Gary Martin is dead: The former Sony Pictures executive was 79 years old

Gary Martin, a retired longtime Sony Pictures executive who served as president of studio operations and product during a 32-year tenure at the studio, has died. He was 79.

Sony officials said he died of natural causes on Nov. 2 at his home in Sherwood Forest, California.

Martin began his studio career at 20th Century Fox in 1961 and moved to Columbia twenty years later. He was promoted to president of production administration in 1988, retained that position after Sony’s acquisition of Columbia in 1989, and continued in that role after being promoted to president of studio operations in 2003.

During his 32 years at Columbia/Sony, Martin helped shape the company’s impressive box-office record by overseeing the production of such films as the Academy Award-nominated Best Picture. Test And Ghostbusters How Men in Black, Spider-Man And Casino Royale.

After his retirement in 2013, Sony Pictures renamed its most iconic sound stage, Stage 15 – one of the largest in the world – the Gary Martin Stage. It was built in 1927 and served as a film location The Wizard of Oz and decades later the spider man And Men in black Franchises, including films.

“As a colleague at Sony and then as a production manager when I made a few films there, Gary was rough, tough, great at his job – and one of the kindest, kindest people of all,” says Sid Ganis, former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Martin grew up on the stage as a second generation executive in the industry. His father Ivan was Director of Studio Operations at 20th Century Fox for many years. His father introduced the younger Martin to the Motion Picture and Television Fund – and he never forgot the wonderful care his mother received at the Motion Picture Hospital and remained a major donor until his death.

The Susan and Gary Martin Screening Room at the Louis B. Mayer Theater Complex on the MPTF campus in Woodland Hills is just one example of the Martins’ generosity.

“We never had to ask Gary and Susan for anything; they were always one step ahead of us,” says Bob Beitcher, CEO of MPTF and Martin’s longtime friend. “Gary asked himself, ‘What can we do to have a positive impact on residents?’ We gave him the list of things we were thinking of and he picked the most ambitious item and said, “Susie and I want to give you the money for it.”

Martin is survived by his wife of 56 years, Susan. son Sean; daughter-in-law Aisha; grandchildren Camille, Norah and Natalie; sister-in-law Nancy Patterson; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Film and Television Fund in his memory. A memorial service will be held at 9 a.m. Nov. 17 at Old North Church at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.