Benjamin Melniker, producer of every modern Batman movie, dies aged 104

He also worked for MGM, helping ink deals for the movies Dr. Zhivago and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Benjamin Melniker, one of the producers responsible for bringing Batman to the big screen, has died, aged 104.

Fellow producer Michael Uslan — with whom Melniker had executively produced every modern Batman film, starting with Tim Burton’s 1989 movie all the way through to last year's Justice League — announced the news on Facebook.

Melniker was born in 1913 and began working at the MGM in 1939, eventually becoming Chairman of the Film Selection Committee at the famed studio. While there, Melniker helped ink deals for Ben-Hur, Dr. Zhivago, and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

“‘Legendary’ is the only word capable of describing the man who started work at MGM in late 1939 and came to be known as ‘The MGM Lion’ for his forcefulness in negotiating the deals for the studio while building his reputation for integrity at the same time,” Uslan wrote.

“It was Ben who taught me, ‘The only thing you get to take with you when you die AND leave behind is your good name.’”

Come 1979, Melniker and Uslan bought the right to Batman, hoping to show a darker version of the character rather than the camp superhero portrayed by Adam West.

Since then, the pair have acted as executive producers on every Batman movie, including animations. Later this year, Melniker’s name will appear in the credits for Batman Ninja.

“He owns the Hollywood record books as far as I can tell,” Uslan continued. “He actively worked in the industry over nine decades, and this year will still receive on-screen credit past his 105th birthday. Not only was he active in the industry for 79 years, he was sharp right up until the last day.”

Melniker is survived by his son, two daughters-in-law, five grandchildren, and “growing number” of great grandchildren.