Bill Thompson dies: Longtime booker of indie films for top distributors turns 73

Bill Thompson, whose career spanned Miramax Films, Gramercy Pictures, Lot 47 and other major independent distributors, died Monday of cancer in Manhattan. He turned 73.

The popular director has spent nearly 50 years in the film industry in distribution and screening.

A longtime theater writer, Thompson held senior distribution positions at such leading companies as Miramax Films, Gramercy Pictures, Lot 47 Films and Bob Berney’s Newmarket Films, Picturehouse, Apparition and Film District. Prior to that, he held senior film buying positions at various New York-based exhibitors, including Cinema 5, Walter Reade, Cineplex Odeon and City Cinemas.

Thompson recently received the Motion Picture Club’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

“RIP: Bill Thompson, my friend and colleague from Picturehouse and various companies where we made history together,” Berney tweeted (see below). “Bill was our inspiration to be the best we could be, loved by all.”

Born August 30, 1949 in Gowanda, NY and raised in Cattaraugus, Thompson was Senior VP Theatrical Sales for Cohen Media Group and sales consultant for Indomina Releasing, where he oversaw the national release of the critically acclaimed Leos Carax Holy Engines. He also consulted with Music Box Films.

Thompson taught a popular film industry course at New York University for many years. He was also active in the Motion Picture Club, Variety the Children’s Charity and the Motion Picture Pioneers.

“It is with deep sadness that I announce that Bill passed away painlessly and peacefully last night, just as we had hoped,” his wife, Sherri Thompson, wrote in a Facebook post. “Our daughters were with me by his side. I let him know the Bills won when the game was over and asked him if he was happy. He replied ‘very happy’ and those were the last words he spoke. He lived a wonderful life and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.”

Along with his wife of 43 years, Thompson is survived by their daughters Samantha Thompson and Sarah Shugar; son-in-law Jonathan Shugar; and grandchildren Eli and Nathan Shugar.