Hollywood executive Frank Price, who led Columbia Pictures, dies at 95

Columbia Pictures lost a legend with the passing of Frank Price. The American television writer and film studio executive was undoubtedly a titan in the world of the television and film industry. For decades, starting from his first job in 1951, he has built his reputation as an influential writer and later as a studio head.

On August 25, 2025, he died in his sleep, as mentioned by his son, Roy Price. Roy Price announced Frank Price’s death on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

“My father, Frank Price, passed away peacefully in his sleep this morning at 95. He lived a full life and we will miss him deeply.”

Frank Price’s career

Frank Price was born on May 17, 1930. His exposure to the entertainment industry began at a very young age. It was mainly because of his mother. While he was young, his mother used to work at the cafeteria of Warner Bros. With the help of his mother, he gained knowledge about the studios.

It also helped him know more about the world of acting. His career began as a story editor and writer. During this time, he was connected with many works, such as Westinghouse Studio One, Suspense, and The Web.

His career took a turn in the year 1959 when he began to work as an associate producer and writer. His sharp eye and creativity propelled him further in his career when he joined Universal TV as the vice president.

Frank Price’s journey took him from writing for television to the very top of the game. He understood what the viewers liked. His fundamental knowledge about good storytelling and narratives led him to further success in his career.

Frank Price was also the helping hand behind the creation of the made-for-TV movie and the miniseries. These were the new television formats that slowly began to gain popularity. After a long and fruitful career at Universal, he shifted to Columbia Pictures. Columbia Pictures became his destination for the next few years until 1983.

At Columbia Pictures, he became the president and helmed the project of Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which became one of the highest-grossing films. Despite bringing immense success to Columbia Pictures, his tenure there was cut short when The Coca-Cola Company purchased Columbia Pictures.

He then became the chairman of the MCA Motion Picture Group. Along with it, his work also included the supervision of the production and distribution of Universal Pictures. He became a visionary leader and quickly turned things around for the better.

Though his tenure at Universal Pictures was a fruitful one, where he continued to push important projects towards success, he returned to Columbia Pictures in the year 1990 once again. During his tenure, he also created his own studio, Price Entertainment, which merged with Columbia in the year 1991.

Many successful projects continued to be produced under his guidance. For instance, Boyz n the Hood, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and many more. His contribution to the success of movies and series like Kramer vs. Kramer, Gandhi, Back to the Future, Shadowlands, The Rough Riders, Matinee Theater, That Certain Summer, The Six Million Dollar Man, Battlestar Galactica, The Rockford Files, Kojak, Columbo, etc., is truly indispensable.

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