AceShowbiz - Tony Amatullo, a respected producer and location manager known for his work on iconic films and TV series, has passed away at the age of 76.

Amatullo died on Sunday from acute myeloid leukemia at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, according to his son Nico Amatullo, who confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.

A native of New York City, Amatullo had a prolific career spanning decades with credits on major projects such as Fame, The Goonies, The Color Purple, and 2 Days in the Valley. His expertise extended beyond production work; from 2000 to 2005, he served as vice president of production at Warner Bros., overseeing popular television shows including ER, The West Wing, and Third Watch.

His final creative project was the 2021 film Surviving on LES, which he executive produced, directed, and co-wrote. The film explores themes of gentrification and the evolving culture of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, highlighting his enduring connection to his hometown.

Born and raised in Hell’s Kitchen, Tony Eugene Amatullo Jr. attended Power Memorial High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in Film, Cinema and Video Studies from the City University of New York. Shortly after graduation, he relocated across the country to pursue a career in entertainment, starting as a production assistant and quickly moving into location management for commercials, television, and feature films.

His early career included work as an associate producer on the 1980s TV series Fame and Miami Vice. Notably, he was location manager for two significant 1985 films: Richard Donner’s The Goonies and Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple.

Beyond these, Amatullo was a line producer on Above Suspicion (1995), starring Christopher Reeve and Joe Mantegna, and executive producer on the neo-noir 2 Days in the Valley (1996), directed by John Herzfeld. He also held the executive producer role for the Reelz reality series Beverly Hills Pawn during 2013-14.

His family shared a heartfelt statement reflecting on his approach to work: "Tony often compared producing to walking a tightrope - balancing creativity, logistics and big personalities. It was a challenge he embraced wholeheartedly, bringing both a passion for storytelling and a steady hand to every project throughout his career."

Survivors include his wife Mariana—whom he met on a tour bus in Kyoto, Japan, and who is the daughter of an Argentine diplomat—as well as their two sons, Nico and Leonardo.

Outside of his film and television career, Amatullo found joy in everyday pleasures such as gardening, crafting the perfect pizza at his Pasadena home, taking long walks through downtown Manhattan, swimming daily, fishing, and hunting for antiques and hidden treasures in flea markets worldwide.

The family concluded, "He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all those who loved him."