Clint Eastwood is among Hollywood legends mourning the death of a Warner Bros. Pictures marketing and publicity veteran.

Julian Senior died on January 1 of pneumonia and heart failure in hospital near his home in Borehamwood, his friend and former Warner Bros. colleague Conor Nolan told The Hollywood Reporter.

He was a confidant of both Eastwood and director Stanley Kubrick and was trusted throughout the industry for his professionalism and sense of humour.

Originally from South Africa, Mr Senior joined Warner Bros. in 1970 after eight years at MGM.

This was also when his extraordinary friendship with the famed director Stanley Kubrick began, as the director finished A Clockwork Orange.

Their relationship lasted until Kubrick's death in 1999.

Mr Senior led the advertising and publicity campaigns for several Stanley Kubrick films, including The Shining, Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut.

Julian said of his relationship with Stanley: "He taught me how publicity, advertising and marketing operates.

"He was the most pragmatic, logical human being in the world and of course advertising and publicity is logical common sense."

Jan Harlan, executive producer on Eyes Wide Shut, said: "What connected Julian and Stanley over almost 30 years was the ability of both men to distinguish between what is serious and what is not, to care endlessly about the serious and to make fun of what was pretentious."

Mr Senior made close connections with other Hollywood directors and producers including Clint Eastwood, Michael Mann, Tim Burton, and Arnon Milchan.

Times Series: Julian Senior at the at the Deauville Festival in 2000Julian Senior at the at the Deauville Festival in 2000 (Image: Conor Nolan)

He spearheaded marketing campaigns for many successful movies at Warner Bros., such as Goodfellas, the Lethal Weapon franchise, Unforgiven and The Last of the Mohicans.

One unique friendship, beginning in his early career, was with Clint Eastwood.

Mr Eastwood said of Julian: "Over many years, I came to rely on Julian's advice and commitment, to respect his professionalism and to enjoy most of all, his jokes.

"I shall miss him."

Mr Senior retired as head of European regional advertising and publicity for Warner Bros. in 2000, handing the baton to Con Gornell and Conor Nolan.

He leaves three children, David, Paul and Phillippa, and his eight grandchildren.