Edward R. “Ed” Pressman, a controversial independent producer, passed away on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Nearly 90 movies, including “Wall Street,” “Badlands,” “Bad Lieutenant,” “Conan the Barbarian,” and “American Psycho,” were produced by him. He was 79.
The fiercely independent producer had an impressive track record for spotting new talent, having worked with a number of well-known directors, including Oliver Stone, Werner Herzog, Kathryn Bigelow, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Alex Cox, Brian De Palma, Abel Ferrara, Terrence Malick, John Milius, and Mary Harron.
The early De Palma movies “Sisters” and “Phantom of the Paradise,” as well as Terrence Malick’s breakthrough feature “Badlands,” starring Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen, were all directed by Pressman.
Pressman met his future wife, actor Annie McEnroe, on the set of Oliver Stone’s directorial debut, “The Hand,” which marked the beginning of their long-term working relationship. The subsequent films “Talk Radio,” “Wall Street,” and “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” by Stone were all produced by Pressman.
Early Bigelow thriller “Blue Steel,” starring Jamie Lee Curtis, was co-produced by Pressman and Stone.
Edward R. Pressman’s wife and children
His wife Annie McEncroe Pressman and son Sam Pressman, who has spent the last ten years working for his father’s Edward R. Pressman Film Corp and will continue to do so, are his only surviving family members.
Edward R. Pressman’s parents and siblings
His parents are Lynn Pressman Raymond and Jack Pressman. His siblings are Ann Markelson and James Pressman
