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Evzen Kolar, a veteran film executive who also produced such movies as Surf Ninjas and City of Industry, has died. He was 67.
Kolar died Tuesday in Los Angeles after a brief illness, publicist Jan Kean announced.
In 1993, Kolar launched the production company KPI Entertainment, where he produced Surf Ninjas (1993), starring Rob Schneider; the Zalman King erotic drama Delta of Venus (1995); City of Industry (1997), starring Harvey Keitel and Stephen Dorff; John Avildsen’s Inferno (1999), with Jean-Claude Van Damme; and the Bruce Beresford period costume drama Bride of the Wind (2001).
Kolar also produced the Samuel Goldwyn Co.’s The Boys & Girl From County Clare (2003), which was directed by John Irvin and starred Colm Meaney. The comedy played as a gala selection at the Toronto International Film Festival and opened the Karlovy Vary fest in its European premiere.
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Kolar also served as vp production at Fireline Productions (a subsidiary of the Armand Hammer Co.) and CEO of Crossover Films Entertainment, an independent production outfit based in L.A. and San Francisco.
As an associate producer or line producer, Kolar also worked on the James Bond film Never Say Never Again (1983); Street Smart (1987), starring Morgan Freeman in an Oscar-nominated role; Dolph Lundgren’s Masters of the Universe (1987); Bat 21 (1988), starring Gene Hackman; Double Impact (1991), another Van Damme effort; and Storyville (1992), starring James Spader and Jason Robards.
The son of a diplomat, Kolar was born in the Czech Republic. He started out as a child actor before becoming an assistant director working throughout Europe on commercials, TV projects and features. After settling in London, he produced for the theater before moving to the U.S. in 1979.
Survivors include his wife, Deborah Shaw Kolar, co-partner of the Hollywood PR and marketing firm Kean & Kolar Communications, children Rachel and Rob and grandson Mateus. A private family service is being planned.
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