Andrew Gunn, the producer behind beloved Disney classics including ‘Freaky Friday’ and ‘Cruella,’ has died at 56 after a courageous battle with ALS. His legacy reshapes family entertainment and leaves an indelible mark on Hollywood’s creative landscape.
The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of Andrew Gunn, the creative force behind some of Disney’s most beloved live-action films. The Canadian-born producer, who brought us modern classics like “Freaky Friday” and “Cruella,” has died at the age of 56 following a courageous battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to his official obituary.
Gunn passed away Monday at his Toronto home after being diagnosed with Bulbar-onset ALS—a particularly aggressive form of the neurodegenerative disease affecting the neck and face—in September 2025. His wife Jane Bellamy Gunn confirmed he had been experiencing symptoms for over two years prior to his diagnosis, as reported by USA Today.
A Legacy of Family Entertainment
Beyond his role as a producer, Gunn leaves behind a legacy that has fundamentally shaped family entertainment for two decades. Born in Toronto on July 15, 1969, he moved to Los Angeles to earn a master’s degree from the Annenberg School at USC before launching his Hollywood career at John Hughes’ Great Oaks Entertainment in the late 1990s.
It was during his time at Great Oaks that Gunn contributed to the development of films including “101 Dalmatians” (1996), “102 Dalmatians” (2000), and “Flubber” (1997)—projects that would foreshadow his future success with Disney’s live-action adaptations.
In 2001, Gunn founded Gunn Films and secured an exclusive first-look deal with Walt Disney Pictures, marking the beginning of an era of family-friendly hits that would define his career. His ability to identify and develop stories with universal appeal made him one of Disney’s most trusted producers during the 2000s and 2010s.
Creating Modern Disney Classics
Among Gunn’s earliest and most enduring hits was the 2003 body-swap comedy “Freaky Friday,” starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. The remake was born after Gunn pitched the concept to then-studio president Nina Jacobson, demonstrating his knack for reimagining classic stories for modern audiences.
“Andrew Gunn… was a producer with great passion and emotionality which added so much to what makes those movies special,” Curtis wrote in her tribute posted to Instagram following his death. “His legacy lives on, and he will be missed.”
Gunn continued his success with the 2005 superhero comedy “Sky High” before taking on ambitious projects based on Disney’s iconic theme park attractions, including “The Country Bears” (2002) and “The Haunted Mansion” (2003). These films demonstrated his versatility in navigating different genres while maintaining Disney’s signature family-friendly appeal.
His most recent projects continued this legacy of innovation. “Cruella” (2021) reimagined the “101 Dalmatians” villain as a complex anti-hero, while “Freakier Friday” (2025) brought the body-swap concept to a new generation. These films not only achieved commercial success but also demonstrated Gunn’s ability to evolve beloved properties for contemporary audiences.
Mentorship and Industry Impact
Beyond his producing credits, Gunn’s impact extended to nurturing the next generation of storytellers. He played a pivotal role in establishing the Disney Writers Program in 2001, where he championed and mentored up-and-coming writers, creating opportunities for many who might not have otherwise broken into the industry.
“Andrew Gunn took a chance on a very green 29 year old from nowhere and gave him a screenwriting career and more than that…a family in my adopted city,” said “Clifford the Big Red Dog” writer and Disney Writers Program alum Blaise Hemingway in his Instagram tribute. “Andrew fostered a fraternity of writers who did EVERYTHING together. Lunches, Friday movies, happy hours at Mo’s, kid’s birthday parties. Alongside Andrew, we rewrote, roundtabled, did triage on productions in crisis…you name it. It was crazy, unhinged, and so fun.”
Gunn’s commitment to mentorship extended beyond formal programs. He was known for creating collaborative environments where writers and creatives could thrive, fostering a community that produced some of Disney’s most successful family films of the 21st century.
Remembering a Creative Force
As tributes pour in from colleagues and collaborators, a consistent theme emerges: Gunn’s unique ability to blend commercial success with creative integrity. He understood that family entertainment could be both commercially viable and artistically meaningful—a balance that eluded many of his contemporaries.
“He was a courageous and modest man always doing for others before himself. His love of family, friends, motorcycles and tattoos will long be remembered by those who knew him,” his wife Jane Bellamy Gunn said in a statement to USA Today.
Gunn is survived by his wife Jane; his children Isabelle and Connor Gunn; mother Anne Gunn; and siblings Hilary Knight, Graeme Gunn and Cameron Gunn. His death leaves a void in an industry that increasingly values the kind of authentic, character-driven storytelling he championed throughout his career.
As the entertainment industry processes this loss, it’s clear that Andrew Gunn’s influence will continue to be felt through the films he brought to life and the writers he mentored. His legacy serves as a reminder that behind every beloved film is a creative force who saw potential in stories that others overlooked—a principle that will continue to guide future generations of filmmakers.
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