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Erik Lomis, a longtime film sales executive who worked at MGM, United Artists Releasing and the Weinstein Company, died Wednesday at his home in Santa Monica, California. He was 64 years old.
His cause of death is unknown.
During his three-decade career in Hollywood, Lomis oversaw the theatrical releases of Oscar-winning and big-budget blockbusters, and forged long-lasting relationships with filmmakers including Bond stars Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson and Sylvester Stallone, Irwin Winkler and Ryan Coogler.
In his most recent position, Lomis was head of theatrical distribution for MGM during the studio’s acquisition by Amazon. Most recently, he oversaw the publishing strategy for Creed III, which resulted in a record $51 million franchise, and prepared the debut of Ben Affleck’s sports drama Air, which is in theaters ahead of landing on Amazon Prime .
Lomis was previously President of Sales for United Artists Releasing, where he spearheaded the launch of the Oscar-winning Women Talking and the latest James Bond blockbuster No Time To Die.
Prior to United Artists Releasing, Lomis was Sales Director at Annapurna Pictures, where he established the studio’s internal sales and in-theater marketing departments. At the company, he brought a number of films to the big screen, including Vice and If Beale Street Could Talk, as well as the domestic release of Daniel Craig’s Bond films and Creed II.
At The Weinstein Company, where he worked from 2011 to 2016, Lomis was President of Theatrical Distribution and Home Entertainment, overseeing the publication of The Artist, The Iron Lady, The King’s Speech, Silver Linings Playbook, Django Unchained and The Imitation Game.
Lomis also previously served at MGM as the studio’s president of global theatrical distribution, home entertainment and acquisitions. There he oversaw the domestic theatrical distribution, marketing and distribution of MGM’s international titles.
Born on November 21, 1958 in Philadelphia, Lomis began his film career in his teens working as a porter after school. He later became chief film buyer at Sameric Corp in Philadelphia, where he was also responsible for real estate development before becoming head of the national film department at United Artists Theatres, the nation’s largest theater chain.
Lomis is survived by his wife Patricia Laucella; his children Natalia Jovovich, Nicole Rose Lomis and Zach Lomis; his stepmother Joanne Lomis; sister, Sandy McGuigan; and brother Charles Lomis.