* Erskine Bedford; Led Nation’s Oldest Fox Hunt

Erskine Bedford, 65, joint master of the nation’s oldest fox hunt. Since 1979, Bedford had led the Piedmont Hunt, which dates from 1840 and covers about 90,000 acres in Virginia. He helped with the hunt’s finances and dealing with landowners. Bedford also was the field master, the rider who takes the lead and ensures that the field is safe for other riders. United States fox hunts, which rarely kill the fox, are rooted in the English hunts, which destroyed foxes that preyed on sheep and other domestic animals. On Sunday in Loudoun County, Va., of injuries suffered when he was thrown to the ground when his horse collapsed of a heart attack at full gallop.

* John Patrick Veitch; Producer for Columbia

John Patrick Veitch, 78, producer and onetime president of worldwide production for Columbia. Veitch moved to Hollywood after World War II, still recovering from a leg wound. He was befriended by actor Alan Ladd, who urged him to go into acting. Veitch appeared in the films “From Here to Eternity” and “Stalag 17,” but quickly gravitated behind the camera. He worked as a location manager, assistant director and production manager with such directors as George Stevens, Billy Wilder and John Ford. In 1961, Veitch joined Columbia, where he remained for 25 years through more than 10 changes of top management. Veitch was named senior vice president of production in 1968 and president in 1979, a position he held until 1983. He oversaw about 500 motion pictures, among them “Tootsie,” “A Man for All Seasons” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” He later set up John Veitch Productions at Columbia and produced such films as “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” and “Fly Away Home.” This year, Veitch was named co-chairman of LG Pictures, a division of the Toronto-based Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. On Tuesday in Los Angeles of pancreatic cancer.

* Gerry Red Wilson; Star of ‘That’s Life’ Sitcom

Gerry Red Wilson, 37, star of the television comedy series “That’s Life.” Wilson portrayed a supermarket meat cutter named Mike in the blue-collar sitcom introduced by ABC in March. He also made guest appearances on the “Tonight Show” and “Spin City.” Wilson had been working on a new television series and had signed a contract for comedy pictures with 20th Century Fox. Born in Queens, N.Y., he graduated from Queens College and taught at a Catholic grammar school and a high school before turning to comedy professionally. In 1996, he was invited to perform at the New York Friar’s Club roast for Kelsey Grammer. On Nov. 21 in Maui, Hawaii, of meningitis.