The chairman of Viacom Entertainment and a former executive at 20th Century Fox, Jonathan Dolgen, died on October 9, 2023, in Los Angeles at the age of 78.
Dolgen began his legal career on Wall Street at Fried, Frank, Haris, Shriver, and Jacobsen before joining the legal team at Columbia Pictures. Dolgen joined Twentieth Century Fox as president of television in 1985, shortly before Rupert Murdoch bought the company. He later joined Sony Pictures as president of Columbia Pictures in 1991, where he controlled the company’s film business and gained a reputation for keeping films on time and budget. He was also regarded as being a tough and skilled negotiator.
From 1994 to 2004, the tenacious Dolgen oversaw Simon & Schuster and its music publishing operations in addition to Viacom’s film, television, and theme parks. He established a reputation for intelligence, drive, and a relentless focus on expenses and operational efficiency throughout this time. Shortly after Sumner Redstone defeated Barry Diller in a protracted legal battle to acquire Paramount Pictures in September 1993, he took over Viacom’s entertainment businesses.
Soon after starting work at Viacom, Dolgen once told the New York Times in a profile, “You come to work in the morning.” “And you work 12 hours and then take 12 hours off.” Then you go back to work and push even harder, study even more, and learn even more. And you start to achieve your objectives… “Perseverance is the key.”
Under the guidance of studio boss Sherry Lansing, Dolgen’s tenure as CEO of Paramount Pictures was a period of relative success. In the 1990s, the studio was on a roll, delivering best-picture winners such as “Titanic,” “Braveheart,” and “Forrest Gump,” as well as hits such as “The Truman Show,” “Face/Off,” “Zoolander,” and “Mission: Impossible,” which is still a top series today. He’s also worked on shows like “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Fraiser.”
Dolgen started Wood River Ventures, a media consulting and investment firm, after leaving Viacom in a management shuffle that also saw Viacom’s president, Mel Karmazin, leave the company and Tom Freston and Leslie Moonves promoted to senior roles.
Jonathan Dolgen: Cause of death
Per our findings, Jonathan Dolgen died of natural causes in Los Angeles.
Jonathan Dolgen: obituary
The obituary details Jonathan Dolgen has not been made known to the netizens as of the time of this publication.
Jonathan Dolgen: funeral arrangements
The funeral arrangement of Jonathan Dolgen is unknown as of the time of this publication.
