Heller guided N.W.A. — which included DJ Yella, MC Ren, Eazy-E (center, wearing straitjacket), and Dr. Dre (right, wearing ski cap) — to success. (Photo : Getty Images/ LYNN GOLDSMITH)
Jerry Heller, the longtime music executive depicted in the 2015 hit film "Straight Outta Compton" and who helped introduce the group N.W.A to the public has died at 75.
Gary Ballen, Heller's cousin says that Heller died at a hospital in Thousand Oaks, California on Friday night, after suffering an attack while driving earlier in Ventura County. Heller smashed his vehicle into a minivan, TMZ reported.
"Heller suffered a heart attack while driving, and he likely crashed," his lawyer, Mickey Shapiro said, adding that Heller died at the hospital which is just north of Los Angeles.
The driver of the car he collided with was not seriously injured.
According to CNN, Heller co-founded Ruthless Records with Eazy-E, the label behind hip-hop group N.W.A., which released the careers of rappers Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and Easy-E in the 1980s. Ruthless was also behind such artists as Michel'le, J.J. Fad and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.
N.W.A. garnered great attention with the launch of "Straight Outta Compton," which highlights the story of the rappers rise to fame.
In October, Heller filed a $110 defamation against the filmmakers claiming it spoilt his reputation and was made without his consent.
Shapiro who was representing Heller in that lawsuit said he believes the stress of losing his "impeccable reputation...might have contributed to his death." He have known Jerry since 1983 when he was an attorney on a case against him.
Born in Ohio, Heller began his career in the 1960s as a promoter and an agent, working with such acts as Marvin Gaye, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Pink Floyd. "He set up Elton John's first U.S. performance," Ballen said.
Ballen remembered how happy Heller was to play him a cassette of N.W.A's early tracks, according to Fox News.
On Saturday, some big names in the music industry posted on social media about his death. Female rap group J.J. Fad thanked Jerry Heller saying he was always good 2 them.
R.I.P. Jerry Heller, U were always good 2 us! Thanks 4 looking out for 3 teenagers who just wanted to be rap stars! pic.twitter.com/WtTWwfbkVE
— J J FAD (@jjfad) September 3, 2016
Here is a video of Jerry Heller death and the cause of his death:
