Bob Steuer Dies: Film Production, Distribution Executive Was 86

Bruce Haring
·1 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Robert B. “Bob” Steuer, a film production and distribution executive for more than 50 years, died Friday, Feb. 5 of dementia complications at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in Tarzana, CA. He was 86.

Born in New Orleans on November 18, 1934, he graduated from Tulane University and joined the U.S. Army, ending his service with the rank of second lieutenant. After leaving the Army, he became enamored with the broadcast and entertainment industries, producing several low-budget feature films and eventually partnered with friends and bought a radio station in Biloxi, MI.

More from Deadline

Later, after buying a drive-in theater that played many action films from independent distributor American International Pictures, founders Sam Arkoff and James Nicholson lured Steuer to Hollywood, where he was a key executive in AIP’s distribution operation until it was sold to Filmways in 1979. During this time, he married his wife, Peggy, whom he met at AIP.

After leaving AIP, he consulted at Ely and Edie Landau’s production company, where he supervised the release of the critically acclaimed The Chosen, starring Maximilian Schell and Rod Steiger. After the film’s release, he joined Film Ventures in 1981 as executive vice president, overseeing the U.S. release and foreign sales of numerous successful feature films.

In subsequent years, he held key positions at 20th Century Fox, Encore Entertainment and most recently, as VP Production at Premiere Entertainment Services, from which he retired in 2019.

He is survived by his wife Peggy, son Philip, daughter Amy (Dickstein), sister Judy (Hearst), son-in law Joseph Dickstein and granddaughters Cayden Dickstein and Jordan Steuer.

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.