Sam Mercer, the former head of Industrial Light & Magic and longtime producing partner of M. Night Shyamalan, has died at the age of 69, a spokesperson confirmed to TheWrap.
According to media reports, Mercer died on Feb. 12 from younger-onset Alzheimer’s.
“Sam and I started working together when I was in my mid-20s. He taught me that culture of a set comes from top down. He led with kindness and showed me how to navigate pressure with grace. He was the best big brother I could have hoped for,” Shyamalan said in a statement.
A Massachusetts native, Mercer got his start in the film industry as a location manager on 1980s classics such as “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” and “National Lampoon’s Vacation.”
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