Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 10, 2026

Stanley R. Jaffe

Stanley Richard Jaffe was an American film producer. His producing credits included Fatal Attraction, The Accused and Kramer vs. Kramer, which won an Academy Award for Best Picture.

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Stanley R. Jaffe
Born
Stanley Richard Jaffe

(1940-07-31)July 31, 19401
New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
DiedMarch 10, 2025(2025-03-10) (aged 84)
Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania
Occupations
  • Film producer
  • director
Known for
Spouses
  • Joan Ellen Goodman
    ​
    (divorced)​
  • Melinda Jill Marciano
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1986)​
Children4
FatherLeo Jaffe

Stanley Richard Jaffe (/ˈdʒæfi/;2 July 31, 1940 – March 10, 2025) was an American film producer. His producing credits included Fatal Attraction, The Accused and Kramer vs. Kramer, which won an Academy Award for Best Picture.3

Background

Jaffe was born into a Jewish family4 in New Rochelle, New York, the son of film executive Leo Jaffe.5

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, in 1962.6

Career

In 1962, Jaffe joined Seven Arts Associates, and in 1964, he was named executive assistant to the president of Seven Arts.6 After Warner Bros. purchased Seven Arts in 1967, Jaffe left to join CBS for two years.7

After producing Goodbye Columbus, Jaffe was appointed executive vice president and chief operations officer of Paramount Pictures in 1970,8 and within three months was named president. In 1971, he resigned to form an independent production company called Jaffilms,679 which was associated with Columbia Pictures.5 Jaffilms produced Bad Company (1972) and The Bad News Bears (1976). In 1977, Jaffe became executive vice president of worldwide production at Columbia Pictures.1

Jaffe returned to independent production with Kramer vs. Kramer in 1979.6 In 1983, in collaboration with Sherry Lansing (then president of Twentieth Century-Fox), he started the production company Jaffe-Lansing.101112 In 1991, he was named president and chief operating officer of Paramount Communications,13 and dissolved his partnership with Lansing.6 In 1992, he was named successor to Brandon Tartikoff as president of Paramount.14

When Viacom purchased Paramount in 1994, Jaffe was forced out and filed a lawsuit against Paramount for $20 million in a stock option dispute.15 The case was dismissed by the court in 1995, and in 1995 Jaffe's company Jaffilms entered into a production agreement with Sony Pictures Entertainment.6

Veto of the Star Trek Enterprise complex in Las Vegas

In or around 1992, a consortium of developers and city officials proposed a replica of the Star Trek Enterprise in Las Vegas. The giant scale model of the ship would include restaurants and tours but no hotel or casino. The proposal was approved by the president of Paramount and only needed Jaffe's approval as Paramount CEO. However, Jaffe rejected the proposal, believing that if unsuccessful, the building would be a permanent reminder of failure.16

Death

Jaffe died at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, on March 10, 2025 at the age of 84.1

Awards and nominations

Filmography

Jaffe served as the producer for all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

Year Film Credit Notes
1969 Goodbye, Columbus 19
1970 I Start Counting 19
1972 Bad Company 19
1976 The Bad News Bears 19
1979 Kramer vs. Kramer 19
1981 Taps 19
1983 Without a Trace 19
1984 Racing with the Moon Uncredited 1
Firstborn Executive producer 19
1987 Fatal Attraction 19
1988 The Accused 19
1989 Black Rain 19
1992 School Ties 19
1998 Madeline Executive producer 19
2000 I Dreamed of Africa 19
2002 The Four Feathers 19
As director
Year Film
1983 Without a Trace19
References

References

  1. Barnes, Mike (March 10, 2025). "Stanley R. Jaffe, Oscar-Winning 'Kramer vs. Kramer' Producer, Dies at 84". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  2. "Stanley Jaffe: Inside Hollywood with Hawk Koch". YouTube. MPTF. March 23, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  3. Mitgang, Herbert (2012). "Stanley R. Jaffe". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  4. Erens, Patricia. The Jew in American Cinema. ISBN 9780253204936 | ISBN 0253204933 | Publisher: Indiana University Press | Publish Date: August 1988. Page 392.
  5. James Sterngold (August 21, 1997). "Leo Jaffe, Hollywood Deal Maker, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
  6. "Stanley R. Jaffe biography". Yahoo. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  7. Dick, Bernard F. (2001). Engulfed: the death of Paramount Pictures and the birth of corporate Hollywood. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 114–124. ISBN 9780813122021.
  8. Sloane, Leonard (July 29, 1970). "Paramount Officer Is Named President". New York Times. p. 69. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  9. Sloane, Leonard (April 2, 1971). "Paramount Chief is Set to Resign; 30-Year-Old President Plans Own Production Company". New York Times. p. 53. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
  10. Farber, Stephen (May 23, 1987). "Republic is Back in the Movie Business". New York Times. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  11. Blandford, Linda (December 3, 1989). "A Prince of Hollywood". New York Times. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  12. "People". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 5, 1983. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
  13. Cieply, Michael (March 19, 1991). "Stanley Jaffe Named Paramount President Entertainment: The veteran producer may help boost the firm's sagging film operation". Los Angeles Times. p. D-2. Retrieved June 16, 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. Dick, Bernard F. (1997). City of dreams: the making and remaking of Universal Pictures. University Press of Kentucky. p. 4. ISBN 9780813120164. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  15. "Jaffe, Forced Out of Paramount, Sues". Los Angeles Times. April 15, 1994. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
  16. Trumbore, Dave (April 8, 2012). "Las Vegas Almost Built a Full Scale USS Enterprise From STAR TREK". Collider. Archived from the original on April 28, 2015.
  17. "Awards Search Results 1981". Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  18. "Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) Awards & Festivals". Mubi. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  19. Peterson, Erik (March 10, 2025). "Stanley R. Jaffe Dies: 'Kramer Vs. Kramer' Oscar Winner Who Also Produced 'Fatal Attraction' & More Was 84". Deadline.
External links