Robert A. Altman, co-founder and CEO of ZeniMax Media, has passed away, the company announced Thursday. As a parent of Bethesda Softworks and several other development studios, Altman’s company has grown into a major video game publisher in the 21 years since its inception, responsible for multi-million dollar franchises such as Doom, The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
A cause of death was not given in Bethesda’s announcement on social media. The company said Altman holds up very well among its employees and colleagues. He was a true visionary, friend and believer in the spirit of people and the power of what they could accomplish together. “He was an extraordinary leader and a better person,” Bethesda said.
We are very sad to tell you about the passing of Robert A. Altman, our founder and CEO. He was a true visionary, friend and believer in the spirit of people and the power of what they could accomplish together. He was an extraordinary leader and a better person. pic.twitter.com/FZFsVtHc5t
– Bethesda (@bethesda) February 4, 2021
Ben Jones, the creative director of ZeniMax Online (manufacturers of The Elder Scrolls Online), calls Altman’s death a sudden loss. A Bethesda Softworks representative will not confirm Altman’s cause of death or other details.
I am amazed at this great loss. Robert was an excellent example of how one can lead his life: driven by passion, filled with ambition, aware of and caring for those around you. He is determined to push all boats in times of swelling / to hide in unstable waters. Forever a legend https://t.co/nsadokqEnu
– Ben Jones (@Bagelbeard) February 4, 2021
Altman, 73, is survived by his wife, Lynda Carter, best known for her television film Wonder Woman in the late 1970s. The two were married in 1984. Carter also has voice roles in five Elder Scrolls games (especially the deity Azura) and in Outcome 4.
Altman founded ZeniMax Media (a sign of the words “Zenith” and “Maximum”) with Bethesda Softworks founder Christopher Weaver as the successor to Bethesda’s parent company at the time. With the investment of Altman and the support of several high-profile board members, Bethesda acquired the Fallout franchise from original publisher Interplay in 2004; id Software and its Wolfenstein, Doom and Quake franchises, in 2009; and developers Arkane Studios and MachineGames in 2010, to get them working on the Prey and Wolfenstein series.
Altman’s commitments – as a lawyer, he was the partner of Clark Clifford, Secretary of Defense in the Johnson administration – attracted several celebrities to invest in ZeniMax and serve on its board. Among them was Les Moonves, the former CEO of CBS; Terry McAuliffe, the former governor of Virginia and chairman of the Democratic National Committee; Jerry Bruckheimer, the Hollywood director; Cal Ripken, Jr., the baseball hall-of-famer; and Robert Trump, younger brother of Donald J. Trump.
In October, the directors of ZeniMax sold the company to Microsoft for $ 7.5 billion. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Xbox leader Phil Spencer both expressed their condolences to Altman’s family and Bethesda on Thursday.
A sad moment for the game industry. Robert Altman built ZeniMax into what it is today. My heart goes out to his family, loved ones and colleagues. https://t.co/uOgSqKsGWH
– Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) February 4, 2021
Electronic Arts and its CEO, Andrew Wilson, also sent their sympathy to the family of Altman and Bethesda.