Fandango Founder J. Michael Cline Dies After Falling From New York Hotel

As a movie critic with a background in business and technology, I cannot help but be deeply saddened by the news of James Michael Cline‘s untimely death. His impact on the film industry is immeasurable, having founded Fandango, the revolutionary movie ticketing service that made buying advance tickets online a breeze for millions of moviegoers.


In Manhattan’s Kimberly Hotel on Tuesday, James Michael Cline, the finance executive who launched Fandango for movie ticketing in 2000 and worked there until 2011, took his life from the 20th floor at the age of 64. It is believed to be a suicide.

As a devoted cinema goer, I’d put it this way:

According to the NYPD, Cline’s listed address is in Palm Beach, Florida, while records indicate that he bought a property worth $21 million there in the year 2020.

Following his departure from Fandango, Cline went on to manage multiple tech firms and venture capital firms, such as Bridgewater Associates. He also established businesses like Accumen, Insureon, and Accolade under his Accretive umbrella company, which previously invested in Fandango. Presently, he holds the role of executive chairman at Juxtapose, a business incubator that has brought forth companies such as Orchard, Tend, Earned, Great Jones, and Nectar.

His only entertainment venture, Cline founded Fandango with Art Levitt and forged partnerships with seven movie theater chains — Loews Cineplex Entertainment, Regal Cinemas, Carmike Cinemas, Cinemark Theaters, General Cinema Theaters, Edwards Theatres and Century Theatres — to create the online service that made buying advance tickets simple for moviegoers.

“A Fandango is both quick and exciting. The name ‘Fandango’ perfectly suits a service aimed at making movie-going more convenient and enjoyable than ever, as mentioned by Cline during its launch. This memorable and unique moniker differentiates us in our industry,” he explained.

Back in 2007, Fandango became part of the Comcast family. According to Cline’s LinkedIn profile, his tenure with the company came to an end in the year 2011. Unfortunately, Fandango didn’t get back to us regarding our request for a comment.

After earning his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and obtaining an MBA from Harvard Business School, Cline took on the role of chairman at the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

He is survived by his wife Pamela and several children.

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2024-07-18 04:17