Mercedes LeAnza Dead at 40
Mercedes Angelica LeAnza, a film and television producer who worked at Amazon Studios and Prime Video as a lead creative producer, died of bile duct cancer on April 10. She was 40 years old at her time of death.
Born on Nov. 12, 1981 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago to Sandra Voris LeAnza, LeAnza relocated to California with her mother and brother, Kyle, after her parents’ divorce. After living in Los Angeles, the family moved to San Mateo, where LeAnza completed high school. LeAnza attended Loyola Marymount University, where she graduated with honors in theater arts and communications in 2005.
LeAnza co-founded Stella Bella Productions after graduation, and the company went on to produce films including “Jelly,” “The Accidental Death of Joey by Sue,” and “Ash Global.” LeAnza has also worked as a producer and line producer on narrative and commercial projects at all levels of development. She worked as a producer with Santa Monica-based Launch Media, where she produced independent films including “Homeroom.” She was also a member of the Producers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA.
LeAnza’s first credit as a lead creative producer for Amazon came in 2020 with the drama series “Hunters,” starring Al Pacino. Her other credits at Amazon include “Making the Cut,” “Solos,” “Upload” and “Harlem.”
LeAnza is survived by her devoted husband, Sonny Michael Olivera; her mother, Sandra LeAnza; her brother, Kyle, and sister-in-law, Elizabeth LeAnza; her estranged father, Glen LeAnza; and her uncle and aunt, Chris and Julie LeAnza, and their three sons, Kai, CJ and Jax.
Mercedes LeAnza Dead at 40. May her soul rest in peace
