The Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis, the man behind such classics as Serpico and La Strada has died in Los Angeles.
De Laurentiis, who produced over 150 films, enjoyed critical acclaim for his work with the likes of Federico Fellini and Roberto Rossellini, but also enjoyed popular success with hits like Barbarella and Three Days Of The Condor. His diverse work included several of the Hannibal Lecter films, including the original Manhunter, plus David Lynch's Blue Velvet and ill-fated adaptation of Dune, controversial Madonna vehicle Body Of Evidence, zombie hit Army Of Darkness, the 1972 version of King Kong, and even fantasy favourite Flash Gordon.
The son of a pasta-maker, De Laurentiis experimented with many different aspects of the film-making process during his early career, appearing in front of the camera in seven films before he decided that acting wasn't for him. "I realised the exciting place was behind the camera with the producer, director and so on," he explained. As a producer he was known for his intense creative input and for his love of spectacle, which sometimes led him to go massively over budget. On two occasions he was forced to close his studios for financial reasons, though he remained dedicated to his craft. "My philosophy is very simple," he said. "To feel young, you must work as long as you can."
De Laurentiis is survived by five of his six children, all of whom work in the film industry, and by four grandchildren.
