# The Man Who Gave Us Freaky Friday and Cruella Is Gone — Remembering Disney Producer Andrew Gunn (1969–2026)

URL: https://technosports.co.in/the-man-who-gave-us-freaky-friday/  
Published: 2026-03-05  
Updated: 2026-03-05  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

Hollywood lost one of its most warmhearted creative forces on **March 2, 2026**. **Andrew Gunn**, the Canadian film producer who helped define Disney’s beloved live-action comedy era of the 2000s, passed away at his home in **Toronto, Canada**, at just **58 years old**. His family confirmed that he died from complications of **ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)** — also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease — a condition he had been battling since his diagnosis in 2024.

> 🔗 Learn more about ALS, the disease that claimed Andrew Gunn’s life, on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALS)

## Andrew Gunn — Life & Legacy at a Glance

![Andrew Gunn](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/crueell.jpg)

| Detail | Info |
| --- | --- |
| **Full Name** | Andrew Gunn |
| **Born** | July 15, 1969 — Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| **Passed Away** | March 2, 2026 — Toronto, Canada |
| **Age at Death** | 58 |
| **Cause** | Complications from ALS (diagnosed 2024) |
| **Production Company** | Gunn Films (founded 2001) |
| **Key Films Produced** | *Freaky Friday* (2003), *Sky High* (2005), *The Haunted Mansion* (2003), *Cruella* (2021), *Freakier Friday* (2025) |
| **Notable Initiative** | Disney Writers Program (launched 2001) |
| **Survived By** | Wife Jane Bellamy Gunn, children Isabelle & Connor Gunn, mother Anne, siblings Hilary, Graeme & Cameron |

## The Producer Behind the Magic

Andrew Gunn’s story with Disney began when he founded **Gunn Films in 2001** and secured an exclusive first-look deal with Walt Disney Pictures. What followed was an extraordinary run of family films that a generation of kids grew up watching.

His most iconic achievement was championing ***Freaky Friday*** (2003). When the original casting of Annette Bening, Michelle Trachtenberg and Tom Selleck fell through, Gunn pushed to keep the project alive — eventually landing **Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan** in what became a cultural touchstone. The film earned over **$160 million worldwide** and earned Curtis a Golden Globe nomination. He produced the 2025 sequel ***Freakier Friday*** too, and took special pride in having his two children, **Isabelle and Connor**, work on set alongside him.

Beyond his filmography, Gunn founded the **Disney Writers Program** — a mentorship initiative that launched the careers of writers responsible for *Elf*, *The Haunted Mansion*, *Father of the Bride* (2022), and *The Terminal List*, among others. Screenwriter Blaise Hemingway summed it up: Gunn was the “godfather” to an entire generation of Hollywood storytellers.

Former Disney executive **Nina Jacobson** remembered him as someone who brought “hope, optimism and attentiveness” to every project he touched.

For more tributes and Hollywood film industry news, head to [TechnoSports Entertainment](https://technosports.co.in/category/entertainment/) | Stay updated with cinema and OTT news at [TechnoSports.co.in](https://technosports.co.in)

## FAQs

### **Q1. What did Andrew Gunn die of?**

Andrew Gunn died on **March 2, 2026**, from complications of **ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)**, a progressive neurological disease he was diagnosed with in 2024. He passed away peacefully at his home in Toronto, Canada, surrounded by his family.

### **Q2. What movies did Andrew Gunn produce for Disney?**

 Andrew Gunn produced a string of beloved Disney films including ***Freaky Friday*** (2003), *The Haunted Mansion* (2003), *Sky High* (2005), *College Road Trip* (2008), *Bedtime Stories* (2008), *Race to Witch Mountain* (2009), ***Cruella*** (2021), and ***Freakier Friday*** (2025).