Eastwood producer Fritz Manes dead at 79

Fritz Manes, who produced several of his childhood friend Clint Eastwood's films in the 1980s, has died, his wife told The New York Times. He was 79.

Manes died of lung and brain cancer, said his wife, Audrey, who goes by Audi.

Manes met Eastwood at Piedmont Junior High School in Piedmont, Calif., and later crossed paths at Oakland Technical High School, the Times said. Manes served in the Marines in the Korean War, studied acting at UCLA, and went on to a series of jobs in radio and television.

Eastwood hired him for his production company, Malpaso, and in 1976 gave him assistant to the producer credits for The Outlaw Josey Wales and The Enforcer.

He later received producer credits on films including Any Which Way You Can, Tightrope, and City Heat. He received executive producer credit for Firefox, Honkytonk Man, Sudden Impact, Pale Rider, and Heartbreak Ridge.

He also appeared in small roles in films including Escape From Alcatraz, and Every Which Way But Loose.

The professional relationship ended with Heartbreak Ridge. Because he was a former Marine who had won the Purple Heart, Manes was expected to work closely with the Marine Corps. But the Marines disavowed the film, in part because of its loose portrayal of the invasion of Grenada, the Times said.

Manes later formed his own production company, Sundancer, and served on the California Film Commission.