Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) as Producer
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) as Producer
Short Info
Net Worth
$80 million dollars
Date Of Birth
December 13, 1934
Died
July 13, 2012, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Spouse
Lili Fini Zanuck, Linda Harrison, Lili Gentle
Fact
In 1965 met producing partner David Brown during a stint at FOX.
Richard D. Zanuck (December 13, 1934 – July 13, 2012) was an American film producer. He began his career in the film industry as a child actor, appearing in several films in the 1930s. He later became a producer, and was responsible for such films as Jaws, The Sting, and The Verdict. He was also the father of actor and director Tim Zanuck.
Early Life
Richard D. Zanuck was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 13, 1934, the son of actress Darryl F. Zanuck and his wife, Louise (née Fessenden). His parents divorced when he was four years old, and he was raised by his mother. He had a half-sister, Virginia, from his father’s first marriage to Hazel Brooks.
Zanuck began his career in the film industry as a child actor, appearing in several films in the 1930s, including The Little Colonel (1935) and The Life of Emile Zola (1937). He later recalled that he had “a terrible time getting work” as an actor because of his father’s prominence in the industry.
Career
In 1955, Zanuck joined Twentieth Century-Fox as an assistant producer. He was soon promoted to associate producer, and then producer. He produced such films as The Sound of Music (1965), Planet of the Apes (1968), Patton (1970), The Sting (1973), and Jaws (1975). He was also the studio’s president from 1971 to 1988.
In 1989, Zanuck founded The Zanuck Company with his son, Tim. The company produced such films as Driving Miss Daisy (1989), Cocoon (1985), and The Verdict (1982).
Zanuck was married three times. His first wife was actress Virginia Fox, to whom he was married from 1954 to 1957. His second wife was Lili Fini Zanuck, with whom he had three children: Richard D. Zanuck Jr., Christopher D. Zanuck, and Dean Zanuck. His third wife was actress Linda Harrison, to whom he was married from 1969 to 1977.
Zanuck died on July 13, 2012, at the age of 77.
Net Worth
Richard D. Zanuck had a net worth of $20 million at the time of his death.
General Info
Full Name
Richard D. Zanuck
Net Worth
$80 million dollars
Date Of Birth
December 13, 1934
Died
July 13, 2012, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Height
1.75 m
Profession
Television producer, Film producer
Education
Stanford University
Nationality
American
Family
Spouse
Lili Fini Zanuck, Linda Harrison, Lili Gentle
Children
Dean Zanuck, Harrison Zanuck, Janet Beverly Zanuck Davidson, Laura Gentle, Virginia Lorraine Zanuck
Parents
Virginia Fox, Darryl F. Zanuck
Siblings
Darrylin Zanuck DePineda, Susan Zanuck
Accomplishments
Awards
Academy Award for Best Picture, Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie, PGA David O. Selznick Achievement Award in ...
Nominations
Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama, BAFTA Award for Best Film, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special, BAFTA Children's Award for Best Feature Film
Movies
Jaws, Alice in Wonderland, Driving Miss Daisy, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Dark Shadows, Planet of the Apes, The Sugarland Express, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Big Fish, Cocoon, The Verdict, Compulsion, Deep Impact, Road to Perdition, Jaws 2, The Chapman Report, Yes Man, T...
The Sound of Music (1965) did more damage to the industry than any other picture. Everyone tried to copy it. We were the biggest offenders.
2
This is a business where you make decisions using your gut.
3
[about his father, studio boss Darryl F. Zanuck, being fired from his job] It was hard to see my father go through that. I recovered from being fired, I don't think he ever did.
Facts
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Fact
1
Ironically, both Richard D. Zanuck and his father Darryl F. Zanuck died at the age of 77 (in 2012 and 1979, respectively).
2
The commercial and critical failure of the expensively-produced musical extravaganzas, Doctor Dolittle (1967) and Star! (1968), led to him being ousted as head of production at 20th Century Fox in 1970.
3
Had his greatest successes as head of his own production company, in association with David Brown, turning out mega hits like The Sting (1973) and Jaws (1975).
4
Between 2001 and 2012, he collaborated on six films with director Tim Burton, beginning with the remake of Planet of the Apes (2001) and ending with Dark Shadows (2012).
5
In 1965 met producing partner David Brown during a stint at FOX.
6
Accompanied his father to the studio from an early age and assisted in reviewing rough cuts for studio executives.