Fandango Founder tragically dies after falling from New York hotel
Warning: This article contains reference to suicide which some readers may find distressing.
James Michael Cline, the founder of the movie ticket company Fandango, has died after falling from the 20th floor of a hotel in New York City.
Cline was 64 years old when he died on Tuesday (July 16).
The New York Police Department responded to the scene on the third-floor courtyard of the Kimberly Hotel on 50th St at approximately 10:19am local time.
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In a statement, the NYPD said officers found an 'unconscious and unresponsive male' when they arrived at the scene.
He had 'injuries indicative of a fall from an elevated position', according to the department.
The man, who was later identified as Cline, was pronounced dead by EMS, though his cause of death has not immediately been made available.
The investigation into Cline's death remains ongoing.
Sources close to Cline told the New York Post Cline's death came as a shock, particularly after it came only a few days after he had undergone a gallbladder surgery.
Cline founded Fandango in 2000 and remained with the company as it was acquired by Comcast in 2007, before he ultimately left in 2011.
Fandango is now owned by NBCUniversal and Warner Bros.
When Cline launched the company, he described it to Variety as 'fast and fun'.
"Fandango is the perfect match to a service designed to make going to the movies easier and more enjoyable than ever before,” he said, adding that Fandango was an 'instantly recognizable and distinctive name that sets us apart in our industry'.
After leaving Fandango, Cline got involved with several tech and venture capital firms, as well as founding other businesses, including Accumen, Insureon and Accolade, through his Accretive company.
Most recently, Cline was serving as executive chairman of investment firm Juxtapose.
In a 2018 article published by Fordham University, Cline was described as a 'serial entrepreneur' and was praised by students for inspiring them to 'work with people you trust' and stay 'focused, driven, and persistent'.
"Mr. Cline helped me learn the importance of building a strong team from the onset," one student said.
In his personal life, Cline met and married his wife, Pamela B. Cline, in 1995.
According to a wedding announcement in The New York Times, Cline graduated from Cornell University and received an M.B.A. from Harvard University.
He and Pamela went on to welcome six children together, and owned multi-million dollar properties in Greenwich, Connecticut; the Hamptons and Palm Beach, Florida.
Cline is survived by his wife and children.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
Topics: Mental Health, Business, Technology, US News
Emily Brown