Paul Charles Donnelly; Retired Universal Executive

Paul Charles Donnelly, a retired Universal Pictures executive, has died in Westwood. He was 76. A longtime resident of Encino, Donnelly died Sunday of complications from surgery, said his wife Eileen Donnelly.

Born on Valentine’s Day, 1914, in Conshohocken, Pa., Donnelly came to California when he was 20. His longtime career in the film industry began in the accounting department of Columbia Studios. He later became an assistant director at Columbia, working on various films including “The Wild One.” He worked as the head of production for Revue Productions at Republic Studios before going to Universal, where he was vice president of production for television and feature films. He retired from Universal in 1969, but continued to work as an independent producer and as co-executive producer for Jack Webb’s Mark VII Productions.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years; sons Kevin Donnelly of Northridge, Tim Donnelly of Encino and Dennis Donnelly of Pacific Palisades; daughters Debi Fricioni of Studio City and Kathy McInerney of San Juan Capistrano; sister Kathryn Orr of Torrance; and six grandchildren.

A rosary is to be recited at 7:30 p.m. Friday at St. Cyril of Jerusalem, 15520 Ventura Blvd. in Encino. A Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Saturday at the church. Donations can be made in Donnelly’s name to the Motion Picture and Television Fund.