Glen Trotiner Cause of Death: 'Morbius' Assistant Director Dead at 65

By Alexandria Reeves

Glen Trotiner, a prolific assistant director who graced over 100 feature films, died. He was 65.

His family first confirmed the news through the website, Legacy. Per the bereaved loved ones, the assistant director passed away on June 16 in New York.

Details about Glen Trotiner's cause of death remain unknown. His family is also yet to reveal whether he suffered health issues before his passing.

They, however, arranged a funeral in Fort Lee, New Jersey, to allow his colleagues and fans to mourn with them. The family also asked that donations be made to blanketsofhope.com or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

People closed to him and who watched his masterpieces immediately paid tribute to him and recollected his contributions to the TV and film industry.

Paul Grondahl shared a group photo of them with Trotiner on Twitter and wrote, "RIP to friend & @ualbany alum @GlenTrotiner He was 65, a brilliant filmmaker & teacher who loved his alma mater. He led workshops & came to premiere his film "Mental State" at @nyswi Albany Film Festival on April 2."

I'm so sorry to hear about the passing of Glen Trotiner. A wonderful person with a storied career as a 1st and 2nd AD working with DePalma, Schrader, Ferrara and many others. Never lost the thrill of being on set. R.I.P.https://t.co/DdBTgSsMaM
— Filmmaker Magazine (@FilmmakerMag) June 21, 2022

Glen Trotiner's Legacy

Trotiner first tried to work as a DGA trainee on the films "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and "Power" in 1986. He immediately served as second assistant director in the 1987 flick, "The Untouchables."

From there, he landed several assistant director roles in a number of movies, including "Moom Over Parador," "Regarding Henry," "Private Parts," "Big Daddy," "Maid in Manhattan," "Reservation Road," "What Happens in Vegas," and "Set It Up."

Aside from being an assistant director for films, he also served as a producer in "Tony& Tina's Wedding," "Big Time Adolescence," "Banana Split," and "Bernard and Dorris." Before Trotiner's death, he also became part of the upcoming film, "The Mental State."

As for his television stint, he famously helmed "Mozart in the Jungle," "Blue Bloods," and "The Education of Max Bickford." He also became part of the first three seasons of "Oz."

In one of his interviews before his passing, Trotiner talked about his work as an assistant director and how collaborating with others could always lead to the success of a project.

"Everyone, from the writer, director, cinematographer, assistant director, editor - all the way to the fifth grip, the production assistant dealing with the extras in the holding area, the assistant editor logging the previous day's footage - contributes their own particular brand of sorcery," he told UAlbany Magazine in 2017.