Production manager worked on Chariots of Fire and An American Werewolf in London.

Veteran production manager Joyce Herlihy has died, aged 92. Her son, Sean Herlihy, confirmed to ScreenDaily that she died on Monday (Feb 10).

Herlihy worked in the British film industry for nearly 50 years. She began her career as a personal assistant to actress Deborah Kerr, where her duties included answering fan mail and signing autographs. 

Herlihy moved on to work with Terence Young when he directed the first James Bond film, Dr. No (1962) as well as features including Thunderball (1965) and Wait Until Dark (1967).  

She worked as a production secretary throughout the 1960s, rising to the position of production manager - a position rare for a woman to hold at that time in the industry.

Herlihy worked steadily throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s with producers such as David Puttnam and Jeremy Thomas.

Her credits include cult John Landis horror An American Werewolf In London (1980) and London Underground chiller Raw Meat (aka Death Line) (1973) as well as award-winning features Chariots of Fire (1981), The Last Emperor (1987) and The Remains of the Day (1993).

In 2000, BAFTA honored her with the Michael Balcon award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.

Her son Sean said: “Joyce was able to keep a film on budget without shortchanging the crew. Although it has been said she could make a grown man cry she was well liked within the industry and I’m sure she will be sorely missed.”

Joyce is survived by her son Sean and her granddaughter Eilish who live in New York City, as well as by her three nieces Sally Bald, Jane Whitmarsh and Georgina Moloney and their families.