Herb Jaffe

Herb Jaffe (May 20, 1921 – December 7, 1991) was an independent film producer in the United States. He came to producing after two earlier careers in the industry: as a literary agent whose clients included Paddy Chayefsky, Reginald Rose, Joseph Heller and Philip Roth, and as a senior executive at United Artists, where he rose to head of worldwide production.

Jaffe left United Artists in the early 1970s to produce independently. His first feature in that capacity was John Milius's The Wind and the Lion (1975), and he went on to make some sixteen films, among them Demon Seed (1977), Who'll Stop the Rain (1978), Time After Time (1979) and Fright Night (1985). In the 1980s he headed the production company The Vista Organization.

Career Early career Jaffe was born in Brooklyn, New York, and began his career as a press agent before joining the newly formed television division of the talent agency MCA, where he spent about six years. As a literary agent, he represented writers including Reginald Rose initially as a vice-president for production. He became head of the studio's West Coast production and eventually of its worldwide production. He was at United Artists during the period in which it released Midnight Cowboy (1969) and Last Tango in Paris (1972).

Personal life and death Two of Jaffe's sons worked in the film industry. Steven-Charles Jaffe is a producer whose early credits include Demon Seed and Time After Time; Robert Jaffe is a writer, producer and actor who wrote Demon Seed and Motel Hell and co-wrote Nightflyers.

Jaffe died of cancer at the age of 70 at his home in Beverly Hills, California.

Filmography The Wind and the Lion (1975) (producer) Demon Seed (1977) (producer) Who'll Stop the Rain (1978) (producer) Time After Time (1979) (producer) Motel Hell (1980) (executive producer) Those Lips, Those Eyes (1980) (executive producer) Jinxed! (1982) (producer) The Lords of Discipline (1983) (producer) Little Treasure (1985) (producer) Fright Night (1985) (producer) Three for the Road (1987) (producer) Maid to Order (1987) (producer) Dudes (1987) (producer) Nightflyers (1987) (executive producer) Remote Control (1988) (executive producer) Fright Night Part 2 (1988) (producer)