Stacy Title
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Published in New York Daily News on January 12, 2021
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Stacy Title, director of ‘The Last Supper,’ dead at 56
By Peter Sblendorio
Stacy Title, a longtime movie director, writer and producer whose projects included “The Bye Bye Man” and “Let the Devil Wear Black,” has died at age 56.
Her death was announced Monday by her husband, Jonathan Penner, who posted a photo of her on Twitter and wrote, “Stacy Beth Title 2/21/64 – 1/11/21.”
Title was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, three years ago, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“I don’t want to die, but I’m going to eventually,” Title said following her diagnosis during a 2018 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “But until then I want to live and direct — doing what I love will be part of my legacy. I don’t want to sit shut away in my chair. I think this will be a beautiful, fun, challenging process for all of us, and I am happy. I want to stay happy.”
Title burst onto the entertainment scene during the 1990s and quickly experienced success with her 1993 short film “Down on the Waterfront,” which starred Jason Alexander, earning an Oscar nomination in the best short film, live action category.
She then worked with Alexander, Cameron Diaz, Courtney B. Vance, Mark Harmon and Bill Paxton on the 1995 black comedy “The Last Supper,” which was the first feature film that Title directed.
Title worked as a director, writer and producer on “Let the Devil Wear Black,” a thriller that came out in 1999. Her most recent directorial work was “The Bye Bye Man,” a horror movie that premiered in 2017.
She frequently collaborated with Penner, whom she married in 1991 and had two kids with. Penner co-wrote “Down on the Waterfront,” “Let the Devil Wear Black” and “The Bye Bye Man,” and also appeared as an actor in “Down on the Waterfront” and “The Last Supper.”
In 2003, the made-for-TV movie “The Lone Ranger,” which was co-written by Title and Penner, debuted on The WB.