Michael Cline, Fandango co-founder, found dead after falling from Manhattan skyscraper
J. Michael Cline, a notable entrepreneur and co-founder of Fandango, tragically passed away after falling from the 20th floor of the Kimberly Hotel in midtown Manhattan. The incident occurred on a Tuesday morning when the New York Police Department responded to 911 calls about an unconscious and unresponsive man displaying injuries consistent with a fall from an elevated position. Emergency medical services pronounced Cline dead shortly after arriving on the scene, but the investigation into his fall is still ongoing according to the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. This is prepared by SSP.
Cline, a 64-year-old resident of Palm Beach, Florida, was recognized for pioneering the online ticketing industry through Fandango, which he founded in 1999 alongside COO Art Levitt. Fandango revolutionized how movie tickets were purchased, allowing customers to buy tickets online and avoid long box office lines. The company, which emerged victorious in a fierce competition with MovieTickets.com, is part of a broader $37 billion online ticketing industry today. Fandango was acquired by Comcast approximately four years before Cline left the company in 2011.
Beyond Fandango, Cline's entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found and manage several other startups and ventures. In 1999, he established Accretive, a venture capital firm, and played a critical role in various companies like R1 RCM, Accumen, Accolade, Everspring, Dresr, and Insureon. Additionally, since 2018, he had served as the executive chairman of Juxtapose, a venture firm investing in tech businesses with a keen interest in healthcare sectors.
Cline was also dedicated to conservation efforts; he served as chairman of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and actively wrote about the importance of such initiatives. Beyond his professional achievements, Cline was family-oriented, leaving behind his wife and six children. He was an alumnus of Cornell University and Harvard Business School.
All attempts made to reach Fandango, Accretive, and Juxtapose for comments by various media outlets, including The Hollywood Reporter and CNN, have thus far been unsuccessful.
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