Josh Kramer, a distinguished film producer and former executive at Amazon, passed away at the age of 67 in Santa Monica, California, on November 27. His journey in the film industry began with international sales at Dino De Laurentiis. Kramer played a pivotal role in funding movies like Manhunter and Blue Velvet and was instrumental in securing the rights for Madonna’s documentary Truth or Dare.
His former colleague, Rachael Horovitz, fondly remembers Kramer for his unique combination of skills and his emotional intelligence. He co-created the Mount/Kramer Company, where he produced films such as Death and the Maiden and Night Falls on Manhattan. His career also included significant positions at Capitol Films and MGM, where he collaborated with Chuck Hoberman.
Kramer’s tenure at Amazon was marked by his leadership in launching Amazon Unbox licensing, contributing significantly to the development of Amazon Video. He also headed the movie operations at Amazon Studios, supervising the production of films like Chiraq and Manchester By the Sea.
Our dear friend and key advisor Josh Kramer died in late November & I think reading the quote about his crying at JD Salinger was the first time I cried. We miss him. Film Producer and Former Amazon Executive Was 67 https://t.co/08MY7hT2Fm
— Katy Drake Bettner (@KatyjustCANnot) December 20, 2023
In 2021, Kramer ventured into the intersection of art and blockchain technology by founding BKopy.io. One of his notable projects was the launch of Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash NFT. He also ran Resonance Content, offering advisory services to various media companies.
Kramer grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, and was an alumnus of Brown University and Wharton. He was known not just for his professional achievements but also for his diverse talents, including playing classical piano, writing short fiction, crafting pottery, knitting, and his expertise in computing. He is survived by his wife Kathie, his son Jack, and his brother Ken.
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