Andrew Gunn, Disney Producer Behind 'Cruella' and 'Freakier Friday,' Dies at 58 Andrew Gunn, a prominent film producer known for his work on several successful Disney projects, has passed away at the age of 58. His family confirmed that he died from complications related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a condition he was diagnosed with in 2024. Gunn succumbed to the illness at his home in Toronto. Throughout his career, Gunn played a pivotal role in developing some of Disney’s most iconic properties. His contributions include projects such as The Country Bears, Freaky Friday, The Haunted Mansion, Sky High, College Road Trip, Bedtime Stories, Race to Witch Mountain, Cruella, and Freakier Friday. These films have left a lasting impact on Disney’s cinematic output, blending entertainment with creative storytelling. Beyond his work on major franchises, Gunn was also dedicated to nurturing emerging talent. In 2001, he launched the Disney Writers Program, an initiative that selected five unproduced screenwriters each year to mentor and develop their work. This program became a launching pad for several notable writers, including David Berenbaum, who later wrote Elf and The Haunted Mansion; Matt Lopez, the writer behind the 2022 Father of the Bride remake; and David DiGilio, a co-creator of The Terminal List. Gunn’s legacy extends beyond his professional achievements. He is survived by his children, his wife Jane Bellamy Gunn, his mother Anne Gunn, and his siblings Hilary Knight, Graeme Gunn, and Cameron Gunn. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Gunn. His passing marks the end of an era for Disney’s creative team, leaving a void in the industry. Gunn’s work continues to influence both the studio’s projects and the broader entertainment landscape.#disney #toronto #andrew_gunn #amyotrophic_lateral_sclerosis #disney_writers_program
Andrew Gunn Dead: Disney Producer Was 58 Andrew Gunn, a producer known for crafting a series of Disney comedies in the early 2000s, including the Lindsay Lohan-starring Freaky Friday and the superhero film Sky High, has died. He was 58. Gunn, who had been living with ALS—a neurodegenerative disorder also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease—since 2024, passed away in his home in Toronto, his family announced. Gunn’s career at Disney began with a pitch for Freaky Friday, which he presented to then-studio head Jacobson. Initially hesitant due to concerns about remaking a film that had aired on ABC years earlier, Jacobson eventually greenlit the project. The original cast of Annette Bening, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Tom Selleck fell apart when Trachtenberg couldn’t adjust her schedule for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Gunn and the studio scrambled to find replacements, ultimately casting Jamie Lee Curtis and later Lindsay Lohan. Despite Lohan’s initial audition not impressing, she rose to the top over other contenders like Kristen Stewart and Brie Larson, thanks to her chemistry with Curtis. The film became a commercial success and earned Curtis a Golden Globe nomination. Gunn reteamed with Curtis and Lohan for the sequel Freakier Friday, released in 2024. He also collaborated with Kristin Burr, a former Disney executive who oversaw many of his projects, and Ann Marie Sanderlin, his partner at Gunn Films. The sequel marked a return to his professional “family,” as he also worked with his two adult children, Isabelle and Connor Gunn, on the set. “The best part was my daughter worked in the camera department and got into the union, and my son worked in props,” he wrote in 2025. “I got to see them every day. It meant the world to me.#disney #toronto #andrew_gunn #lindsay_lohan #freaky_friday
