James Woolf

James Woolf (2 March 1920, London — 30 May 1966, Beverly Hills, California) was a British film producer who primarily collaborated with his older brother, John Woolf (1913—1999); they co-founded Romulus Films company in 1949. Sons of film producer and distributor C.M. Woolf (1879—1942), they attended Eton College. Some of the brothers Woolfs' most prominent works include the 1959 Room at the Top drama based on John Braine's eponymous novel, for which James and John shared the "Best Picture" Oscar nomination, and The L-Shaped Room, written and directed by Bryan Forbes in 1962. James Woolf was gay and a rumored lover and partner of Lithunian-born actor Laurence Harvey (1928—1973). He died prematurely at only 46 from a heart attack, found by the Beverly Hills Hotel employee sitting up in bed with an open book on his lap; according to different sources, he either accidentally overdosed on painkillers or possibly committed suicide.