Reputed Hollywood producer and director Mark Tarlov passed away due to cancer on July 31 at his Manhattan residence, his family has released a statement recently. He was 69. Tarlov's career in entertainment began when he worked in business affairs at Warner Bros. in 1979 before he made a transition to executive producing his first film, Christine, in 1983, which was an adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name. Tarlov subsequently associated with diretor John Waters thrice for films namely Pecker, Serial Mom and Cecil B. Demented, including producing Sidney Lumet's Power, starring Richard Gere, Gene Hackman and Julie Christie. He also produced the Holly Hunter and Sigourney Weaver-starrer Copycat in 1995. 

Mark Tarlov worked with British novelist William Boyd to adapt Mario Vargas Llosa’s 1977 book, Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter, and made it as Tune in Tomorrow, with the film being directed by Jon Amiel featuring a star cast that included Keanu Reeves, Peter Falk, Barbara Hershey, Patricia Clarkson and John Larroquette. The film went on to win several accolades at the Deauville Film Festival and was selected for the closing-night screening at the Toronto International Film Festival. Tarlov teamed up with Boyd once again for A Good Man in Africa in 1994, which was based on his 1981 novel and starred Colin Friels, Sean Connery, John Lithgow, Diana Rigg and Louis Gossett Jr. 

Remembering Tarlov, Boyd said, "We worked on many film projects over the years, but it was our friendship that became the most abiding factor of our collaboration. His many enthusiasms were tackled with the same all-consuming verve as he approached whatever job he was doing at the time. He was an intellectual — very clever and great, amusing, highly stimulating company — with a roving, deeply curious mind."

Apart from his vast credits as a producer, Tarlov ventured into directing in 1999 with the rom com, Simply Irresistible, including the 2004 rock musical, Temptation. Before entering Hollywood, Tarlov served as a speechwriter to Chief Justice Warren Burger while he was still pursuing his college studies. He also became a prosecutor in Washington and a lawyer at the U.S. Department of Justice after completing his graduation from Columbia Law School. Tarlov, who had a passion for wine, launched his Evening Land Vineyards label in 2006 and another label in 2014 called Chapter 24. Tarlov is survived by his wife Judith, daughters Jessica and Molly and grandson Harry.