Wayne Lewellen
Encyclopedia
Wayne Lewellen was an American
film distribution executive and producer for Paramount Pictures
.
A native Texan, Allen Wayne Lewellen (he later dropped his first name) began his career in 1965, aged 21, at Warner Bros' Dallas branch, where he booked the cartoons that accompanied features. After a four-year stint with Columbia Pictures
, Lewellen joined Paramount
as branch manager in the Dallas-Oklahoma office. He began heading the distribution unit for the studio's motion picture group in 1986 and added foreign distribution to his duties in 1993.
During his tenure, he was responsible for distributing such films as Forrest Gump
, Titanic
, Top Gun
, Fatal Attraction
, Beverly Hills Cop
and the Star Trek film series.
Lewellen left the studio at the end of 2005, after reportedly having been forced out by film executive Brad Grey
.
. He was survived by his widow, Rosemary Lewellen; three sons, six grandchildren, one brother and two sisters.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film distribution executive and producer for Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
.
A native Texan, Allen Wayne Lewellen (he later dropped his first name) began his career in 1965, aged 21, at Warner Bros' Dallas branch, where he booked the cartoons that accompanied features. After a four-year stint with Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
, Lewellen joined Paramount
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
as branch manager in the Dallas-Oklahoma office. He began heading the distribution unit for the studio's motion picture group in 1986 and added foreign distribution to his duties in 1993.
During his tenure, he was responsible for distributing such films as Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic comedy-drama romance film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise...
, Titanic
Titanic (1997 film)
Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. A fictionalized account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson, Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater and Billy Zane as Rose's fiancé, Cal...
, Top Gun
Top Gun
Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
, Fatal Attraction
Fatal Attraction
Fatal Attraction is a 1987 American thriller blended with horror, directed by Adrian Lyne and stars Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Anne Archer. The film centers around a married man who has a weekend affair with a woman who refuses to allow it to end, resulting in emotional blackmail, stalking...
, Beverly Hills Cop
Beverly Hills Cop
Beverly Hills Cop is a 1984 American comedy-action film directed by Martin Brest and starring Eddie Murphy, Lisa Eilbacher, John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, and Ronny Cox...
and the Star Trek film series.
Lewellen left the studio at the end of 2005, after reportedly having been forced out by film executive Brad Grey
Brad Grey
Brad Alan Grey is the Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, a position he has held since 2005. Under Grey’s leadership, Paramount has finished No.2 in market share in 2008, 2009 and 2010 despite releasing significantly fewer films than its competitors.Since arriving at Paramount in 2005,...
.
Death
Lewellen died on March 27, 2009, aged 65, following a short battle with cancer at his home in Westlake Village, CaliforniaWestlake Village, California
Westlake Village is a planned community that straddles the Los Angeles and Ventura county line. The eastern portion is the incorporated city Westlake Village, located on the western edge of Los Angeles County, California. The city, located in the region known as the Conejo Valley, encompasses half...
. He was survived by his widow, Rosemary Lewellen; three sons, six grandchildren, one brother and two sisters.