Ken Atchity, film producer and literary manager, dies aged 82
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
New details fill out Ken Atchity’s career, tracing his path from a literature scholar and professor to a literary manager and film producer. He produced films including *The Meg* and its sequel, *Joe Somebody* and *Hysteria*, and was involved in books and television as well as cinema.
Atchity died aged 82 on Monday from kidney failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his producing partner Chi-Li Wong said. He wrote more than 20 books, taught at Occidental College for over a decade and later headed Story Merchant Books. His other credits included *Life or Something Like It*, *Gospel Hill* and 16 romantic telefilms made under the *Shades of Love* banner.
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In short
- Ken Atchity died aged 82 from kidney failure.
- His film credits included both *The Meg* films.
- He was also an author, professor and literary manager.
How this story developed
- 35 minutes ago Further details highlighted Atchity’s work across more than 20 books and 16 romantic telefilms in the Shades of Love series, alongside films including both The Meg instalments, Joe Somebody, Hysteria and Life or Something Like It.
- 40 minutes ago Ken Atchity, who moved from scholarship and teaching into literary representation and film and television production, died aged 82 on Monday from kidney failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his producing partner Chi-Li Wong said.
Explained simply
Ken Atchity began his career in literature, studying and teaching before moving into the entertainment industry. He worked as a literary manager, helping develop books and stories for screen, and later led Story Merchant Books.
His work crossed publishing, television and film. As a producer, he was involved in projects ranging from romantic telefilms to the *Meg* films, which brought a story about a giant prehistoric shark to cinema audiences.
Atchity’s career linked writing and teaching with the process of adapting stories for screen. His range of work offers an example of how literary management and film production can connect books, television and cinema.
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Originally published by The Hollywood Reporter as “Ken Atchity, Producer on ‘Joe Somebody’ and ‘The Meg,’ Dies at 82”.