Kevin Turen, a producer on “Euphoria,” “The Idol,” and Ti West’s “X” trilogy,” died over the weekend. He was 44. A cause of death is not yet known.
Jay Penske, CEO of Variety‘s parent company Penske Media Corporation, was a close friend of Turen’s and released a statement on his passing.
“Despite his many achievements in Hollywood, Kevin’s greatest passion was his family and friends,” Penske said. “He was so proud of his children. He and his wife, Evelina, were resolved that their children grow up with great values and ensured they make a difference in the broader world. Our collective heart breaks for them, and we all feel such a profound sense of loss. We will miss Kevin so much, and this town lost one of its brightest rising stars today.”
Turen was known for working alongside Sam Levinson and Ashley Levinson, having co-founded Little Lamb Productions together in 2018. One of their most popular projects is HBO’s “Euphoria,” the critically acclaimed drama series about a teen (Zendaya) struggling with drug addiction, known for its gritty plot and stylized aesthetics. Turen also produced “The Idol,” another HBO series from the mind of Sam Levinson, about a pop star (Lily Rose-Depp) who develops a relationship with a cult leader (Abel Tesfaye). Turen additionally produced Levinson’s film “Assassination Nation.”
In addition to his collaborations with Levinson, Turen also produced several films for indie director Ti West, who wrote and directed the recent slasher film trilogy consisting of “X,” prequel “Pearl,” and the forthcoming sequel “MaXXXine.” The films star Mia Goth, who played both Maxine and Pearl.
Other titles produced by Turen include the A24 drama “Waves,” the Netflix drama “Pieces of a Woman,” the meta-comedy “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” starring Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal, “The Birth of a Nation,” “99 Homes” and the drama “All Is Lost” starring Robert Redford.
Turen was born on Aug. 16, 1979 in New York City. He attended Columbia University, where he earned a degree in English and Critical Film Studies. Turen was a creative executive at First Look Studios, where he climbed the ladder to become president of production and significantly expanded the company. Some of the films he acquired and distributed while at First Look include “The Proposition,” “The Dead Girl” and “An American Crime.”
He went on to work at Infinity Media, Treehouse Pictures, and was hired to be president of production at Phantom Four before co-founding Little Lamb.
He is survived by his wife Evelina and two children.
(Clarification: a previous version of this obituary showed the incorrect photo.)