Lynda Obst, Executive Producer of Interstellar Dies At 74 Due To Chronic Pulmonary Disease

As a lifestyle expert reflecting on the life of Lynda Obst, I find myself truly inspired by her remarkable journey and indelible impact on Hollywood. Her career, marked by groundbreaking achievements and an unwavering commitment to women’s representation in film, serves as a testament to perseverance, creativity, and the power of ambition.


In Los Angeles, Lynda Obst, a renowned Hollywood producer known for hit movies such as Sleepless in Seattle, Flashdance, and Adventures in Babysitting, passed away at the age of 74. Throughout her career, Obst made significant strides to promote women in the film industry, particularly during a period when female film producers were relatively uncommon.

According to Variety, Rick Rosen, her brother and business partner at WME, openly admired her achievements, viewing her as a groundbreaking woman in Hollywood who skillfully balances her commitment to her career and family through the lens of her photography.

Previously this year, it was disclosed by Obst herself that she’s been dealing with chronic pulmonary diseases called COPD for quite a while, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Lately, Obst has been involved in television series production and executive production, including projects like The Hot Zone, Good Girls Revolt, Hot in Cleveland, Helix, and most recently, she worked on Interstellar (2014), a film directed by Christopher Nolan. Throughout her career, she’s also produced successful movies such as How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Bad Girls, and The Fisher King.

She initiated her career by editing a book titled “The Sixties”, which later became a miniseries, and served as an editor for the New York Times Magazine. Following her relocation to Los Angeles, Obst secured a role in development at Casablanca Records and Film Works under Peter Guber, where she contributed to the script development for Flashdance, marking her first production credit.

With inspiration from Paramount’s Dawn Steele, Obst teamed up with Debra Hill to establish one of the pioneering female production companies. This company later produced films such as Adventures in Babysitting, Heartbreak Hotel, and The Fisher King.

Obst and Ephron’s partnership started after Ephron got acquainted with David Obst, who is a literary agent and Obst’s husband. In her debut as a producer, Roger directed the film titled “This Is My Life”, while both collaborated on executive producing “Sleepless in Seattle”.

She is survived by a son, Oly Obst, two brothers Rick and Michael Rosen and her two grandchildren.

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2024-10-23 07:52