Harmony Gold Founder Frank Agrama Passes Away at 93
The official accounts for the Robotech series announced on April 26 that Frank Agrama, founder and chairman of Harmony Gold, passed away at the age of 93 at his home in Los Angeles with his family by his side.
Kaya Onishi, Bigwest Representative Director, released a statement on the official Macross pages on Agrama’s passing, saying “We would like to express our deepest sympathy on the passing of Mr. Frank Agrama, Chairman of Harmony Gold USA. It was a historic moment to issue the joint statement with him in April 9, 2021. Please convey our sincerest condolences to his family and all at Harmony Gold USA.”
Agrama was born on January 1, 1930 in Arish, Egypt. Agrama founded Harmony Gold in 1983, and released the Robotech series with Carl Macek in 1985. While at Harmony Gold, Agrama also acted as Executive Producer on English dubs for Dragon Ball, Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Fairy Princess Minky Momo.
While sentenced to three years in prison in Italy for tax fraud in 2012 in a case related to former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Agrama did not serve jail time due to a 2006 Italian amnesty law, according to Variety.
In April 2021, Agrama, alongside Onishi, released a statement on the worldwide rights for the Macross and Robotech franchises, with the agreement allowing worldwide distribution of most Macross films and television sequels worldwide, and that Bigwest will not oppose the Japanese release of the upcoming live-action Robotech movie. Additionally, the agreement recognized Harmony Gold’s longstanding license with Tatsunoko of the Macross characters and Robotech TV series worldwide excluding Japan.
Prior to merging with Crunchyroll, Funimation acquired the home video, streaming and merchandise rights to Robotech series in partnership with Harmony Gold in 2019. Deadline reported in April 2022 that Rhys Thomas is set to direct the live-action adaptation of Robotech for Sony Pictures.
A small family service will be held for Agrama, with a memorial held at Harmony Gold in May.
Source: Robotech on Facebook
