Tommy Thompson

By MIA SULPOR

Tommy Thompson, producer of TV's "The Lucy Show" and assistant director and producer of several Robert Altman films, died of a heart attack March 3 in Barstow. He was 72.

Thompson was in Barstow finishing a shoot for the new Altman film that he was co-producing, "Dr. T. and the Women," starring Richard Gere.

He began his career in the 1950s as a first assistant director on "I Love Lucy" and went on to produce several other television shows including "Designing Women," "Hearts of Fire" and "Evening Shade."

His work with Altman began with the film "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" and continued for more than 30 years, during which he worked with Altman on about a dozen projects.

Last year he served as Altman's first assistant director on the film "Cookie's Fortune."

Thompson's next project was to have been assistant director to Harry Thomason for the film "Crossing the Bar." In his eulogy for Thompson, Thomason described him as "stylish, elegant, adventurous, meticulous, hilarious. He was also smart, loyal, steadfast and strong."

Thompson is survived by his wife, Janie Peet-Thompson, a daughter and three grandchildren.