Charles Okun

Charles Okun (born September 8, 1924 in New York City , New York , † July 3, 2005 in Florida ) was an American film producer and assistant director .

Life

Okun was after graduating from New York University worked briefly as a teacher in the 1950s. He took his first steps in the film industry as an electrician, where he worked, among other things, in the production of commercials . It wasn't until the 1970s that his career took off. He worked as an assistant director with Otto Preminger , Michael Winner , Jonathan Demme and Sidney Lumet, among others . After two films as assistant director under Michael Cimino , including the multi -Oscar - winning anti - war film The Going Through Hell , Okun was one of three executive producers of Cimino's Western Heaven’s Gate . Between 1985 and 2003 Okun worked on the production of nine films by Lawrence Kasdans , including the drama The Travels of Mr. Leary , which was nominated for four Academy Awards .

Okun died of complications from cancer. He left two daughters.

1979: DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for Going Through Hell
1989: Oscar nomination for Best Picture for The Journeys of Mr. Leary

personal data
SURNAME	Okun, Charles
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American film producer and assistant director
DATE OF BIRTH	September 8, 1924
PLACE OF BIRTH	New York City , New York , United States
DATE OF DEATH	July 3, 2005
Place of death	Florida , United States