Robert Laemmle, a beloved figure in the world of arthouse cinema and former president of Laemmle Theaters, has passed away at the age of 89. Deadline confirmed his death, which occurred on Thursday at Berkley East Healthcare Center in Santa Monica. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
His son, Greg Laemmle, who took over the reins of Laemmle Theatres in 2004, shared with the Los Angeles Times that Robert had been hospitalized following a fall at his Santa Monica home on 23 December.
Born in Paris on 5 September, 1935, Robert Laemmle immigrated to the United States in 1938. That same year, his father Max and uncle Kurt launched their first cinemas in Highland Park, continuing a legacy tied to their uncle Carl Laemmle, co-founder of Universal Pictures. Robert joined the family business in 1961 and later succeeded his father, steering the company through decades of bringing international cinema to Los Angeles audiences.
Greg Laemmle highlighted the family’s enduring impact, stating, “There really has been a Laemmle in the film business ever since there has been a film business. 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 Laemmle leaves behind his wife Michelle, their children Greg, Jessica, Yvonne, Michelle, David, Carri, Mitchell, Maitland, and Robert, along with 13 grandchildren.
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