Thomas Augsberger, Lionsgate board member and founder of Eden Rock Media, has passed away. He died at 60. Augsberger’s family reported the news to the Hollywood Reporter that he died suddenly in his Hollywood Hills home on Tuesday.
Born in Germany in 1963, Augsberger served as Herbert Kloiber’s longtime consultant in the Tele Muenchen Group and stayed as its advisor after being acquired by Leonine. Kloiber and Augsberger had a bond over their mutual love of opera. Ausgberger was even a trained opera singer.
Augsberger acquired countless projects for the German market, including Twilight, Iron Man, the John Wick series, and the Hunger Games series, including the new prequel Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes. He even acquired licensing for the German-speaking rights for Flashpoint, The Night Manager, and Anger Management. He even sat on the board for John Wick and Huger Games studio Lionsgate from 2002-2004. In 1999, he oversaw the preferred equity investment in Lionsgate Entertainment. As well as sitting on the board for Lionsgate, he also served on boards for BEC, Liquid Light, and ROW8.
“Thomas was wholly unique and a special colleague in our business, so many great memories created during 30 years of friendship,” Joe Drake of Lionsgate had to say. “Always thoughtful, articulate, tough, and deeply human — that was his superpower. No surprise that he is so loved and has so many friends.”
Augsberger founded Eden Rock Media in 2002, helping launch over fifteen independent features. Some of these projects were Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil, Solace, and Mr. Brooks, among others.
“Knowing Thomas for the better part of 30 years, I’ve never stopped admiring his enthusiasm for life and his essential optimism. Truly one of the most affable, gregarious, and surprising people you will ever meet,” Toby Emmerich, a longtime friend of Augsberger and producer on Barbie, said about his passing. “I knew him best as a friend, a passionate film producer, and a deeply loving and engaged husband and father. And on the surprising front, an opera singer, former male model, and a shockingly quick and agile tennis and soccer player!”
Augsberger is survived by his wife, Jana, daughters Tessa Lili and Helena Lucia, and son Nicholas Alfred.
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