Richard Lederer, ad exec, 80

WB vet produced 'Exorcist II,' 'Knights'

By VARIETY STAFF

Studio adman and producer Richard Lederer, who worked on campaigns for many classic Warner Bros. films, died June 8 in Pacific Palisades, Calif. He was 80.

Born in Far Rockaway, NY, Lederer graduated from the U. of Virginia. He served as an army cryptographer in World War II before starting his career in the advertising/publicity department at Columbia Pictures.

In 1950, he joined Warner Bros., where he eventually moved up to the post of Exec VP of Worldwide Advertising and Publicity. At Warner Bros. he spearheaded campaigns for films such as "Camelot," "My Fair Lady," "Bonnie and Clyde," "The Exorcist" and "The Wild Bunch."

In 1977, he made his feature film producing debut with the sequel "Exorcist II: The Heretic," starring Richard Burton. He later produced and co-wrote the 1980 film "The Hollywood Knights."

After Warner Bros., he also headed up the advertising and publicity departments at Zoetrope and Orion Studios.

His soon-to-be-published book is called "The Duke Don't Go in The Gallery and Other Discoveries of an Intrepid Ad Man on the Lost Continent of Hollywood."

He is survived by a daughter, a son, and a granddaughter.

Donations be made to the ASPCA, Disabled Veterans of America, Habitat for Humanity, UNICEF, Project Angel Food, Amnesty International USA or Doctors Without Borders.