Celebrating the Legacy of Jim Tauber: Former President of Sidney Kimmel Entertainment Passes Away at 74

Jim Tauber, the former president of Sidney Kimmel Entertainment (SKE), passed away on Wednesday at the age of 74. His family shared that he died due to complications from multiple myeloma.

Born and raised in Glencoe, Illinois, Tauber had a distinguished career in the film industry. He was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. During his decade at SKE, he was involved in notable films such as “Hell or High Water,” “The Place Beyond the Pines,” “Lars and the Real Girl,” and “Death at a Funeral.”

Before leading SKE, Tauber worked at Columbia TriStar Pictures as the executive VP of acquisitions and business/legal affairs. There, he played a key role in the production of iconic films like Steven Soderbergh’s “Sex, Lies, and Videotape.”

Tauber later became the president and COO of Propaganda Films, where he produced impactful movies like “Wild at Heart” by David Lynch and “Being John Malkovich” by Spike Jonze. He also helped establish Gramercy Pictures.

In the early days of Anonymous Content, Tauber served as president and COO before moving to 20th Century Fox as the worldwide executive VP of acquisitions and co-productions. His career was marked by significant contributions to the film industry.

After retiring in 2015, Tauber took a different path as a licensed psychotherapist. Alongside his wife, Laura Newman, he ran a therapy practice. The couple lived in Los Olivos, where they started a coffee shop, Lefty’s Coffee, in 2022, focusing on ethical sourcing. They also enjoyed life on their farm and vineyard, surrounded by many animals.

Tauber is remembered dearly by his wife Laura, his sister Joanie, and his daughters J. Lucy, Dixie, and Zazu.