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Jay Weston

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Jay Weston
Born
John Martin Weinstein

(1929-03-09)March 9, 1929
New York City, U.S.
DiedFebruary 28, 2023(2023-02-28)(aged 93)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materNew York University
Occupations
Years active1960s–2023
Spouse
Ann Weston Begelman
​
​
(m.1970⁠–⁠1978)​
RelativesStanley Weston(brother)[1]

Jay Weston(bornJohn Martin Weinstein,March 9, 1929 – February 28, 2023) was an American film producer and restaurant critic. He is known for producingBilly Wilder's final comedy,Buddy Buddy,and the Academy Award-nominatedLady Sings the Blues,as well as for his popular restaurant newsletter that focused on the Los Angeles dining scene. He was a regular contributor to theHuffington Post.[2]

Early life

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Weston grew up in aJewishfamily inBrooklyn,New York.[3]His father worked in thegarment industry,while his mother was a homemaker and a jazz pianist.[1]His brother,Stanley,would grow up to create theG.I. Joeaction figure.[1]Weston graduated fromNew York Universityin 1949. While serving in the army during theKorean War,he was editor of a military newspaper,The Hialean,that received numerous prestigious recognitions, including threeArmy Commendation Medals.[4]

Career

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Early years

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Before working in film, Weston worked as a newspaper columnist and as apublic relationsexecutive.[5]His first entertainment job was as aBroadwaypress agent.[4]

When he returned to New York from the war in 1953, he started his career inpublic relations,in which he founded one of the largest PR firms in the country at that time. He also played a prominent role in Cinerama Inc., the company that created theCineramawidescreenfilm process. Weston worked at Cinerama for a decade.[4]

Film and theater

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His years at Cinerama gave Weston a deeper love and appreciation for film, which led him to writeThe War Horses,a screenplay that was subsequently purchased by film producerJoseph E. Levine.The War Horseswas a story about how theBoer Warof Africa was won by the British by remounting their cavalry on American cow ponies. It was to starRichard Burton,Elizabeth Taylor,andJohn Wayne.Although the script was never produced, Weston's passion for film continued and he went on to create his own independentproduction company.[4]

Weston became head ofABC's feature film division,Palomar Pictures,in 1967, where his first project becameThey Shoot Horses, Don't They?The film went on to be nominated for eightAcademy Awardsand win one. Weston then co-producedFor Love of Ivy,the first major studio production to star two black actors (Sidney PoitierandAbbey Lincoln).[4]

In 1968, Weston returned to New York to produce the Broadway playDoes a Tiger Wear a Necktie?,which launched the career of a then-unknownAl Pacino.[4]The actor went on to win aTony Awardfor his performance, even though the play ran for only 39 performances.[6]

Probably his most well-known and acclaimed film,Lady Sings the Blues,came in 1972. StarringDiana Rossin her acting debut, the film was a biographical film aboutjazzsingerBillie Holidayand went on to be nominated for five Academy Awards.[4]Weston had originally offered the role toAbbey Lincoln,but she declined.[7]

Weston suedCreative Artists Agency(CAA) in 1979 about the rights to a film and, years later, it was revealed that Weston was "totally ostracized" by the agency.[8]

Restaurant critic

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Weston's love of food led him to foundJay Weston's Restaurant Newsletter,which was available by subscription through the mail beginning in the early 1980s. Weston counted many notable Hollywood names as subscribers.[5]His opinion on restaurants was sought by numerous reputable publications, includingThe New York Times.[2]

Death

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Weston died of natural causes at theMotion Picture & Television Fundhome inWoodland Hills,Los Angeles, on February 28, 2023, at age 93.[9]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Production
1968 For Love of Ivy[10]
1972 Lady Sings the Blues[10]
1976 W.C. Fields and Me[10]
1980 Night of the Juggler[10]
1981 Underground Aces[11]
1981 Chu Chu and the Philly Flash[10]
1981 Buddy Buddy[10]
1990 Side Out[11]

Television

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Year Production Notes
1987 Laguna Heat[12] Television film
1999 Invisible Child[12] Television film

References

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  1. ^abc"Stanley Weston, created original G.I. Joe figure, dead at 84".The Washington Post.May 25, 2017.RetrievedJune 2,2019.
  2. ^abPurdum, Todd S. (October 24, 1997)."Los Angeles Journal; A Sushi Bar Brings Hollywood to Its Knees".The New York Times.RetrievedJuly 16,2012.
  3. ^Huffington Post: "LACMA Opening Resnick Pavilion!" by Jay WestonJuly 30, 2010
  4. ^abcdefg"Sideout".Sony Pictures. Archived fromthe originalon December 14, 2013.RetrievedJuly 16,2012.
  5. ^abFinke, Nikki (November 5, 1987)."Producer's Gossipy Film-Industry Guide to Fine Dining Is Elitist Hit".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJuly 16,2012.
  6. ^Yule, A. (1992).Al Pacino: Life on the Wire.Time Warner Paperbacks.
  7. ^"Letter to the editor".The New York Times.March 17, 2002.RetrievedJuly 16,2012.
  8. ^Michael Cieply. "Inside the Agency: How Hollywood works: Creative Artists Agency and the men who run it",latimes, July 2, 1989. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  9. ^Barnes, Mike (March 3, 2023)."Jay Weston, 'Lady Sings the Blues' Producer, Dies at 93".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedMarch 3,2023.
  10. ^abcdef"Jay Weston, 'Lady Sings the Blues' Producer, Dies at 93".yahoo.
  11. ^abReul, Katie (March 3, 2023)."Jay Weston, 'Lady Sings the Blues' Producer, Dies at 93".
  12. ^abEvans, Greg (March 3, 2023)."Jay Weston Dies: 'Lady Sings the Blues' Producer Who Gave Al Pacino Broadway Break Was 93".Deadline Hollywood.
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