Producer of ‘Master and Commander’ Was 86

Meyer Gottlieb, who headed Samuel Goldwyn Films and produced movies including “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,” died Monday in Los Angeles. He was 86.

Tom Rothman, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, said in a press release, “Meyer was a gentleman of the old school. I was fortunate to work for him when he ran the Samuel Goldwyn Company, in the heyday of independent film. I learned an enormous amount from him — most importantly, that it is possible to make a life in Hollywood without sacrificing integrity and honesty, both of which he embodied entirely, along with smarts, wisdom, and kindness. I send my sincere condolences to his loving family during this difficult time.”

Born in Poland just before the Germans invaded, Gottlieb was a Holocaust survivor who lived in Ukraine labor camps during the warfare and then in a displaced individual’s camp in Germany. After an awesome aunt introduced him to Los Angeles, he realized English in school and finally graduated from UCLA.

He grew to become president and COO of the Samuel Goldwyn Co. in 1988 after helped Samuel Goldwyn Jr. revive the company in 1978 with basic movies from Goldwyn’s father’s library.

Among the other movies he produced for Goldwyn had been “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” remake, starring Ben Stiller. As a top Goldwyn govt, he shepherded releases including the acquired Michael Apted movie “Amazing Grace,” “Mystic Pizza,” “Eat, Drink, Man, Woman,” “Super Size Me” and “The Squid and the Whale.”

He is survived by his spouse Pattikay, two daughters and two grandchildren.