Frank Yablans was president of Paramount during some of the studio’s most golden years from 1971 to 1975. Working under notorious owner Charlie Bludhorn, Yablans’ tenure included such Oscar winners and nominees as The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Serpico, Paper Moon, Chinatown and Murder On The Orient Express. He died peacefully in his sleep of natural causes this morning, his son, ICM Partners’ Eddy Yablans, told Deadline.
Frank Yablans worked in his early years for Warner Bros, The Walt Disney Company and Filmways and joined Paramount in the late 60s where he spearheaded marketing for Arthur Hiller’s Ryan O’Neal/Ali MacGraw tearjerker Love Story before ascending to the presidency. After leaving Paramount, he went on to a successful career as a producer/exec producer on such films as Richard Pryor/Gene Wilder comedy Silver Streak and Brian De Palma’s The Fury. He also wrote and produced such seminal films as 1979’s North Dallas Forty with Nick Nolte and 1981’s Mommie Dearest.
In 2003, Yablans founded Promenade Pictures, a production company devoted to family-friendly entertainment, which made such animated films as The Ten Commandments and Noah.
Yablans is survived by three children, four grandchildren and his longtime companion Nadia Pandolfo.
Nancy Tartaglione
