Film-set designer J. Michael Riva dies

NEW ORLEANS -- Oscar-nominated production designer J. Michael Riva, whose film credits include "The Amazing Spider-Man," "A Few Good Men" and "The Color Purple," has died after suffering a stroke in New Orleans. He was 63.

In a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday, Sony Pictures spokesman Steve Elzer said Riva, who lived in Los Angeles, was in New Orleans working on the Quentin Tarantino film "Django Unchained" and was preparing to head to the set when he suffered a stroke June 1.

According to the statement, Riva died June 7 "surrounded by his family." Tarantino, who has been in New Orleans for months directing "Django Unchained," said in a statement released through Elzer that the film crew is "devastated by this tragic loss as we persevere on his wonderful sets."

Riva earned an Academy Award nomination for his work on 1985's "The Color Purple." His other production design work include three of the "Lethal Weapon" films, "Scrooged," "The Goonies," "Dave" and "Ordinary People." -- AP