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Oscar-nominated producer Hank Moonjean passed away today at his home in the Hollywood Hills after battling pancreatic cancer. He was 82. Among the most well-liked people in Hollywood, Moonjean’s career started in 1955 as an uncredited assistant director on Blackboard Jungle. He went on to be an assistant director on such films as Cool Hand Luke and The Odd Couple. He also was associate producer on 1974’s The Great Gatsby. Moonjean went on to be a producer on Hal Needham-directed Burt Reynolds films like 1978′s Hooper, 1980′s Smokey And The Bandit II and 1981′s Stroker Ace. He also produced the Reynolds-directed Sharkey’s Machine in 1981. In 1988, Moonjean was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar for Dangerous Liaisons with fellow producer Norma Heyman. In 2008, promising a glimpse into “a raw Hollywood as it was,” he wrote Bring In The Peacocks: Memoirs Of A Hollywood Producer.
R.I.P. Hank Moonjean
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I represented Hank as a lawyer on many of his deals and a nicer man you could not find. He did an often difficult job with style and grace. His memory and legacy will live on not only in our hearts but in the films he did.
A true gentleman and a genuinely nice guy. Sad that he wasn’t able to produce more movies. I met him long ago when I was first starting out here and he could not have been more gracious or generous with his time and his good career advice.
A great film will reach out and grab you in your seat and take you on a journey to places you never imagined with people you will never meet in real life. A classic film will return you instantly to a moment, or a place, or even a person. Hank’s films do all of that and will live on for many generations.
Hank was kind, brilliant, funny, but more importantly he had a good soul. Hank you will be deeply missed. The world lost one of the truly great ones today.
Such a sad loss at such a Young Age. May his dreams & legacy Live on through his Families.
Hank was an absolute pro and a captivating storyteller. I think I have his last interview for a forthcoming book that includes a chapter on making “The End,” and his memoir (see above) is not only a stitch, it’s a lesson in filmmaking. He was an expert and a fan, and more than a few people owe their careers and sanity to his sure hand and guiding spirit. My sympathies to those who worked with him and to those who shared his life.
I will miss you dear Uncle. My heart is broken and I am so sad. You were the best! Rest in peace
My dear Godfather and Great Uncle, I will miss him terribly. Whenever I got to see him, he always put a smile on my face and gave me his words of wisdom. He is the reason I went to USC and wanted to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. I cherished the time we spent together and he will live in my heart forever. He will be missed dearly by his family and friends.
I will miss our special moments my soul uncle you were truly a gift from the universe. This is not your final curtain your unique energy will go on forever .
I had the great pleasure of corresponding with Hank over the course of the past nine months, and arranged several interviews and appearances for him. He was always a very kind gentleman and I will miss receiving emails from him very much. RIP Hank – you were truly one of the greats.
A fascinating and totally delightful man. He was of enormous importance to me when I was writing my book “Open Secret: Gay Hollywood.” Full of Hollywood lore, with a keen eye and a cool demeanor.
Had the honor and pleasure to know Hank and visit with him up on Mulholland a few times. What an excellent and generous man. I’m not remotely surprised at the uniformity of the comments here, the lack of snark, and genuine love. Not many people in this town would engender a similar reaction.
RIP Hank – you will be sorely missed.
It’s funny how things work. I first met Hank a few years ago at a dinner with mutual friends. I found him to be a little gruff and I was quite sure I wasn’t going to like him, and I don’t think he was too impressed with me either. How pleased I am to say that at least my first impression (I can’t speak for Hank’s), could not have been more wrong. At successive dinners, I found that for a man of his accomplishments, he was quite interested in other people and that the gruffness was just Hank’s own brand of no-nonsense charm. How I will miss it. My sincere condolences to those who grieve the loss of this very special man.
I met Hank only once and he made an impression that will last a lifetime. This is someone who worked with the silver screen greats but didn’t boast. When asked to relay a story or two, it usually was centered around his admiration of someone and how they positively impacted his life. Hank answered all of our silly star-struck questions and usually with great comedic flair.
I sensed immediately that Hank’s memories were not something he used to impress. Rather, it seemed as if he simply enjoyed sharing some of the magic that was part of his lifelong dream that began that day at the gates of MGM. Thanks for the wonderful memories, Mr. Moonjean.
My cousin Hank was an extraordinary man who lived an extraordinary life, and yet remained so close to his family. I will cherish the memories of his many visits to my Aunt Mary’s house in Boston, listening to the incredible stories he had from all of his experiences in the movie industry. It was a priviledge going to Florida during the filming of Smokey and the Bandit II, meeting the cast and crew, and observing how well respected he was by all who knew him. I am so proud of his many accomplishments. He will live forever in my heart. Rest peacefully, dear Cousin Hank.
Cousin Hank was an extraordinary man who lived an extraorinary life, through his movies, and the many lives he touched. I always looked forward to his visits to Boston, staying at my Aunt Mary’s house, laughing with him while listening to all his stories, and taking him to record stores looking for that rare find. As a first-hand observer of how much his cast and crew respected him, was on a visit to watch him film Smokey and the Bandit II. We will always have him in our hearts, and all our fond memories we will cherish.
It turned out to be his last summer, when I finally met the inimitable, extraordinary Hank. I remember hearing about him for years. So one day, Sonia Keshishian, who adored her ‘Uncle Hank,’ brought us together at lunch… saying that we needed to meet each other, as we had each published a book that she loved! It turned out to be a dangerous lunch for me, as I was having trouble swallowing–laughing so hard between the two of them. (Hank and Sonia would have made a great comedy team!) After lunch, I wrote an inscription to Hank and shyly presented my novel to him. I remember watching him read what I had just written. His voice got very soft and he turned to Sonia, his eyes twinkling with a huge smile on his face… “she thinks I’m beautiful!” It moved me so much what he said …because I believe that no matter how old we get, we never forget our youthful beauty and are so grateful when people see it hiding there still… I guess, without realizing it, that was my going away gift to him.
I met Hank when he taught a class at the college I attended. I loved film and looked forward to the class. He was noticed I was very shy and took me aside one day to tell me that being shy is no way for a young man to go out into the world. His words after that class changed my life. We corresponded for the last year and he would give me tons of great films to watch. The last time I got in touch with him was a few months ago when I sent him a copy of “The Twist of the Key,” an episode of the David Niven Show he wrote in 1959. He hadn’t seen it since then! I owe him so much for opening my eyes to some of the more forgotten classic films. I can’t think of a more interesting, humble, and kind man. His words were wise and his book was a scream. What a life! I am going to miss his correspondence so much. I’ll never forget him.
Uncle Hank had a fantastic Hollywood career. Read his book “Bring In the Peacocks” and you will be amazed by the length and breath of his involvement in motion picture direction and production during a span of over three decades. He also wrote one screenplay, and it was produced for a television series.
Hank was a bit of cynic, but he had a good sense of humor too. My family will cherish the memories of his trip to our home in Texas a couple of years ago.
A talented man, Hank told my Son Chad that he (Hank) enjoyed going to work every day. I wish I could say that!
RIP Uncle Hank. Sorry I did not have a chance to bid you farewell.
Although I never knew Hank personally he was a close and dear friend of my Grandma Violet. I know they spent many happy times together in London. Violet also passed away this year, I hope they’re all reunited re-living the lavish parties and good times. Rest in peace x
I wanted to write a message in memory of my cousin Hank a lot sooner than this…but I was trying to think of how I would sum up all of the great memories my family and I had with him in just a few words. I decided it was impossible because there were so many laughs…so many stories…so much sharing…so much caring…so much advice. I’ll never forget how many times he told me to wear earplugs when I went into a nightclub…he was actually hung-up on it. I used to think it was funny…but he was serious! He loved visiting his relatives in Boston and only we know what Hank meant to us…and what we meant to him. I love you Hank. I was always so very proud of all you accomplished in your life…and it was a heck of a good life! A day will never go by that I don’t think of you and miss you.
Love, Karen “Blake” Boornazian
xoxo
Wow. I am shocked. I met Hank when I first moved to Los Angeles to pursue music w MCA. He heard and loved the songs and was so supportive. I had dinner w him in his home in the hills and listened to hours of his amazing story telling and tales if “Endora.” Fun, funny, a total charm and magnificent entertainer. I’ll never forget the days. Fondly,,,,,,
My dear 2nd cuzin Hank was a jewel of a man. He lead by example on how to live an honorable life with dignity and grace. Just ask his special best friend Miss Elizabeth Taylor…. And he allowed me to understand that it is very OK to be gay and live on !! I enjoy and cherish the time and part of my life and family that was had with our famous, dear Cousin Hank.
Thinking of cousin Hank on his birthday and to someone who really lived life to the fullest.
I knew Hank Moonjean as Armen Moomjian when I was going to grammar school. We use to play together after school and build igloos in the winter. I went all thru grammar school with him and adored him and I use to sing to him over the phone. That was so many years ago. For some reason I happen to think of him today and typed his name and could not believe he passed away. I saw Hank about 12 years ago in Ca., met him for lunch and he was so entertaining I had to stop eating. He was a wonderful person years ago and it seems he continued to be that way. Rest in Peace Armen, your old friend, Rose
I forgot to mention that Armen use to live in Troy, New York and when I met him in Ca. it was 50 years later and I could not wait to see him and he brought with him an old friend of mine whose name is Doris Kevokian formerly Kasarjian. God Bless you Armen