Film and television producer Frank (Warner) Capra, Jr., died of prostate cancer on 19 December 2007. Born 20 March 1934 in Los Angeles, California, his father was director Frank Capra, who was best known for 1946’s It’s a Wonderful Life. Frank Jr. went to school planning to be a scientist, and earned a degree in geology before going to work for the Hughes Tool Company, where he made technical documentaries. He also served in the Army Signal Corps, where he made training films and taught combat filmmaking.
His genre work included his first associate producer credit, for Marooned (1969). He also worked on Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971), Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972), Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973), and Firestarter (1984).
Following his work on Firestarter, he fell in love with the Wilmington, North Carolina, area where it was filmed, and moved there. He also persuaded Dino de Laurentis, who had financed the movie, to build a studio there.
Capra’s first marriage, to Priscilla Anne Pearson, ended in divorce. He is survived by his wife, Deborah; two sons from his first marriage, Frank III and Jonathan; a daughter from his second marriage, Christina; two siblings, Lucille and Tom; and one grandchild.