MGM Distributor Erik Lomis Dead at 64, Cause of Death and Obituary
by Kowsalya
Updated Mar 23, 2023
MGM Distributor Erik Lomis Dead at 64
Erik Lomis, who served as MGM's head of theatrical distribution for over three decades, passed away on Wednesday in Santa Monica, California at the age of 64. The cause of his death has not been disclosed yet. Lomis was a prominent figure in the film industry and worked at various studios, including MGM, The Weinstein Company, Annapurna Pictures, and United Artists, where he oversaw the James Bond franchise. He was involved in the distribution of several critically acclaimed films, such as "The Artist," "The Iron Lady," "The King's Speech," "Silver Linings Playbook," "Django Unchained," and "The Imitation Game," as well as "Inherent Vice" and "If Beale Street Could Talk."
Erik Lomis Death and Obituary
On Wednesday, Erik Lomis, a highly respected distribution executive, passed away suddenly at the age of 64 at his home in Santa Monica. Lomis had a successful three-decade career in Hollywood, during which he oversaw the distribution of numerous blockbusters and Oscar-winning films. At the time of his death, Lomis was serving as MGM's head of distribution and was working closely with Amazon Studios to prepare for the release of Ben Affleck's Air on April 5th. Recently, Amazon acquired MGM and signed Lomis to a new deal, recognizing him as a champion of the theatrical experience. Amazon executives, Mike Hopkins, Jennifer Salke, and Chris Brearton, sent a note to staff expressing their sadness at the news of Lomis' death, calling him an "icon in our industry" and acknowledging the significant impact he had on so many people's lives.
Erik Lomis Cause of Death
At the age of 64, Erik Lomis passed away on Wednesday at his home in Santa Monica. The reason behind his sudden death is yet to be confirmed. Lomis had a long and successful career in Hollywood, including two stints with MGM, where he served as the President of Worldwide Theatrical Distribution, Home Entertainment & Acquisitions during the '90s and 2000s. During this time, he oversaw the releases of major films such as "Legally Blonde" starring Reese Witherspoon, and Pierce Brosnan's James Bond movies "Goldeneye" and "Die Another Day." His most recent position was as president of theatrical distribution at MGM, where he was involved in the upcoming release of "Air," starring Ben Affleck. Lomis was a respected figure in the industry, and his sudden death is a great loss to those who knew him
Who is Erik Lomis?
Erik Lomis, the president of theatrical distribution at MGM, passed away on Tuesday (March 22) at his home in Santa Monica. At the time of writing, his family had not yet communicated any funeral or memorial plans, but they were expected to do so soon. Born on November 21, 1958, in Philadelphia, Lomis developed a passion for the film after working as a theatre usher during his teenage years. He later became the head film buyer at Sameric Corp in Philadelphia, where he was also responsible for real estate development. Lomis went on to work for United Artists Theatres, where he formed long-standing relationships with filmmakers such as Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson from EON Productions, Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, Sylvester Stallone, Irwin Winkler, and Ryan Coogler. He then joined MGM, where he served as president of worldwide theatrical distribution, home entertainment & acquisitions, overseeing domestic theatrical distribution as well as the marketing and distribution of MGM’s international titles. Later, he moved to The Weinstein Company as president of theatrical distribution & home entertainment from 2011-16, handling Oscar-winning films such as The Artist, The Iron Lady, The King’s Speech, Silver Linings Playbook, Django Unchained, and The Imitation Game. Lomis recently returned to MGM as head of theatrical distribution, where he oversaw the theatrical distribution strategy for the box office hit Creed III. When the film grossed $58.4m over its opening weekend (and more than $100m worldwide), Lomis was calling reporters to discuss the results.
MGM Distributor Erik Lomis Dead at 64 - FAQs
Erik Lomis was a veteran film executive and distributor who worked in the film industry for over three decades. He served as the President of Distribution at MGM Studios, where he oversaw the theatrical releases of several major films, including the James Bond franchise, The Hobbit trilogy, and Creed. He was also responsible for the distribution of films from MGM's partner studios, such as Sony Pictures, Lionsgate, and Annapurna Pictures.
The circumstances surrounding Lomis' death have not been publicly disclosed. He passed away on March 18, 2023, at the age of 64.
Lomis had a significant impact on the film industry during his career. He was widely regarded as a skilled distributor and marketer, with a keen eye for identifying successful films and maximizing their box office potential. He also played a key role in shaping MGM's distribution strategy, helping to position the studio as a major player in the industry.