Former United Artists exec Andy Albeck dies

LOS ANGELES - Andy Albeck, a longtime United Artists executive whose tenure as president and chief executive was clouded by the high-profile failure of the epic western "Heaven's Gate," has died. He was 89.

Albeck died of heart failure Sept. 29 at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York, said his son, Johannes.

In a 30-year career at United Artists that included serving as president of UA's broadcasting division, Albeck was named president and chief executive in 1978.

During his tenure, United Artists released "Manhattan," "Raging Bull" and "Rocky II." But then there was director Michael Cimino's "Heaven's Gate," the film that became notorious for its astronomical cost, critical drubbing and enormous losses at the box office. Albeck took early retirement in 1981. - AP