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Jerry Weintraub: Karate Kid Producer Dies

Jerry Weintraub: Karate Kid Producer Dies

Hollywood producer Jerry Weintraub, who made The Karate Kid and Ocean's Eleven films, has died aged 77.

Weintraub's representatives said he died on Monday of cardiac arrest in Santa Barbara, California.

George Clooney and former US president George HW Bush were among the first to pay tribute to the producer, whose credits also included Diner, Nashville and 1998's The Avengers.

"In the coming days there will be tributes ... We'll laugh at his great stories, and applaud his accomplishments," Clooney said in a statement.

"And in the years to come, the stories and accomplishments will get better with age, just as Jerry would have wanted it. But not today. Today our friend died."

Weintraub originally worked as a talent manager, representing stars such as Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond and John Denver.

He briefly led United Artists but left to head up his own production house, Weintraub Entertainment Group.

His attempt to run his own studio ended in bankruptcy but his success as an independent producer spanned decades, including 2013's Emmy-winning Behind The Candelabra, starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon.

He died with numerous projects in development, including the recently debuted HBO series The Brink and an upcoming remake of Tarzan.