Nesbit Lee Lacy

Artist, businessman, entrepreneur, filmmaker, international wine maker and dealer, international art collector and dealer N. Lee Lacy passed away on Monday, December 9, 2024 in the company of his loving wife, Vanna Warmack, at their home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

A native of Indianapolis, Lacy immersed himself during his college years in fields ranging from opera and theater to television, film and acting. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University, he served in U.S. Army Intelligence for two years. After returning from the service he attended the graduate studies program at UCLA, during which he took the opportunity to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts on an exchange student program.

Lacy recognized that he was not destined to devote himself to only one discipline. He moved to New York and began his career as an actor and director. While working on the stages of New York, he also freelanced as a jazz musician and still photographer to support his commitment to directing. As he gained more experience, Lacy's passion for directing led him to directing assignments with NBC-TV.

Relocating to Los Angeles to explore broader directorial opportunities, he began honing his film production company. Within three years, he opened his own production company, The Lacy Company, specializing in television commercials. Among his many legendary commercials was "Hey Kid, Catch!" for Coca-Cola starring pro football star "Mean" Joe Greene. Lee Lacy was the campaign's director. The commercial has been listed as one of the top ads of all time by multiple sources, including TV Guide. A Laura Scudder commercial soon gamered a Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival, launching him into the international arena. The Lacy Company, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Milan and London, eventually became an $85 million per annum enterprise. Over the years The Lacy Company boasted a list of directors and cinematographers that reads like a Who's Who of the industry, from Laslo Kovack and John Alonzo through Harold Becker, Brian Gibson and David Fincher.

Discovering ways to accomplish on film what had heretofore only been possible in still photography, Lacy pioneered creative and technical innovations that proved influential in commercial and feature film production. These innovations are reflected in the many television specials, movies of the week, television series and music videos produced by the Lacy Company. Lacy and his company won virtually every international film award, in some cases many times over. As a director, Lacy himself won The International Broadcasting Awards, the American CLIO's, the CLIO Hall of Fame Awards, and the British Advertising Award, in addition to the "Palm d'Or" and "Lion d'Or" awards at the numerous Cannes Film Festivals; as well as, "Best Of Festival" and the "Palm d'Or" at the Venice Film Festival. The Lacy Company also received an Academy Award nomination for its documentary production SURVIVAL.

While maintaining residences and offices in Los Angeles, London and Paris, Lacy begin utilizing his expertise in architectural design as he began purchasing and remodeling residential properties. Working closely with his wife, a production designer and art director, he transformed homes in Paris, London, Los Angeles, Aspen and Honolulu, all of which reflected the "California Look." As they changed the entire environment of the houses - architecture, landscape and interior design - these properties became their own statements on living. While renovating these homes, Lacy was able to expand upon one of his hobbies, wine collecting, and he created cellars to stock his ever- growing collection of vintage California, French and Italian wines. In later years Lacy was active as a winemaker, importer and distributor operating out of offices in Palm Springs and in his native Indianapolis.

What emerged as one of Lacy's greatest passions was art collecting. He went on to become a prominent figure in the art world, having traveled across the globe collecting African, Egyptian, Cycladic, Greek, Pre-Columbian, Chinese, Japanese, Native American, Indonesian, Oceanic and Southeast Asian art. He has sold pieces to museums and to prominent art collectors.

Lee was much loved by his family, friends and business associates. He was truly Bigger Than Life in everything he undertook, and was a man of intelligence, taste, style, kindness and wisdom. In every way he is irreplaceable.

Lee is survived by his wife, Vanna Warmack; pet, Garr; and his five children, Cody (Nick Melfi), Erin Lacy, Ericka Lacy, and Charles Lacy.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father and daughter, Leann Lacy.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.