Allen's Producer Joffe Dies

15 July 2008 5:08 AM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news

Woody Allen's manager and co-producer Charles Joffe has died. He was 78. Joffe won an Oscar for producing Best Picture Winner Annie Hall in 1977.

Joffe passed away Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Wednesday, following a long illness.

He had helped shape the careers of many high profile comedians including Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and Lenny Bruce, and signed Allen to his New York-based agency when the funnyman was an unknown writer.

With Joffe's help, Allen negotiated his first movie deal for 1965's What's New *****cat - writing and starring in the film.

And in 1969 Joffe began to produce Allen's films, working alongside the Hollywood legend right up until his most recent release - this year's Vicky Cristina Barcelona starring Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson.

Joffe is survived by his wife, Carol.

Pedantic note -
A "swan song" is someone's final piece of work.

In Joffe's case, his swan song is Vicky Cristina Barcelona (for which he was co-executive producer); in reading the title, I thought the thread was about this film, not his death.

I also remember Joffe as the executive producer of "Arthur," one of my personal favorites.

May he rest in peace, and my prayers are with his family and friends.

Also, Evelyn Keyes - the second to last surviving GWTW cast member, but more memorably recalled for performances in such films noir like 99 River Street, died a few days ago as well.

She played Scarlet O'Hara's younger sister in GWTW.