Mike Stenson, President of Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Dies at 65

Mike Stenson, the long-standing president of Jerry Bruckheimer Films who developed and produced movies including “Top Gun: Maverick” and five “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, died April 26. He was 65. 

“As early as high school, Mike loved movies and knew he wanted to make them,” said his younger brother Robert in a statement. “While he achieved great personal success, he always shunned the spotlight preferring to highlight the contributions of others. Despite his success, he remained down to earth with an intellect matched only by his generosity and rapier wit.”

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Stenson joined Jerry Bruckheimer Films as president in 1998, where he supervised all aspects of film development and production. In his time with the company, Stenson developed and produced some of the most successful and culturally relevant films, including “National Treasure,” “King Arthur,” “Black Hawk Down,” “Pearl Harbor,” “Coyote Ugly,” “Remember the Titans,” “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” “Deliver Us From Evil,” “12 Strong,” “Gemini Man” and three “Bad Boys” movies. 

“Mike was one of the most brilliant individuals I’ve ever known or worked with,” said Jerry Bruckheimer in a statement.  “His sense of story and complete knowledge of film production from development through filming and beyond was just amazing.  Mike’s relationships with talent on both sides of the camera was legendary.  I can’t express enough how much I will miss him, and what a huge loss this is to me, everyone who worked with Mike through the years, and of course, his family.”

Stenson was born and raised in Boston, and graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s in business administration. He began his career in the entertainment industry as a production assistant and worked in independent film and TV as an assistant director and production manager. 

Stenson then moved to Los Angeles, where he began at Walt Disney Studios. For two years, he was part of their special projects team before moving into the production department at Hollywood Pictures as a creative executive. He was then promoted to vice president and executive vice president, and oversaw development and production for Hollywood Pictures and Touchstone Pictures before departing to join Jerry Bruckheimer Films. 

Stenson is survived by his brothers John and his wife Mary, Tom and his wife Mary, Robert and his wife Kristin Callaghan and his nieces and nephews Kaitlin, Christopher, Elizabeth, Jack, Grace, Aidan and Keira. A funeral mass will be held at American Martyrs Catholic Church in Manhattan Beach on May 20 at 2:00 pm.