Jerry Bruckheimer

Jerry Bruckheimer

Bruckheimer at a ceremony to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in June 2013
Born Jerome Leon Bruckheimer
(1943-09-21) September 21, 1943
Detroit, Michigan, US
Residence Los Angeles, California, US
Alma mater University of Arizona
Occupation Producer
Director at ZeniMax Media
Years active 1972–present
Notable work Beverly Hills Cop, CSI (franchise), Flashdance, Top Gun, The Rock, Con Air, Coyote Ugly, Crimson Tide, Armageddon, Enemy of the State, Gone in 60 Seconds, Black Hawk Down, Pearl Harbor, Bad Boys, Pirates of the Caribbean, King Arthur, Prince of Persia, National Treasure
Home town Detroit, Michigan, US
Salary $115 million (2012)[1]
Net worth Increase US$850 million (2012)
Spouse(s) Bonnie Bruckheimer (divorced)
Linda Bruckheimer

Jerome Leon "Jerry" Bruckheimer (born September 21, 1943)[2][3] is an American film and television producer. He has achieved great success in the genres of action, drama, and science fiction. His best known television series are CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Without a Trace, Cold Case, and the U.S. version of The Amazing Race. At one point, three of his TV series ranked among the top 10 in the U.S. ratings—a unique feat in television.[4]

Some of his best-known films include Beverly Hills Cop, Flashdance, Top Gun, The Rock, Con Air, Armageddon, Bad Boys, Enemy of the State, Black Hawk Down, Pearl Harbor, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the National Treasure franchise. He also serves as a Director at ZeniMax Media. Many of his films were produced by Disney and Paramount, while many of his television series were co-produced by Warner Bros. and CBS Television Studios. In July 2003, Bruckheimer was honored by Variety magazine as the first producer in Hollywood history to produce the top two highest-grossing films of a single weekend, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Bad Boys II.

Early life

Bruckheimer was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of German Jewish immigrants.[5] He graduated from Mumford High School[6] in Detroit, at age 17, before moving to Arizona for college. Bruckheimer was also an active member of the Stamp Collecting Club. He graduated with a degree in psychology from the University of Arizona with an algebra minor. He was a member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. A film buff at an early age with an interest in photography, Bruckheimer would take snapshots when he had the opportunity. After college Bruckheimer worked in advertising in Detroit and New York City, producing award-winning commercials.

Film production

As of 2010, Bruckheimer has produced over 40 feature films, and is regarded in the industry as one of the most successful film producers of all time. Bruckheimer started producing films in the 1970s, after leaving his job in advertising, with director Dick Richards. They had worked together on the films The Culpepper Cattle Company, Farewell, My Lovely, and March or Die. Bruckheimer then worked with Paul Schrader on two films, American Gigolo and Cat People, which began to give him notice in Hollywood.

During the 1980s and 1990s, he was a co-producer with Don Simpson of a string of highly successful Hollywood films for Paramount Pictures. He originally met Don at a screening of 1973's The Harder They Come at Warner Brothers. The two worked together and created Bruckheimer's first big hit, 1983's Flashdance, which brought in US$95 million, an incredible sum for an R-rated film.[7] He had a number of other hits during that time period, including the Beverly Hills Cop films, Top Gun and Days of Thunder. Top Gun marked his first collaboration with English director Tony Scott, who would direct six films for Bruckheimer.[8]

While working with Simpson, Bruckheimer became known as "Mr. Outside" because of his experience with film making, while Simpson became known as "Mr. Inside" because of his film industry contacts. The Rock was the last film in which Bruckheimer collaborated with Simpson, due to Simpson's death in 1996. Bruckheimer stipulated that The Rock be dedicated to the memory of Simpson (this fact is mentioned at the end of the film).

Despite the setback of the untimely death of Simpson in 1996, Bruckheimer has continued to produce a large number of action films often working with director Michael Bay for several hits including Armageddon. His other hit films produced include Remember the Titans, Black Hawk Down and the Pirates of the Caribbean series. He has also acquired the rights to produce a film based on the popular role playing game by Palladium Books, Rifts.

Television production

Early in his career, Bruckheimer produced television commercials, including one for Pepsi. Since 1997 he has branched out into television, creating a number of police dramas of which CSI: Crime Scene Investigation has been the most successful. He has also produced the reality game show The Amazing Race. In May 2008 CBS announced it had picked up Bruckheimer's newest series, Eleventh Hour, for the 2008–2009 broadcast television season. The science fiction drama follows a government agent and a professor as they investigate strange scientific and medical activity.[9]

From 2004 (beginning of CSI: NY) to 2009 (end of Without a Trace), Bruckheimer had six hit television shows on the air: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Cold Case, Without a Trace and The Amazing Race. At one point, three of his TV series ranked among the top 10 in the ratings—a unique feat in television.[4] It was announced on September 10, 2009 that NBC had picked up an action procedural from Jerry Bruckheimer. The show, titled Chase,[10] "tells the stories of a team charged with making sure fugitive criminals don't evade justice," reports The Hollywood Reporter.[11] It was canceled in May 2011. Bruckheimer's most notable flop was Skin, which was cancelled after three episodes in 2003.

Financial success

One of the most successful producers of all time, Bruckheimer has been nicknamed "Mr. Blockbuster", due to his track record of commercially successful, high-grossing films. Overall, his films have grossed over $13 billion[12] and have launched the careers of numerous actors and directors.

In 2007, he was ranked No. 39 on Forbes Celebrity 100 List, up from No. 42 in 2006. With reported annual earnings of $120 million,[13] he was the 10th highest money-earner on the 2006 Forbes Celebrity 100 List.

Notable box-office grosses

Bruckheimer with Johnny Depp and Tom Cruise in June 2013

In July 2003, Bruckheimer was honored by Variety magazine as the first producer in Hollywood history to produce the top two highest-grossing films of a single weekend, the buddy-cop Bad Boys II and the Disney theme-park spin-off, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

The Pirates of the Caribbean film trilogy, produced through Walt Disney Pictures, was enormously profitable, and demonstrated Bruckheimer's ability to create lucrative projects. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the first film in the franchise, was released on July 9, 2003. A popular box office hit, it was well received by critics and filmgoers alike. After the unexpected success of the first film, Walt Disney Pictures revealed that a trilogy was in the works. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest was released on July 7, 2006. The sequel proved to be very successful, breaking records worldwide the day of its premiere. In the end it acquired a total of $1,066,179,725 at the worldwide box office, becoming the third and fastest film to reach this amount. The third film in the series, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, was released worldwide on May 25, 2007. Altogether, the film franchise has grossed over $2.79 billion worldwide. In 2011, a fourth film in the franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, was released.

Professional honors and awards

The editors of Entertainment Weekly named Bruckheimer the No. 1 most-powerful person in Hollywood in 2003. He was ranked No. 10 on Premiere's 2006 "Power 50" list, and had also ranked No. 10 on the 2005 list. He ranked No. 19 on Premiere's 2003 annual Hollywood Power List, and had ranked No. 22 in 2002. His projects have been honored with 41 Academy Award nominations (six wins), eight Grammy Award nominations (five wins), 23 Golden Globe nominations (four wins), 77 Emmy Award nominations (seventeen wins), eight People's Choice nominations (four wins), and numerous MTV Awards, including one for Best Picture of the Decade.[12]

Bruckheimer received the ShoWest Producer of the Year Award in 1998 and in 2000 the Producers Guild honored him with the David O. Selznick Award for Lifetime Achievement.In May 2006, he was honored with a doctor of fine arts degree (DFA) from the University of Arizona's College of Fine Arts.

On June 24, 2013, Bruckheimer received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, placed right by El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.[14]

Views on cinema

When asked about his favorite films, Bruckheimer named The Godfather (1972), The French Connection (1971), Good Will Hunting (1997), and The 400 Blows (1959).[4] When asked on what the film industry's obligation to an audience was, he responded, "We are in the transportation business. We transport audiences from one place to another."[15] When asked why he makes films, he stated, "If I made films for the critics, or for someone else, I'd probably be living in some small Hollywood studio apartment."[16]

Personal life

Bruckheimer at the 2014 WonderCon

Bruckheimer has been married twice. His first wife was Bonnie Bruckheimer. He currently lives in Los Angeles, with his second wife, novelist Linda Bruckheimer.[17] He also has one stepdaughter, Alexandra. The couple also owns a farm in Bloomfield, Kentucky, about 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Louisville, as well as another in Ojai, east of Santa Barbara. As a teenager, Linda moved from Kentucky to Los Angeles, where she has been a writer, producer and West Coast editor for Mirabella, and where she married Jerry Bruckheimer. She regularly spends time as a preservation activist, restoring and preserving historic buildings in small rural U.S. towns.[18]

His film company, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, is located in Santa Monica, California.

Philanthropic activities

Bruckheimer's philanthropic activities have included publicly supporting the fight against multiple sclerosis via his work with The Nancy Davis Foundation for MS. He has additionally pledged to help various causes by establishing the Jerry Bruckheimer Foundation.[19] However, according to The Smoking Gun, the last time the Jerry Bruckheimer Foundation made a contribution was in 1995, when it gave $9,350 to Van Nuys prep school.[20]

Bruckheimer has aided in the repair and restoration of the historic clipper ship Cutty Sark. A collection of photos taken by Bruckheimer went on display in London in November 2007 to help raise money for the Cutty Sark Conservation Project. The exhibition featured more than thirty pictures taken on set during the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.[21]

Political contributions

Bruckheimer donated funds to John McCain's 2008 presidential election campaign. He gave $5,000 to a joint fundraising committee on John McCain's behalf.[22] Bruckheimer has donated more than $50,000 to Republican campaigns and committees.[23] Bruckheimer donated $25,000 to the 2012 Mitt Romney Victory Fund.[24]

Sports ownership

Bruckheimer was named as one of the investors of a proposed sports arena in Las Vegas,[25] and has been rumored to be the leading choice by the National Hockey League to own an expansion hockey team that would play in the arena.

Video games

In December 2007 Bruckheimer announced plans to partner with MTV to create a new game studio.[26]

The same year Bruckheimer joined the ZeniMax Media board of directors and has since showed up at several launch parties for Bethesda Softworks titles including Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.[27]

In 2009 Bruckheimer unveiled Jerry Bruckheimer Games headed by former Microsoft Studios Publishing Executive Producer Jim Veevaert as president of production and Jay Cohen, previously Ubisoft's vice president of U.S. publishing, as president of development.[28]

In 2011 it was rumored that Jerry Bruckheimer Games was working on three titles, but nothing came out of it ever since.[29] In March 2013 Jerry Bruckheimer Games was closed.[30] Although Jerry Bruckheimer Games is closed, Bruckheimer still remains a ZeniMax board member to this day, mostly due to being a close associate of ZeniMax President Ernest Del.[31]

Filmography

Films

Year Film Cast Notes
1972 The Culpepper Cattle Co. Gary Grimes, Billy Green Bush, Royal Dano associate producer, with 20th Century Fox
1975 Farewell, My Lovely Robert Mitchum, Charlotte Rampling, John Ireland with AVCO Embassy Pictures
Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins Sally Kellerman, Mackenzie Phillips, Alan Arkin associate producer, with Warner Bros.
1977 March or Die Gene Hackman, Catherine Deneuve, Terence Hill with Columbia Pictures and ITC Entertainment
1980 Defiance Jan-Michael Vincent, Art Carney, Theresa Saldana with American International Pictures
American Gigolo Richard Gere, Lauren Hutton, Hector Elizondo with Paramount Pictures
1981 Thief James Caan, Tuesday Weld, Robert Prosky with United Artists
1982 Young Doctors in Love Sean Young, Michael McKean, Crystal Bernard with 20th Century Fox
Cat People Nastassja Kinski, Malcolm McDowell, John Heard with Universal Pictures and RKO Pictures
1983 Flashdance Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri, Kyle T. Heffner with Paramount Pictures
1984 Beverly Hills Cop Eddie Murphy, Lisa Eilbacher, John Ashton with Paramount Pictures
Thief of Hearts Steven Bauer, David Caruso, John Getz with Paramount Pictures
1986 Top Gun Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer with Paramount Pictures
1987 Beverly Hills Cop II Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, Jürgen Prochnow with Paramount Pictures
1990 Days of Thunder Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall with Paramount Pictures
1994 The Ref Denis Leary, Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey with Touchstone Pictures
1995 Dangerous Minds Michelle Pfeiffer, Courtney B. Vance, Robin Bartlett with Hollywood Pictures
Crimson Tide Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman with Hollywood Pictures
Bad Boys Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Téa Leoni with Columbia Pictures
1996 The Rock Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris with Hollywood Pictures
1997 Con Air Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich with Touchstone Pictures
1998 Enemy of the State Will Smith, Gene Hackman, Jon Voight with Touchstone Pictures
Armageddon Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Billy Bob Thornton with Touchstone Pictures
2000 Remember the Titans Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris with Walt Disney Pictures
Coyote Ugly Piper Perabo, Adam Garcia, Maria Bello with Touchstone Pictures
Gone in Sixty Seconds Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Giovanni Ribisi with Touchstone Pictures
2001 Pearl Harbor Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Kate Beckinsale with Touchstone Pictures
2002 Black Hawk Down Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, Ewan McGregor with Columbia Pictures and Revolution Studios
Bad Company Anthony Hopkins, Chris Rock, Kerry Washington with Touchstone Pictures
2003 Bad Boys II Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Jordi Mollà with Columbia Pictures
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley with Walt Disney Pictures
Veronica Guerin Cate Blanchett, Gerard McSorley, Ciarán Hinds with Touchstone Pictures
Kangaroo Jack Jerry O'Connell, Anthony Anderson, Christopher Walken with Warner Bros. and Castle Rock Entertainment
2004 National Treasure Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha with Walt Disney Pictures
King Arthur Clive Owen, Keira Knightley, Ioan Gruffudd with Touchstone Pictures
2006 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley with Walt Disney Pictures
Déjà Vu Denzel Washington, Val Kilmer, Paula Patton with Touchstone Pictures
Glory Road Josh Lucas, Derek Luke, Jon Voight with Walt Disney Pictures
2007 National Treasure: Book of Secrets Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha with Walt Disney Pictures
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley with Walt Disney Pictures
2009 G-Force Zach Galifianakis, Faizon Love, Bill Nighy with Walt Disney Pictures
Confessions of a Shopaholic Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter with Touchstone Pictures
2010 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley, Gemma Arterton with Walt Disney Pictures
The Sorcerer's Apprentice Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina with Walt Disney Pictures
2011 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush with Walt Disney Pictures
2013 The Lone Ranger Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, William Fichtner with Walt Disney Pictures
2014 Deliver Us from Evil Eric Bana, Édgar Ramírez, Olivia Munn with Screen Gems

Upcoming films

Year Film Cast Notes
2017 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush with Walt Disney Pictures

Television

Television films

Reality television

Comedy

Drama

Pilots

References

  1. ↑ "The World's Most Powerful Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  2. ↑ David Poland. "Bruckheimer & Disney". MOVIE CITY NEWS. Jerry Bruckheimer’s 70th birthday is tomorrow (Saturday, September 21).
  3. ↑ "Birthdays". The Guardian (Guardian News & Media). 20 Sep 2014. p. 56.
  4. 1 2 3 Galloway, Stephen. "Jerry Bruckheimer, producer". The Hollywood Reporter, November 17, 2003. Accessed August 27, 2009. Archived August 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ Howell, Peter (December 22, 2007). "Jerry Bruckheimer". The Star (Toronto). Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  6. ↑ "1961 Mumford High School Yearbook". classmates.com.
  7. ↑ "Movies: Biography forJerry Bruckheimer". The New York Times. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  8. ↑ Rich, Katey (Jun 12, 2009). "Interview: Tony Scott". Cinema Blend. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  9. ↑ Adalian, Josef. "CBS Picks Up 4 New Dramas, 2 Comedies". TV Week, May 2008. Accessed August 27, 2009.
  10. ↑ Laura Prudorn (January 11, 2010). "Will New Shows From J.J. Abrams, David E. Kelley and Jerry Bruckheimer Save NBC?". AOL. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  11. ↑ Natalie Abrams (September 10, 2009). "NBC Green-lights Bruckheimer Pilot". TV Guide. Retrieved September 11, 2009.
  12. 1 2 "Jerry Bruckheimer @ Filmbug". Filmbug.com. October 2, 2005. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  13. ↑ "#39 Jerry Bruckheimer". Forbes. June 14, 2007.
  14. ↑ "Producer Jerry Bruckheimer receives Hollywood Walk of Fame star". KABC-TV. June 24, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  15. ↑ Paul Ahnert. "Ahnertthoughts". ahnertthoughts.blogspot.co.uk.
  16. ↑ "Bruckheimer:". Businessweek.com.
  17. ↑ "Belle of bluegrass country". Variety. July 9, 2006.
  18. ↑ "You Can Go Home Again". Nettiejarvis.com. November 28, 1999. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Top 49 Men: Jerry Bruckheimer". AskMen.com. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  20. ↑ The Smoking Gun: Celebrity Charity Review Archived October 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  21. ↑ Cutty Sark – Press & Publicity > 23 Nov 07 Cutty Sark's Hollywood photo exhibition Archived July 24, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  22. ↑ "Top of the Ticket". Los Angeles Times. July 21, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  23. ↑ "NEWSMEAT ▷ Jerry Bruckheimer's Federal Campaign Contribution Report". Newsmeat.com. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Celebs open their wallets in White House race, mostly for Obama". CNN. July 24, 2012.
  25. ↑ Nick Christensen. "Report: Harrah’s out as proposed arena partner". lasvegassun. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Bruckheimer Joins With MTV to Create New Game Studio". The Escapist. December 19, 2007.
  27. ↑ Kelly, Kevin. "The incredibly strange and delightful Fallout 3 launch party". Joystiq.
  28. ↑ "The Escapist : Forums : The News Room : Jerry Bruckheimer Unveils Jerry Bruckheimer Games". The Escapist.
  29. ↑ Schramm, Mike. "Rumor: Jerry Bruckheimer Games working on three titles". Joystiq.
  30. ↑ Makuch, Eddie. "Jerry Bruckheimer Games closed". Gamespot.
  31. ↑ Fritz, Brian (October 6, 2010). "Video game publisher Zenimax raises $150 million from Providence Equity". Los Angeles Times.
  32. ↑ Legacy/ Jerry Bruckheimer at the Internet Movie Database

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