Cass Warner, a filmmaker and author born into Hollywood royalty and mother of Yellowstone actor Cole Hauser, has died. She was 76.
The granddaughter of Warner Bros. co-founder Harry Warner, Cass Warner’s death was announced by her son Hauser. Additional information including cause and date of death was not disclosed.
“It is with a heavy heart that my mother. Cass Sperling Warner passed away at the age of 76,” Hauser wrote on Instagram. “Her kindness, love, humor and amazing spirit will be missed by not only my family but the world. You have touched so many. I know you will be up in the heavens sitting next to all the great humans that have passed through our earth. We will meet again. Bye for now.”
Born March 8, 1948, Cass Warner was a self-described third-generation filmmaker. Her father was writer/producer Milton Sperling, who was involved in more than 50 films including the Oscar-nominated 1955 drama The Court-Martial Of Billy Mitchell and the 1958 Gene Kelly-Natalie Wood film Marjorie Morningstar.
Cass’ mother was artist and activist Betty Warner Sheinbaum, the daughter of Hollywood pioneer Harry Warner.
According to a biography on Cass Warner’s website Warner Sisters, she was introduced to filmmaking as a child, attending story meetings with her father and wandering the Warner Bros. lot. She studied acting with director and coach Milton Katselas, and was mentored in screenwriting by her father as well as Casablanca writer Howard Koch.
In 1993, Warner published her personal family saga Hollywood Be Thy Name–The Warner Brothers Story, updating the book in 2008 with additional information and photos and new title The Brothers Warner. She directed a 2007 documentary adaptation of the book which later was aired on the PBS American Masters series.
Under her Warner Sisters banner, she developed the documentary Hopper: In His Own Words (2012) about Dennie Hopper. She also created a nonprofit organization called The Dream Factory that presents inspiration interviews with Hollywood stars and insiders.
In addition to Hauser (her son with ex-husband Wings Hauser), Cass Warner is survived by husband Glenn Allan Pool; daughters Vanessa Mooney and Tao Gaines; son Jesse Pool; and three grandchildren.