Disney has appointed a gay man to run
its movie studio business.
Rich Ross is Hollywood's first openly
gay studio chief. Walt Disney Studios announced Ross' appointment on
Monday.
The 47-year-old Ross previously headed
Disney's television unit.
In a Los Angeles Times profile
that appeared before his appointment, the paper reported that Ross
lives in the Hollywood Hills with his partner of more than 20 years,
Adam Sanderson.
Ross is credited with helping launch
the careers of many of today's brightest young stars, including Shia
LaBeouf, Zac Efron, the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus.
The new studio chief reportedly has the
support of filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider.
“Steven and I are totally supportive
of Rich,” Snider, the chief executive of DreamWorks, told the New
York Times. “What he has done for the [Disney] channel is
extraordinary. You can't help but notice the creativity and the
robust effort that has gone into making that brand ubiquitous.”
Disney distributes many of the films
produced by DreamWorks.