Berton “Bert” Schneider made his big mark in the world as a movie producer, most famously responsible for the countercultural landmark film, Easy Rider. The 1969 film ushered in the era of New Hollywood. Schneider continued to produce films throughout the 1970s, including Hearts and Minds in 1974, which won an Academy Award for “Best Documentary.”
As Deadline writes, “Schneider is credited with paving the way for directors with a flair for unconventional filmmaking such as George Lucas, George Roy Hill, Paul Mazursky and Sydney Pollack.” He passed away from natural causes at the age of 78 on Monday, but his huge cultural influence will be felt for generations.
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