Columbia he oversaw such films as Tootsie, Kramer vs. Kramer, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?, A Man for All Seasons, Taxi Driver and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. He set up his own company, John Veitch Prods., at Columbia in 1987. Subsequently, he produced such films as Fast Forward, Suspect, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Fly Away Home.
Veitch became co-chairman of Lions Gate division LG Pictures in 1998, a post he held at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife of 41 years, Carol Lee, his son Jonathan and the latter's wife Sarah, daughter Jonna and her husband John Carls, and four grandchildren, along with his three sisters: Ann McGale, Mary Veitch and Jean Layh. Services were held at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Los Angeles."
Veitch began his career as an actor, appearing in such films as Billy Wilder's Stalag 17 and Fred Zinnemann's From Here to Eternity before becoming an assistant director and production manager. As such, he worked with the likes of Wilder, John Ford and George Stevens.
In 1961, he came to Columbia Pictures where he remained for the next quarter century, lasting through some 14 management changes before being named production chief in 1979. While at Columbia he oversaw such films as Tootsie, Kramer vs. Kramer, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?, A Man for All Seasons, Taxi Driver and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. He set up his own company, John Veitch Prods., at Columbia in 1987. Subsequently, he produced such films as Fast Forward, Suspect, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Fly Away Home.
Veitch became co-chairman of Lions Gate division LG Pictures in 1998, a post he held at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife of 41 years, Carol Lee, his son Jonathan and the latter's wife Sarah, daughter Jonna and her husband John Carls, and four grandchildren, along with his three sisters: Ann McGale, Mary Veitch and Jean Layh. Services were held at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Los Angeles."
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
