Stanley R. Jaffe

Stanley R. Jaffe
Born
Stanley Richard Jaffe

(1940-07-31)July 31, 1940
New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
DiedMarch 10, 2025(2025-03-10) (aged 84)
Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania
Occupations
  • Film producer
  • director
Known for
Spouses
  • Joan Ellen Goodman
    ​
    (divorced)​
  • Melinda Jill Marciano
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1986)​
Children4
FatherLeo Jaffe

Stanley Richard Jaffe (/ˈdʒæfi/; July 31, 1940 – March 10, 2025) was an American film producer. His producing credits included Fatal Attraction, The Accused and Kramer vs. Kramer, which won an Academy Award for Best Picture.

Background

Jaffe was born into a Jewish family in New Rochelle, New York, the son of film executive Leo Jaffe. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, in 1962.

Career

In 1962, Jaffe joined Seven Arts Associates, and in 1964, he was named executive assistant to the president of Seven Arts. After Warner Bros. purchased Seven Arts in 1967, Jaffe left to join CBS for two years.

After producing Goodbye Columbus, Jaffe was appointed executive vice president and chief operations officer of Paramount Pictures in 1970, and within three months was named president. In 1971, he resigned to form an independent production company called Jaffilms, which was associated with Columbia Pictures. Jaffilms produced Bad Company (1972) and The Bad News Bears (1976). In 1977, Jaffe became executive vice president of worldwide production at Columbia Pictures.

Jaffe returned to independent production with Kramer vs. Kramer in 1979. In 1983, in collaboration with Sherry Lansing (then president of Twentieth Century-Fox), he started the production company Jaffe-Lansing. In 1991, he was named president and chief operating officer of Paramount Communications and dissolved his partnership with Lansing. In 1992, he was named successor to Brandon Tartikoff as president of Paramount.

When Viacom purchased Paramount in 1994, Jaffe was forced out and filed a lawsuit against Paramount for $20 million in a stock option dispute. The case was dismissed by the court in 1995 and Jaffe's company Jaffilms entered into a production agreement with Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Veto of the Star Trek Enterprise complex in Las Vegas

In or around 1992, a consortium of developers and city officials proposed a replica of the Star Trek ship Enterprise in Las Vegas. The giant scale model of the ship would include restaurants and tours but no hotel or casino. The proposal was approved by president of Paramount Sherry Lansing and only needed Jaffe's approval as Paramount CEO. However, Jaffe rejected the proposal, believing that if unsuccessful, the building would be a permanent reminder of failure.

Death

Jaffe died at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, on March 10, 2025, aged 84.

Awards and nominations

Filmography

Jaffe served as the producer for all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

Year Film Credit Notes
1969Goodbye, Columbus
1970I Start Counting
1972Bad Company
1976The Bad News Bears
1979Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Taps
1983Without a Trace
1984Racing with the MoonUncredited
FirstbornExecutive producer
1987Fatal Attraction
1988The Accused
1989Black Rain
1992School Ties
1998MadelineExecutive producer
2000I Dreamed of Africa
2002The Four Feathers
As director
Year Film
1983Without a Trace

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Barnes, Mike (March 10, 2025). "Stanley R. Jaffe, Oscar-Winning 'Kramer vs. Kramer' Producer, Dies at 84". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Stanley Jaffe: Inside Hollywood with Hawk Koch". YouTube. MPTF. March 23, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  3. ↑ Mitgang, Herbert (2012). "Stanley R. Jaffe". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  4. ↑ Erens, Patricia. The Jew in American Cinema. ISBN 9780253204936 | ISBN 0253204933 | Publisher: Indiana University Press | Publish Date: August 1988. Page 392.
  5. 1 2 James Sterngold (August 21, 1997). "Leo Jaffe, Hollywood Deal Maker, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Stanley R. Jaffe biography". Yahoo. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  7. 1 2 Dick, Bernard F. (2001). Engulfed: the death of Paramount Pictures and the birth of corporate Hollywood. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 114–124. ISBN 9780813122021.
  8. ↑ Sloane, Leonard (July 29, 1970). "Paramount Officer Is Named President". New York Times. p. 69. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  9. ↑ Sloane, Leonard (April 2, 1971). "Paramount Chief is Set to Resign; 30-Year-Old President Plans Own Production Company". New York Times. p. 53. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
  10. ↑ Farber, Stephen (May 23, 1987). "Republic is Back in the Movie Business". New York Times. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  11. ↑ Blandford, Linda (December 3, 1989). "A Prince of Hollywood". New York Times. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  12. ↑ "People". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 5, 1983. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
  13. ↑ Cieply, Michael (March 19, 1991). "Stanley Jaffe Named Paramount President Entertainment: The veteran producer may help boost the firm's sagging film operation". Los Angeles Times. p. D-2. Retrieved June 16, 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. ↑ Dick, Bernard F. (1997). City of dreams: the making and remaking of Universal Pictures. University Press of Kentucky. p. 4. ISBN 9780813120164. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  15. ↑ "Jaffe, Forced Out of Paramount, Sues". Los Angeles Times. April 15, 1994. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
  16. ↑ Trumbore, Dave (April 8, 2012). "Las Vegas Almost Built a Full Scale USS Enterprise From STAR TREK". Collider. Archived from the original on April 28, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Awards Search Results 1981". Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) Awards & Festivals". Mubi. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Peterson, Erik (March 10, 2025). "Stanley R. Jaffe Dies: 'Kramer Vs. Kramer' Oscar Winner Who Also Produced 'Fatal Attraction' & More Was 84". Deadline.