Frank Capra Jr., movie producer; at 73
LOS ANGELES - Frank Capra Jr., the son of the legendary Hollywood director who rose through the ranks to become a movie producer and for the past decade was president of EUE Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington, N.C., has died. He was 73.
Mr. Capra died Wednesday of prostate cancer in a hospital in Philadelphia, said his son, Jonathan, on Thursday.
In a Hollywood career that began with a job as a second assistant director on the TV series "Dennis the Menace" and "The Rifleman," Mr. Capra became an associate producer on the films "Play It Again, Sam," "Marooned," and three "Planet of the Apes" outings.
He also produced "Billy Jack Goes to Washington," "Born Again," and "An Eye for An Eye."
From 1981 to 1982, he served as president and chief executive officer of Avco Embassy Pictures.
Mr. Capra first came to Wilmington in 1983 to scout locations for "Firestarter," a 1984 horror film starring Drew Barrymore for Dino De Laurentiis's company.
In 1996, Mr. Capra returned to Wilmington to become president of EUE Screen Gems Studios.
He remained president of the studio until his death.
