Stanley Jaffe

Stanley R. Jaffe, a former Hollywood wunderkind who became president of Paramount at 29, then left after just a few years to become an Oscar-winning producer of films like “Kramer vs. Kramer,” “Fatal Attraction” and “The Accused,” died on Monday March 10 2025 at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He was 84. He made his mark early, independently producing the film version of Philip Roth’s novella “Goodbye, Columbus” (1969). His success with the film won Mr. Jaffe a position as an executive vice president at Paramount, in 1969; nine months later, he moved up to president, making him, just a few days shy of his 30th birthday, the youngest studio head in Hollywood. His father, Leo Jaffe, was formerly the chairman of Columbia Pictures. He studied economics at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, with thoughts of becoming a lawyer. By the time he graduated, in 1962, those thoughts had passed. Jaffe’s first marriage ended in divorce. He married Melinda Long in 1986. Along with his daughter Betsy, from his first marriage, his wife survives him, as does his son Bobby, from his first marriage; a son, Alex Jaffe, and a daughter, Katie Norris, from his second marriage; a sister, Marcia Margoluis; a brother, Ira; and five grandchildren.