Linda Duncombe, a longtime banking executive who spent the last two years as an independent film producer, died on Sunday of complications from a stroke. She was 55 years old.
An infectiously friendly face at industry events, Duncombe — who was diagnosed with Stage 2 lung cancer days before she died — served for five years as chief marketing officer at City National Bank. She helped direct more than $12 million in investments tied to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Broadway Cares, SAG-AFTRA and the Grammy Museum.
Duncombe’s last public appearance was at the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s The Evening Before the Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 13, where she reunited with friends and rubbed shoulders with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Born on Feb. 10, 1971 in Australia, where she spent the early years of her life, Duncombe enrolled in Harvard Business School in 2008. She officially moved to the United States in 2015; first living in New York and then in an apartment near the beach in Santa Monica. She produced two films: the family adventure “The Queen’s Jewels” and suspense thriller “Killing Time.” Both films are planning a global release in 2027, and Duncombe was intricately involved in all elements of production from financing to publicity.
“Linda was a source of light — always smiling, laughing, gossiping (which, she’d say to her friends, ‘is never gossip between us, love’) and someone who adored Hollywood with all her heart,” said Variety’s co-president and co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh, a close friend. “Growing up as a young girl in Australia, she dreamed of finding her way in the film industry. In the last few years, she finally realized her calling as a producer, which made her beam even more. This is a devastating loss, and I will miss Linda so much.”
Duncombe began her decades-long banking career at Citibank in Australia in 2010 as marketing director of digital and customer experience and rose to managing director, head of growth and chief marketing officer. Five years later, she transferred to New York as a founding member of the company’s subsidiary, Citi Fintech.
She joined City National Bank in Los Angeles in early 2019, establishing business, sponsorship and community relations with organizations like SAG-AFTRA Foundation, the Recording Academy, the Motion Picture Television Fund and Tribeca Film Festival. During the pandemic, she led efforts at City National Bank to deliver more than $1.8 billion in Paycheck Protection Program loans to support the entertainment industry.
At City National Bank, she quickly became friends with Variety staffers while working to keep the magazine’s annual Broadway breakfast afloat during COVID. Over the years, the event has attracted theater mainstays from Lin-Manuel Miranda to Rachel Zegler.
“Linda was initially my client but quickly became my very good friend, always including me in her gatherings,” said Variety’s publisher and co-president Dea Lawrence. “A true warrior woman who understood the importance of shared experiences and letting go with that unforgettable, infectious laugh. She was fiercely loyal, endlessly generous, and embraced life with so much passion and heart. It is hard to fathom that her brilliant light has gone out.”
Duncombe’s friends remember her sunny spirit, boisterous and infectious laugh, unbridled optimism and passion for new experiences. She took pride in mentoring younger generations and was deeply loyal to those in her orbit. Duncombe’s inner circle included her producing partner and best friend Josh Friedman, who was always by her side at industry events.
“Losing Linda is going to change the lives of so many people,” said Friedman, whom Duncombe affectionately called her little brother. “She made life look really easy in managing many things but remaining the most humble, kind and generous person. The emojis next to her name in my phone were a princess, heart and unicorn. She was a unicorn in this life for a lot of people.”
Added Bob Beitcher, MPTF’s president and CEO, “Linda was gift to everyone who knew her. She was vital, fun, whip smart, caring and compassionate, and always, always there to lend a hand and lift you up. As a friend and adviser, she is irreplaceable, and her passing dims the light for me and for MPTF.”
Duncombe was recognized on Variety’s “Most Powerful Women in Hollywood” list and was honored by the Australian Governor General with the Order of Australia Medal. She sat on several boards including the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, Grammy Museum, Habitat for Humanity Greater L.A. and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
After leaving Australia, Duncombe was proud of the success she’d achieved in the decade in which she lived in the United States.
“As a 9-year-old, I told my parents I wanted to live in New York when I grew up. My parents did not hesitate in their support of a shy, young girl’s big dreams,” she told the magazine Beauty Is in 2025. “We lived in government housing and while we had no money, our family and home was rich in love, support and laughter.”
As a child, she was inspired by the “Wonder Woman” television series starring Lynda Carter, and her parents taught her that treating people with kindness and respect would make her unstoppable. “Now I am a woman who has worked hard,” she said. “I try my very best to share my learnings, experiences, and networks to help people go after their dreams and live their best life.”
She is survived by mother, Doreen Thompson and nieces and nephews, Shannen, Damien and Jarred.