Evzen Kolar, Producer of ‘City of Industry,’ Dies at 67

Czech-born filmmaker’s credits also include “Surf Ninjas” and “Delta of Venus”

evzen kolar
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Veteran film producer Evzen Kolar, whose credits include the 1997 Harvey Keitel drama “City of Industry,” has died in Los Angeles at age 67, his family announced Monday.

The Czech-born filmmaker also produced the 1993 Leslie Nielsen-Rob Schneider comedy “Surf Ninjas” through his KPI Entertainment production company and director Zalman King’s “Delta of Venus.”

In addition, he produced John Avildsen’s 1999 Jean-Claude Van Damme action movie “Inferno” (a.k.a. “Desert Heat”), Bruce Beresford’s 2001 period drama “Bride of the Wind,” and John Irvin’s 2003 comedy “The Boys and Girls from County Clare” starring Colm Meaney, Bernard Hill and Andrea Corr.

The son of a diplomat, Kolar was born in Moravia in Czech Republic. He began his film and television career as a child actor before becoming an assistant director working throughout Europe on numerous commercials, television projects and features. After settling in London in the late 1970s, he produced fringe theater before moving to the U.S. in 1979.

He previously served as VP of production at Fireline Productions (a subsidiary of the Armand Hammer Company) and CEO at Crossover Films as well as a line producer on studio and indie films.

Kolar also served as a Jury Member for the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Czech Republic) and the International Antalya Film Festival in Turkey.

He is survived by his wife, Deborah Shaw Kolar, co-partner of PR and marketing firm Kean & Kolar Communications, daughter Rachel McCord, grandson Mateus Kofi McCord and son Rob Kolar, a musician.

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