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Fandango founder J. Michael Cline dies at 64 after falling from New York hotel

Published Jul 18, 2024 12:03 pm

Trigger warning: This story deals with suicide and self-harm.

J. Michael Cline, the founder of the American ticketing company Fandango, died by suicide on July 17. He was 64.

Variety, citing the New York Police District (NYPD), reported that officers "found an unconscious and unresponsive male with injuries indicative of a fall from an elevated position" at the Kimberly Hotel on 50th Street in Manhattan at 10:19 a.m.

Cline reportedly jumped from the hotel's 20th floor.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

According to the NYPD, Cline’s address is in Palm Beach town in Florida, even as real estate reports show he had purchased a $21 million (P1.2 billion) property there in 2020.

TMZ first broke the news about Cline's passing. Citing law enforcement sources, the news website said he left a note in his room that reads, "So sorry. I can’t explain the pain of f**king up this much. I love you all."

Cline founded Fandango in 2000 and remained with the company until 2011. The online service made buying advance tickets easy for moviegoers.

After leaving Fandango, he founded companies like R1 RCM, Accolade, Insureon, Insureon, Everspring, and Accumen.

He received his bachelor of science degree from Cornell University and his master of business arts degree from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar. 

Cline is survived by his wife Pamela and their six children.

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If you or anyone you know is considering self-harm or suicide, you may call the National Mental Health Crisis hotline at 1553 (Luzon-wide, landline toll-free), 0966-351-4518 or 0917-899-USAP (8727) for Globe/TM users, or 0908-639-2672 for Smart users.