I have just two words for producer Lawrence Turman, who passed away at the age of 96: “Thank you.” Back in 1968, Larry Turman, amidst his busy schedule, managed to change my life. I was a young kid growing up in the working-class suburbs of Detroit when my garage band got a gig at the Willow Drive-in near Ypsilanti. One of the films playing that night was The Graduate, produced by Turman and directed by Mike Nichols. Little did I know, that movie would ignite a desire within me to live in California.
It wasn’t Mrs. Robinson that captivated me. No, it was Benjamin Braddock’s wild journey up and down the state, back when California still lived up to its mythical reputation. From Beverly Hills to Berkeley, the palm trees to the redwoods, the iconic bridge to the luxurious pools, it was all so enticing. And who wouldn’t want to experience that, especially in a red Alfa Romeo?
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I’m pretty sure I later expressed my gratitude to Larry when we both found ourselves in Ray Stark’s bungalow on the Sony Pictures lot. Alongside Ray’s then-son-in-law John Morrissey, Turman was tackling the challenging production of American History X. When he was fired up, Larry Turman’s voice could be heard through floors and walls. He was loud, but in a good way – confident, commanding, just like a great producer should be.
But he also excelled in the quieter moments. Larry was attentive, curious, cunning, and always there to lend a hand. These qualities undoubtedly contributed to his success as the head of the Peter Stark producing program at USC.
In 2002, Turman played a central role in an article I wrote for The New York Times about his remarkable class of 1994, a group that quickly made a name for themselves in the film industry.
Larry later mentioned that the story helped him secure a book deal. I truly hope so. It would have been a small token of appreciation for what he deserved for his work on The Graduate.
For everything else, all I can say is, “Thank you.”
