One of the most important producers of our times died on Wednesday at a hospital in Philadelphia. His name is Frank Capra Jr. and he was and will remain a legend.

Capra Jr. was a major producer and television man and starred in the Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life”, where he was directed by his father, Frank Capra Senior himself. Although his mother, Lucille Rayburn Warner Capra, tried to protect Frank and her other two children from the effervescent Hollywood life, Frank Capra Jr. participated as a child at dinners with such movie legends as Clark Gable or Carole Lombard, for example. The producer once said that he was also best friends with Gary Cooper’s daughter, Maria.

So, despite his mother’s wish, Capra Jr. got involved in the movies industry. Still, he confessed that his father had no idea they were making a classic when filming “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which starred other legendary actors such as Jimmy Stewart, Lionel Barrymore and Donna Reed.

"I don't think any filmmaker knows that," he said. "He loved the idea of the story. He fell in love with that idea of the story about a man who could see the world the way it would have been had he never been born."

Frank Capra Jr.’s death was announced by Bill Vassar, EUE Screen Gems Studios’ executive vice president. Capra Jr. was the company’s president.

"With his Hollywood pedigree and extensive experience as a producer, Frank was the perfect ambassador to Hollywood," said Chris Cooney, the chief operating officer of the company, about the man under whose leadership EUE Screen Gems created many major motion pictures, such as “28 Days”, “Domestic Disturbance”, or “A Walk to Remember.”

Frank Capra Jr. died at the age of 73, after a long fight with prostate cancer.