Zalman King, Director and Producer of Red Show Diaries, More

King, who began his career as an actor, became a producer and director whose credits included the movies 9 1/2 Weeks and Wild Orchid.

Zalman King, a director and producer known for such feature films as Wild Orchid and 9 1/2 Weeks, and the film and television series Red Shoe Diaries, died February 3, 2012. He was 69 years old.

According to news reports, the cause was cancer.

King, was born Zalman Lefkovitz on May 23, 1942, in Trenton, New Jersey. He began his entertainment career as an actor. His credits included guest roles on such series as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Munsters, Bonanza, Gunsmoke and many others. He was also a regular on The Young Lawyers, which aired from 1969-1971.

In the 1980s he segued into screenwriting, producing and directing. He received a story credit on the 1980 feature Roadie, on which he was also an executive producer. In 1986, he produced the erotic drama 9 ½ Weeks, directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger.

King’s films as a director included Two Moon Junction, in 1988, Wild Orchid, in 1989, and Red Shoe Diaries, in 1992.

Red Show Diaries also became a series that aired on Showtime from 1992-1996. Other television credits included ChromiumBlue.com and Body Language, which also aired on Showtime.

King’s death was first reported by Charlie Sheen on Facebook. Sheen wrote, “the world lost a brilliant and noble soul today. My dear friend of 40 years, Zalman King, just lost his battle with cancer. Fought like a recon marine til the bitter end. Say a prayer for his amazing wife Pat and their lovely daughters. Safe travels my friend.”