Lawrence Turman dies: Oscar-nominated producer of ‘The Graduate’ was 96

The family of Lawrence Turman has confirmed that the Hollywood producer, who turned the little-known novel The Graduate into a major hit, passed away at the age of 96.

He died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Over the course of 50 years, the Los Angeles native produced more than 40 films, but his greatest success came with the 1967 classic The Graduate, which featured Dustin Hoffman and the late Anne Bancroft in its lead roles.

“When I first read the novel of The Graduate, it was unsuccessful. It had sold fewer than 2,000 copies. Fifty-five years ago, I responded to it viscerally and emotionally,” Turman told Little White Lies.

Turman also remarked that he was “famous after The Graduate for about 20 minutes” emphasizing that producers are not as well known as writers, actors, and directors.

As the producer of The Graduate, Turman received a Best Picture nomination at the 40th Academy Awards in April 1968.

However, the award ultimately went to In The Heat Of The Night, which was produced by Walter Mirisch. Meanwhile, Mike Nichols won the Best Director Oscar for his work on The Graduate.

Turman had a prolific producing career, with credits including The Young Doctors (1961), The Great White Hope (1970), Short Circuit (1986), Booty Call (1997), American History X (1998), and The Thing (2011).