Television And Film Producer Martin Ransohoff Dies At 90-Cause Of Death

The Filmways Television co-founder and producer Martin Ransohoff has died at 90 on Wednesday, December 13 at his Bel Air home in Los Angeles, his stepson Steve Botthof told the Hollywood Reporter.

Ransohoff founded Filmways in 1952 with Ed Kasper which made industrial films and television commercials. The company went public in 1958 through the American Stock Exchange where Ransohoff became one of the youngest men to take an entertainment company to the public.

Ransohoff's credits include some of the 60 hit TV shows like Mister Ed, The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, The Addams Family, and Petticoat Junction. 

Later Ransohoff entered the movie business in 1962 along with the Filmways' executive John Calley, with the film Boys' Night Out. Ransohoff abandoned the company in 1962 and became an independent film producer.

As an independent producer, he had given some blockbuster hits including Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's The Sandpiper, Tony Richardson's Hamlet, Catch-22,  Ice Station Zebra and many more.

The producer was also known for launching various actresses including Sharon Tate who played the bank secretary on The Beverly Hillbillies. Ransohoff introduced her to the director Roman Polanski, and they were married in January 1968, but less than two years after the actress was murdered aged 26 in her L.A. home.

Ransohoff was married twice; his first wife was Nancy Hope Lundgren with whom he had four children Peter, 65, Karen, 63, and twins Steven and Kurt, 60. Later, he married an artist  Joan Marie Ransohoff, who already. The producer was predeceased by his daughter Karen.