Ken Atchity: Producer Behind 'The Meg' and 'Hysteria' Dead

Ken Atchity, an acclaimed author and literary manager, died on Monday at the age of 82. His death occurred due to kidney failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Atchity was a pivotal figure in both literature and film production.

His extensive filmography includes producing the popular shark thrillers 'The Meg' (2018) and its sequel 'Meg 2: The Trench' (2023). He also contributed to critically noted films such as Maggie Gyllenhaal's 'Hysteria' (2011) and Angelina Jolie's 'Life or Something Like It' (2002).

Beyond feature films, Atchity produced 16 romantic telefilms under the Shades of Love banner, which aired internationally. He was also the driving force behind Story Merchant Books, a company dedicated to selling literary works to various media platforms.

Born Kenneth John Atchity in Eunice, Louisiana, on January 16, 1944, he developed a passion for writing early on, publishing his first book reviews as a high school student. He pursued his education at Georgetown University and later earned a master's degree from Yale, studying under notable figures like A. Bartlett Giamatti.

Atchity taught for over a decade at Occidental College before transitioning to the entertainment industry in the 1980s. He is survived by his wife, Kayoko, two children, and several grandchildren.