Michael White, the British film and theater producer best known for his work on “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” has died. He was 80.
White passed away Monday night in Ojai, California, at the home of ex-wife Louise White. However, his death was confirmed to Reuters by his former girlfriend, filmmaker Lyndall Hobbs.
“It would seem he died of heart failure having been told about eight weeks ago that he needed open heart surgery but he was too weak for surgery,” Hobbs said, explaining that his ex-wife and son had cared for him as his “health deteriorated rapidly.”
Hobbs also described White as “a unique man who put on hundreds of shows and truly was a theatrical pioneer.”
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, White began his work in the entertainment industry producing West End musicals such as “Oh! Calcutta,” “Annie” and “The Rocky Horror Show” — both on stage and on the screen.
He also produced the 1975 cult classic film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and the popular TV show “The Comic Strip Presents… with Peter Richardson.”
More recently, White’s life story was the subject of the 2013 documentary film “The Last Impresario,” directed by Gracie Otto.
He is survived by three children.