Robert Laemmle, the proprietor and former president of California’s arthouse chain Laemmle Theaters, has died. He was 89.
Deadline confirms that Robert died on Thursday at Berkley East Healthcare Center in Santa Monica. A reason for demise was not instantly identified.
Robert’s son Greg Laemmle, who took over as Laemmle Theatres president in 2004, advised the Los Angeles Times his father was hospitalized after struggling a fall at his Santa Monica dwelling on Dec. 23.
Born Sept. 5, 1935 in Paris, Bob Laemmle immigrated to the United States together with his household in 1938, the identical 12 months his father Max and uncle Kurt Laemmle launched their first cinemas in Highland Park. Their uncle Carl Laemmle beforehand co-founded Universal Pictures in 1912.
Robert joined the household enterprise in 1961 earlier than ultimately taking on for his father. Although he retired in 2004, Robert continued going into the workplace till 2020 and working the enterprise together with his son Greg.
“There really has been a Laemmle in the film business ever since there has been a film business,” Greg advised Santa Monica Daily News in 2022. “It’s pretty rare to have a three generational family business and I think we occupy a unique, interesting place in Los Angeles: being the family that has been bringing foreign films to LA for generations, and those films educate and inspire people.”
Robert is survived by his spouse Michelle and his youngsters Greg, Jessica, Yvonne, Michelle, David, Carri, Mitchell, Maitland and Robert, in addition to 13 grandchildren.