Bob Rubin, Former Home Entertainment Exec at Universal and Sony, Dies at 60

Bob Rubin, a longtime legal, business and home entertainment executive with Universal and Sony, died Monday at his home in Studio City after being diagnosed with brain cancer a year ago. He was 60.

In 1998, Rubin was named executive vp for Universal’s Home Entertainment Productions, where he was in charge of nearly 50 live-action and animated feature films, including popular made-for-video sequels to Beethoven, American Pie, Slap Shot, Land Before Time and Tremors.

Rubin joined Sony Pictures Home Entertainment in 2007 as an executive vp and established Affirm Films, which acquired and produced faith-based movies like the surprising box-office hit Fireproof (2008), starring Kirk Cameron.

In 2011, Rubin founded Hollywood2Go, a company behind a series of live seminars that provided insight into the behind-the-scenes workings of Hollywood production.

Rubin’s passion for film preservation and fine-art photography led him to become vice chairman of the board of the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film in Rochester, N.Y.

In that capacity, he played an important role in the collection, preservation and restoration of photos and rare films.

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A native of Yonkers, N.Y., Rubin attended the University of Rochester and earned his bachelor of arts in psychology. Soon after graduation, he worked as a consultant in a juvenile justice firm in Washington, then received his Juris doctorate from USC’s Gould School of Law. 

Rubin joined Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in 1983 as a litigation associate. He came to the Universal’s Motion Picture Group in 1987 as an attorney and was promoted to senior vp business affairs in 1990.

Survivors include his wife Melissa and son Charles.

A memorial service will be held at noon on June 8 at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the spiritual organization Royal Way or to the Bob Rubin Family Fund, 16633 Ventura Blvd., Suite 500, Encino, CA 91436, dedicated to the continued education of his son.

Twitter: @mikebarnes4