Fred Gallo, who worked as an assistant director on films including Best Picture Oscar winners The godfather, Rocky And Annie Hall before becoming a top production executive at Paramount Pictures, has died. He was 78.
Gallo died on September 7 at his home in the Santa Ynez Valley, his family announced.
Gallo also earned production credits on Floyd Mutrux’s American hot wax (1978), Martin Brest Go in style (1979), James Caan Hide in plain sight (1980) and Lawrence Kasdan Body heat (1981).
After a stint as a production manager at Warner Bros. Gallo joined Paramount in 1993. In 1996, he was promoted to executive vp feature production management and in 2001 global president of features production management, overseeing day-to-day physical production for the studio. until his retirement in 2005.
“Fred was a unique force in the industry,” Lee Rosenthal, president of global production for Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon, said in a statement. “Underneath a formidable exterior, a magnanimous, one-man masterclass in filmmaking and production management took place.
“Some of the most iconic films of our time – The godfather, Rocky And Annie Hall, to name a few, are printed with Fred’s artistry. He was a relic of a time and place in Hollywood history, an early champion of inclusivity and a mentor to many. While he will be greatly missed, his legacy lives on in the many lives he touched and in the executives and filmmakers to whom he bestowed his gifts. There will never be another Fred.”
Fred Thomas Gallo was born on November 8, 1944 in Queens. Early in his career, he was a production assistant at Sidney Lumet’s The group (1966), a production manager at Alex March’s Paper lion (1968) and that of Carl Reiner Where’s Poppa? (1970), production supervisor for Mel Brooks’ The twelve chairs (1970) and assistant director at William Friedkin’s The guys in the band (1970).
He began his collaboration with Woody Allen as a unit manager Take the money and run (1969) and subsequently worked as an AD with the director Bananas (1971), Everything you always wanted to know about sex, but were afraid to ask (1972), Sleeper (1973) and Annie Hall (1977) and as associate producer Love and death (1975).
As a member of the directing teams Annie Hall, The godfather (1972) and Rocky (1976), he shared the DGA Awards for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Films with Allen, Francis Ford Coppola and John G. Avildsen, respectively.
Zack Schor played Gallo in the 2022 Paramount+ miniseries The offerabout making The godfather.
Gallo was a big fan of polo and retired to his ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley. He was a member of the Saddle and Sirloin Club in Los Angeles and a member of the Los Borrachos Camp of the Rancheros Visitadores in the North. Until a few years ago, he did horseback riding and team roping, his family said.
Survivors include his wife Joan; children Kirstin and Toby; son-in-law Gene; and grandchildren Delilah, Madison and Bella. Donations in his memory can be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.
