Kenneth Atchity, producer and literary agent of “The Meg,” died Monday. He was 82 years old.
Atchity has produced more than 30 films throughout his career as a literary executive, producer, and writer; He wrote more than 20 books; negotiated publishing and entertainment deals; and has published hundreds of additional books through his own publication, Story Merchant Books. In addition to producing the films “The Meg” with his business and production partner Chi-Li Wong, he also appeared in the films “Gambino”, “The Kennedy Detail”, “The Lost Valentine”, “The Amityville Horror: The Evil Escapes”.,” “Joe Someone” and “Life Or Something Like It.”
Before working in Hollywood, Atchity served as an assistant professor of English and comparative literature at Occidental College before becoming a full-time professor on tenure-track basis. During his 17 years at the university, he became a Fulbright professor of American literature at the University of Bologna; founded and edited two journals; He was awarded Occidental’s faculty achievement award and the UCLA Writers Program’s distinguished instructor award.
Atchity also worked as a communications engineer at AT&T Long Lines, where he designed and implemented the Green Network connecting NASA’s 26 research centers. aired on HBO and Cinemax and produced by Warner Bros. He decided to change his career by producing “Shades of Love” set of 16 films distributed internationally by .
Born in Eunice, Los Angeles, in 1944, Atchity grew up in Kansas City, Mo., and attended Georgetown University before entering Yale as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, where he earned a master’s and doctorate in philosophy. While there, his doctoral thesis won the John Addison Porter award, the university’s highest academic award, and was published with a foreword by novelist John Gardner.
Atchity is survived by his wife, Kayoko Mitsumatsu; son Vincent Atchity; daughter Rosemary Atchity; his five grandchildren, Margaret D. McKenna, Edward J. McKenna, Oliver D. Atchity, Eliot J. Atchity and Louis M. Atchity; and her sisters, Mary Calhoun and Laurie Dressman.
Donations can be made to Yoga Gives Back, an organization that empowers women and children in India, on whose board Atchity serves.