Disney producer Andrew Gunn dead at 58 after ALS battle

Andrew Gunn has handed away at the age of 58. The Disney producer, whose credit embody blockbuster movies such as Freaky Friday, Cruella, and Sky High, succumbed to issues from ALS.

Film author Blaise Hemingway paid heartfelt tribute, noting: “Andrew Gunn’s legacy will go far beyond the movies he made; he’s the ‘godfather’ to more writers, producers, directors, and executives than I can count. So many of us owe our careers to Andrew Gunn.”

Producer and author Shawn Ryan, acknowledged for his work on The Shield, The Night Agent, and S.W.A.T., expressed his sorrow: “Grieving the loss of our longtime family friend Andrew Gunn. This is the second friend (after Shield producer Scott Brazil) who I’ve lost to ALS, a truly horrific disease. My kids grew up very close to Andrew’s kids and I feel deeply for them all today.”

Gunn acquired his diagnosis in 2024 for the neurological degenerative condition, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. His household confirmed he died peacefully at dwelling in Toronto.

He performed a pivotal function in the triumph of the beloved movie Freaky Friday, having pitched the concept to the studio head at the time, resulting in its eventual huge success. The project initially featured Annette Bening, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Tom Selleck in the solid, reviews the Mirror.

Due to scheduling conflicts, however, those plans fell by means of, and Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan finally took on the lead roles. Nina Jacobson, then studio head and movement footage president, mirrored: “We made movies with genuine creative exuberance at that time and Andrew never had any shortage of that.

“On Freaky Friday, we have been capable of decide on a inventive intuition and never by asking an algorithm on who to solid.”

Andrew’s career spanned numerous notable films, but he considered his family his greatest achievement. He fondly remembered how his children contributed to the sequel, detailing their involvement in the Freakier Friday movie. He shared: “The best half was my daughter labored in the digicam division and acquired into the (cinematographers) union and my son labored in props. So I acquired to see them every day. I am unable to specific what that meant to me.”

In the 90s, Andrew collaborated with Great Oaks Entertainment, a production company helmed by John Hughes. Reflecting on their partnership, Andrew revealed: “John Hughes told me that in case you have earned it with comedy and real plausible characters, it takes little or no, Planes Trains and Automobiles being an instance, to shock the viewers with tears they didn’t count on.” Andrew is survived by his youngsters, his spouse Jane, mom Anne, and siblings (*58*) Knight, Graeme Gunn and Cameron Gunn.