Stacy Title (February 21, 1964 – January 11, 2021) was an American film director, screenwriter and producer.[2] Her films include Let the Devil Wear Black (1999), The Last Supper (1995),[3] and Down on the Waterfront (1993), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award.

Stacy Title
BornFebruary 21, 1964
New York, U.S.
DiedJanuary 11, 2021 (aged 56)
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, producer
Known for
Spouse
(m. 1991)
[1]
Children2
RelativesJason Alexander (cousin-in-law)

Career

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Title's first project was Down on the Waterfront (1993), a short film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 66th Academy Awards.[4][5][6] Her first feature film, The Last Supper (1995), is a comedy about graduate students who plan to murder right-wing militants.[7]

Title was married to writer-actor and Survivor contestant Jonathan Penner, with whom she collaborated on several movies. She first directed Penner in The Last Supper. Together, they wrote the script for the 2003 The WB-produced re-imagining of The Lone Ranger, starring Chad Michael Murray and Nathaniel Arcand. She later directed the 2017 horror film The Bye Bye Man, from a script by Penner. She and Penner were previously developing a King Kong television series for MarVista Entertainment and IM Global Television.[8][9] She was also developing a dark comedy film called Walking Time Bomb following the release of The Bye Bye Man.[10][11]

Personal life

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Title grew up in New York, and her father was a commercial producer.[6] She married Jonathan Penner on September 14, 1991;[11] the couple had two children together.[12] Title was a first cousin of Daena Title, who is married to Seinfeld actor Jason Alexander. Alexander introduced Title and Penner when he was acting with Penner in the film White Palace.[13] Alexander was slated to star in Walking Time Bomb before Title's death.[10]

Illness and death

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In December 2017, Title was diagnosed with ALS, though she continued to work on Walking Time Bomb despite her illness and though as her illness progressed she was unable to walk, talk or swallow. The film was never completed.[10][6][1]

Title died on January 11, 2021, at the age of 56. Her husband Jonathan Penner announced her death via Twitter.[4]

Filmography

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Director

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Writer

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Producer

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Cameo

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References

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  1. ^ a b Kit, Borys (September 21, 2018). "Director Stricken With ALS Vows to Finish Her Final Movie: 'Doing What I Love Will Be Part of My Legacy'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  2. ^ "Stacy Title". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013.
  3. ^ Maslin, Janet (April 5, 1996). "The Last Supper". The New York Times.
  4. ^ a b Shafer, Ellise (January 12, 2021). "Stacy Title, Director of 'The Bye Bye Man' and 'The Last Supper,' Dies at 56". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  5. ^ "THE 66th ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS : OSCARS : The Nominees". LA Times. February 10, 1994. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Andreeva, Nellie (January 11, 2021). "Stacy Title Dies: 'The Bye Bye Man' Director Was 56". Deadline. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  7. ^ Barsanti, Sam (January 12, 2021). "R.I.P. Stacy Title, director of The Bye Bye Man". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 18, 2017). "King Kong Female-Led TV Series In Works At MarVista Entertainment & IM Global TV".
  9. ^ Tiffany, Kaitlyn (April 18, 2017). "Following Kong: Skull Island, a TV show called King Kong Skull Island". The Verge.
  10. ^ a b c Wallace, Amy (May 14, 2019). "Director Stacy Title's Mission to Make 'Walking Time Bomb'". Vulture. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  11. ^ a b Kit, Borys (September 21, 2018). "Director Stricken With ALS Vows to Finish Her Final Movie: "Doing What I Love Will Be Part of My Legacy"". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i Shafe, Ellise (January 11, 2021). "Stacy Title, Director of 'The Bye Bye Man' and 'The Last Supper,' Dies at 56". Yahoo Entertainment. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  13. ^ "Spotlight on…. Stacy Title: Trailblazer in Hollywood and as an ALS Advocate". ALS Network. March 8, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  14. ^ Dixon, Marcus James (January 12, 2021). "'Survivor' contestants pay tribute to Jonathan Penner's wife, who dies of ALS at age 56". Gold Derby. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
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