Kevin Turen, a producer on HBO’s “Euphoria” and “The Idol,” died Sunday after suffering a medical emergency while he was driving, according to a report.
Turen, 44, was behind the wheel of his Tesla when his health suddenly took a turn for the worse, prompting his 10-year-old son to act fast and steer them to safety, TMZ reports.
The producer’s father, Edward Turen, and close friend, Michael Heller, told the outlet that the horrific ordeal took place on the California freeway as the pair drove home from a tennis tournament.
Edward and Heller explained that Kevin’s car was on autopilot mode at the time of the incident.
Kevin was pronounced dead after being rushed to hospital. An official cause of death is still pending.
His father said drugs and alcohol weren’t involved. He confirmed his son’s death in a statement Sunday night.
“Kevin was so incredibly special, this world is going to be less without him,” Edward said in a statement shared with Deadline.
Jay Penske, CEO of PMC and a close friend of Turen, said in a statement, “Despite his many achievements in Hollywood, Kevin’s greatest passion was his family and friends.
“He was so proud of his children. He and his wife, Evelina, were resolved that their children grow up with great values and ensured they make a difference in the broader world. Our collective heart breaks for them, and we all feel such a profound sense of loss. We will miss Kevin so much, and this town lost one of its brightest rising stars today.”
The New York native studied at Columbia University and graduated with a degree in English and Critical Film Studies.
He’d go on to co-found, with Sam and Ashley Levinson, Little Lamb Productions, which produced “Euphoria.” He also worked on Ti West’s films “X,” “Pearl” and the forthcoming “MaXXXine.”
Little Lamb also produced “Malcolm and Marie” (2021), starring Zendaya and John David Washington and directed by Sam Levinson, the John Boyega-starring thriller “Breaking” (2022) and Olivier Assayas’ HBO miniseries “Irma Vep” (2022).
Kevin is survived by his wife, Evelina, and their two sons, Jack and James.