- LOS ANGELES: Hollywood executive John Calley, who held high-level positions at three studios and later produced "The Da Vinci Code" movie among many others, died at age 81, his representatives said.
Calley passed away at his home in Los Angeles after a lengthy illness, said Steve Elzer, a spokesman for Sony Pictures Entertainment. The Hollywood executive described by colleagues as erudite and humorous was hired at Sony Pictures in 1996 as president and chief operating officer. He was promoted in 1998 to become the studio's chairman and chief executive officer, and retired in 2003.
Calley came to Sony Pictures as the studio was coming off a tumultuous period under the former leadership of Peter Guber. During Calley's tenure at the studio, he oversaw the production of a number of box office hits, such as "Men in Black" (1997), "As Good As It Gets" (1997) and "Spider-Man" (2002). Under his leadership, the studio also produced hit television shows such as "The King of Queens" and "Dawson's Creek," and it saw growth in its home entertainment and international businesses, the studio said.