BEATLES FILM PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR JOHN COATES DIES

John Coates, a film production supervisor who worked on the Beatles' Yellow Submarine, has died of cancer. According to the BBC, he remained active in the movie industry up until his death, most recently finishing work on a follow-up to the 1982 film The Snowman titled The Snowman and the Snowdog.
"It's very sad news. He was very involved [in the new film]," said a rep for Lupus Films, the production company behind The Snowman and the Snowdog. That film will be screened on the BBC's Channel 4 over Christmas.

Other projects on which Coates worked as producer or executive producer were The Tale of Jack Frost, Ivor the Invisible, The Animal Train, The Bear, Heavy Metal, The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends and Barney.

Coates got into film following a stint as an army officer in World War II. His first job was as a film distributor.