Cinepix co-founder John Dunning, 84, died in Montreal on Sept. 19 after a long illness, Lionsgate Entertainment said Thursday.

The veteran Canadian producer, who gave a start to the careers of Ivan Reitman, David Cronenberg and Don Carmody, co-founded Cinepix in 1962 with Andre Link.

Dunning and Link had their biggest hit with the 1979 film Meatballs, and eventually sold Cinepix to Lionsgate in 1997, when it was renamed Lions Gate Films.

Cinepix made its name in Montreal at the centre of Quebec’s controversial filmmaking and identity-building culture in the post-war years.

Link and Dunning executive produced early David Cronenberg genre pics like Shivers and Rabid,  and also mentored George Mihalka, who directed the cult classic My Bloody Valentine.

Carmody, who started working for Cinepix as a driver in 1973, eventually produced the 1982 international box-office hit Porky’s.

Dunning and Link received a tribute at the 1993 Genie Awards and in 2007 were inducted into the Canadian Film and Television Hall of Fame.

Dunning is survived by his wife Jean, son Greg and daughter-in-law Bonnie.

Visitation is set for Thursday, Sept. 29 from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at the Mount Royal Funeral Complex in Outremont, Quebec.

A funeral service is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 30 at 1 p.m., again at the Mount Royal Funeral Complex, followed by a burial and reception.