James G. Robinson, the former auto executive who co-founded Morgan Creek Entertainment and produced films including 'Ace Ventura: Pet Detective' and 'True Romance,' died on February 15, according to a family obituary. He was 90.
Robinson famously clashed with Lindsay Lohan during the production of Morgan Creek's 'Georgia Rule' in 2006, sending her a letter calling her 'discourteous, irresponsible and unprofessional.' He described her as a 'spoiled child' and said she had 'endangered the quality of this picture.' At the film's premiere, director Garry Marshall told Variety, 'We needed that letter to get her back to work.'
Born in Baltimore, Robinson was involved in successful automotive businesses before providing bridge financing to Hollywood films and later moving into producing. He helped finance and launch Morgan Creek in 1988 with experienced Hollywood executive Joe Roth. The company went on to produce hits such as the 'Ace Ventura' series, 'Young Guns,' 'Dead Ringers,' 'Pacific Heights,' 'The Last of the Mohicans' and 'Robin Hood: Men in Tights.'
Robinson had recent credits on the 2023 film 'The Exorcist: Believer' and the 'Dead Ringers' TV series. In a 1997 interview with Variety, he said, 'When you’re working at a studio, where it’s nice and comfortable, there’s no pain and in my mind no short gain. Bottom line is that the greatest feeling in the world is when you make a movie that you know is good and plays unusually well. That’s an emotional home run.'
His son David Robinson is president of Morgan Creek Entertainment Group. Robinson is survived by his wife of 61 years, Barbara Lois Robinson; sons Michael, James, Matthew, David and Thomas; and daughter Elizabeth.
