R.I.P. James Jacks, producer of Dazed And Confused and The Mummy

The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that film producer James Jacks died of a heart attack at his home on Monday. He was 66. James' producing highlights include Richard Linklater’s 1993 breakthrough Dazed And Confused, the Coen brothers’ Raising Arizona, and the modern Mummy franchise. Director Kevin Smith has posted an extensive eulogy to his Facebook page recalling his friendship with Jacks. In it, Smith recounts meeting the producer after Clerks screened at Sundance, Jacks’ contributions during production on Mallrats, and how Jacks helped kickstart Ben Affleck’s career through both that film and Linklater’s Dazed And Confused. Smith also credits Jacks for bringing directors Sam Raimi, John Woo, and Linklater to higher prominence in Hollywood.