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Studio exec David V. Picker, who gave The Beatles their movie debut, has died aged 87.
Picker, who served as the head of United Artists, Paramount and Columbia for more than half a century, died at home in New York at the weekend.
The movie boss introduced the Beatles to Hollywood with the films A Hard Day’s Night and Help! and kickstarted the film career of comic Steve Martin.
He had colon cancer and died on Saturday night, said reports.
Picker is also credited with convincing author Ian Fleming that James Bond could make the leap from the written page to the cinema.
MGM Studios tweeted: “We are saddened to hear that a member of the United Artists family has passed away,” describing him as “a true visionary.”