Charles ‘Chuck’ Jefferson Sloan, a resident of Pacific Palisades, died of a heart attack while swimming in the British Virgin Islands on April 4. He was 71. Charles was born in Los Angeles on July 22, 1939, the son of Odie Sloan and Violet (Yoquelet) Sloan. He attended Hollywood High School and served in the U.S. Army in Germany for two years. Upon completing his service, he returned to Los Angeles, where his life as a true entrepreneur began. Sloan partnered with Steve McQueen and built thermoplastic gas tanks for motorcycles. He managed parking lots, nightclubs, musicians and had a three-picture movie deal as an actor for Allied Artists. His pioneering career in production sprang from a job he took as a prop master, filling in for his best friend, Anthony Mazzola. Within the year, he had moved from props to producing and was sent to New York City, where he opened the office of Wakeford/Orloff, a commercial production company. With the commercial business expanding exponentially, Sloan went on to own and operate prominent companies, including the Film Consortium, where he was one of the producers on the film ‘ROAR.’ In 1982, he founded Plum Productions with director and cameraman Eric Saarinen and the two worked together for nearly thirty years in the boutique commercial company, representing directors such as Jan de Bont. With Sloan and Saarinen working together, Plum Productions won every major commercial award, including the Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions Festival for achievement in commercial direction. Sloan’s latest ventures included partnering to form the successful talent agency Reign in 2006. He also worked tirelessly to promote electric bicycles, electric cars and yoga. Chuck was divorced from Holly Goldberg Sloan and they had two sons, Max and Calvin, who survive him. He is also survived by his sister Alyce Payne and her family. A private celebration of Chuck’s life was held on Saturday, April 9. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in his honor to Heal The Bay.
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