Home / Arts and Entertainment / Producer David Yarnell, Behind 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?', Dies at 96
Producer David Yarnell, Behind 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?', Dies at 96
2 Feb
Summary
- Yarnell, a noted producer, passed away at his Los Angeles home.
- He produced the acclaimed film 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?' in 2018.
- Yarnell had a diverse career spanning radio, TV, and documentaries.

Veteran producer David Yarnell, whose credits include the acclaimed 2018 film 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?', has died at 96. He passed away on January 28th at his Los Angeles residence.
Yarnell's career began in radio, where he directed programming for Channel 5 in New York. He was instrumental in creating William F. Buckley's 'Firing Line' radio show and produced early broadcasts of Muhammad Ali's boxing matches.
Transitioning to television, Yarnell held executive positions at Metromedia and RKO General. His production company, DY Productions, focused on documentaries and celebrated American cinema with series like 'AFI 100 Years'.
He championed 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?' for two decades, a project that faced significant production hurdles before its eventual release. The film earned Oscar nominations for stars Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant.
Yarnell also established the Toni and David Yarnell Merit Award of Excellence in Architecture and Art with his wife, Toni Howard, supporting aspiring creatives.




