William Friedkin was an American film and television director, producer and screenwriter who had a net worth of $70 million at the time of his death. William Friedkin was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 29, 1935. He died on August 7, 2023 at the age of 87.

William Friedkin was a highly acclaimed filmmaker known for his innovative techniques and ability to craft intense, thought-provoking narratives. His work has made a significant impact on the film industry, solidifying his place as one of the prominent directors of his time. Friedkin's breakthrough came with the release of "The French Connection" in 1971. This gritty police drama, starring Gene Hackman, was lauded for its realistic portrayal of detective work and its heart-pounding car chase sequence. The film earned several Academy Awards, including Best Director for Friedkin, and its success cemented his reputation as a filmmaker of great skill and vision.

In 1973, Friedkin directed "The Exorcist," a film that would become one of the most influential horror movies ever made. Its visceral, unsettling approach to demonic possession both terrified and fascinated audiences, turning it into a cultural phenomenon. The film's mixture of psychological terror and special effects wizardry earned it two Academy Awards and several nominations, and it continues to be regarded as a classic of the genre.

Friedkin's ability to explore dark and complex themes continued to be a hallmark of his career. Films like "Sorcerer" (1977) and "Cruising" (1980) may not have achieved the same level of commercial success as his earlier works, but they demonstrated his willingness to take creative risks and push boundaries. Later in his career, Friedkin continued to explore different genres and styles. He directed the suspenseful courtroom drama "Rules of Engagement" (2000) and the intense crime thriller "Killer Joe" (2011), both of which were well-received by critics. William Friedkin was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997 at 6925 Hollywood Blvd.

Early Life and Education

William Friedkin grew up with a love for cinema and was deeply influenced by the films he saw in his youth. He attended Senn High School in Chicago, where his interest in storytelling began to flourish. Though he never received formal film education, Friedkin's passion for movies led him to immerse himself in the world of filmmaking, learning through experience and observation.

Career Beginnings

Friedkin's career in film started with work in live television, directing documentaries and episodes for various shows. His documentary work, particularly "The People vs. Paul Crump" (1962), garnered attention for its compelling storytelling and advocacy for social justice. Friedkin's early successes in television opened doors for him in Hollywood, where he directed his first feature film, "Good Times" (1967), followed by "The Birthday Party" (1968) and "The Boys in the Band" (1970).

The French Connection

With "The French Connection" (1971), Friedkin achieved widespread acclaim. This gritty police drama, featuring an iconic car chase sequence, set new standards for action filmmaking. Its intense realism and superb performances helped it win five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Friedkin. The film's success marked a turning point in his career and established him as a leading director in Hollywood.

The Exorcist

Friedkin's next major success came with "The Exorcist" (1973), a film adaptation of the novel by William Peter Blatty. The terrifying depiction of a young girl's demonic possession became an instant classic, shocking audiences and critics alike. Friedkin's mastery of suspense and horror, combined with groundbreaking special effects, earned the film two Academy Awards and solidified its place in cinema history.

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Other Work

Beyond "The French Connection" and "The Exorcist," Friedkin's body of work includes a wide range of films that showcase his versatility and creativity. From the adventurous "Sorcerer" (1977) to the provocative "Cruising" (1980) to the dark comedy "Killer Joe" (2011), Friedkin's films often explore complex characters and morally ambiguous themes. His direction of operas has further demonstrated his artistic breadth.

Personal Life and Death

William Friedkin was married four times, most recently to Sherry Lansing, a former studio executive. They were married from 1991 until his death in 2023.

Friedkin's relationships with fellow filmmakers and actors reflect his collaborative nature and deep respect for the creative process. An articulate and insightful speaker, Friedkin often shared his views on filmmaking, art, and culture, providing valuable insights into his approach and philosophy. His memoir, "The Friedkin Connection," offers a detailed look at his life, career, and the artistic journey that has defined one of cinema's most enduring talents.

William Friedkin died on August 7, 2023 at the age of 87.

Bel Air Mansion

In 2005 William and Sherry paid $15 million for an incredible hilltop mansion in LA's Bel Air neighborhood. The 10,000 square foot mansion sits on a little over five acres and is likely worth $20-30 million today.

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John Singleton was an American director, writer and producer who had a net worth of $35 million at the time of his death in April 2019. John Singleton attended Pasadena City College before graduating from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, in 1990. He made his film debut a year later with 1991's "Boyz n the Hood." For that picture, Singleton became the youngest person and first African-American to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Director. The film also earned John an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay. That same year Singleton directed Michael Jackson's "Remember the Time" music video, which starred Eddie Murphy. Six years later, his movie "Rosewood", was part of the Berlin International Film Festival and in 2003, he directed "2 Fast 2 Furious" starring Paul Walker.

Other directorial credits include "Poetic Justice", "Higher Learning", "Shaft", "Baby Boy", "Four Brothers" and "Abduction". Singleton produced "Higher Learning", "Shaft", "Baby Boy", "Hustle & Flow", "Back Snake Moan" and "Illegal Tender". He appeared in "8 Mile" as himself and on The CW's TV series "The Game" in 2013. In 2017 he created the series "Snowfall" for FX.

Stroke and Family Feud

In April 2019, John suffered what was reported as a "major stroke" by many outlets and remained in a medically-induced coma for over a week. He reportedly first experienced weakness in his legs after returning from a vacation in Costa Rica. He slipped into a coma after suffering from the stroke and this triggered a family war between his mother and one of his children. His mother Sheila, who has served as his business manager for many years, reportedly sought a conservatorship over John's estate to take control over his business dealings while he was incapacitated. One of his children, a daughter named Cleopatra, claimed that John's mother was planning to liquidate his assets to cut out the rest of the family. Cleopatra also claimed that John was doing much better than media outlets had reported. Unfortunately those claims turned out to be false. Tragically, John Singleton died on April 29, 2019 at the age of 51.

Early Life

John Singleton was born on January 6, 1968 in Los Angeles, California to Shelia, a sales executive for a pharmaceutical company, and Danny, a real estate agent, financial planner, and mortgage broker. Growing up, he turned to movies, comic books, and video games to escape the drugs and partying that surrounded him in his neighborhood. Singleton was educated at Eisenhower High School, Blair High School, and Pasadena City College before attending the USC School of Cinematic Arts. He graduated from USC in 1990.

Boyz n the Hood

Singleton made his feature film debut in 1991 with the coming-of-age crime drama "Boyz n the Hood," which he wrote and directed. Starring an ensemble cast featuring Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut, Angela Bassett, Regina King, and many others, the film focuses on childhood friends growing up in crime-ridden South Central LA. "Boyz n the Hood" was a major critical and commercial hit, earning Singleton Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. In addition to becoming the first African-American person to receive a Best Director nomination, he also became the youngest, at the age of 24.

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Further Film Career

After the success of "Boyz n the Hood," Singleton wrote and directed his second film, "Poetic Justice," a romantic drama starring Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur. The film earned mixed reviews from critics upon its release in 1993, but later gained a cult following. Singleton's next film was 1995's "Higher Learning," about racial tensions on a university campus; its cast features Omar Epps, Kristy Swanson, Michael Rapaport, and Ice Cube. After that, Singleton directed the historical drama "Rosewood," based on the 1923 Rosewood massacre in Florida. Released in 1997, it stars Ving Rhames, Jon Voight, and Don Cheadle. Singleton went on to co-write and direct the 2000 remake of "Shaft," starring Samuel L. Jackson in the titular role, and to write and direct the 2001 coming-of-age dramedy "Baby Boy," starring Tyrese Gibson, Taraji P. Henson, and Snoop Dogg. Following those, he directed the action sequel "2 Fast 2 Furious," released in 2003.

In 2005, Singleton served as a producer on the hip hop drama "Hustle & Flow," starring Terrence Howard in an Academy Award-nominated performance. Also that year, he directed the blaxploitation-inspired action film "Four Brothers," starring Tyrese Gibson, Mark Wahlberg, André Benjamin, and Garrett Hedlund as adopted brothers who return to their native Detroit, Michigan to avenge the murder of their mother. In 2006, Singleton co-produced "Black Snake Moan," directed by "Hustle & Flow" director Craig Brewer and starring Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci. The following year, he produced the crime film "Illegal Tender." Singleton's ninth and final film as director, the action thriller "Abduction," came out in 2011. The Taylor Lautner-starring film was a critical bomb, prompting Singleton to transition to television.

Television Career

Focusing exclusively on television in the 2010s, Singleton directed episodes of the series "Empire" and "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story." For his direction of the fifth episode of the latter show, he earned an Emmy Award nomination. In 2017, Singleton directed the pilot of the BET police drama "Rebel" as well as an episode of the Showtime drama "Billions." He also co-created the FX crime drama "Snowfall," starring Damson Idris as a fledgling young drug dealer from South Central LA during the crack epidemic of the 1980s. Singleton cowrote the first two episodes of the series and directed the finales for the first two seasons. "Snowfall" went on to air for a total of six seasons, ending in 2023.

Advocacy and Influence

Throughout his career, Singleton was a vocal advocate for African American filmmakers and for greater representation within Hollywood. He consistently used his platform to highlight social and political issues, and his films often sparked broader conversations about race, culture, and identity. His influence extended beyond his own work, as he opened doors for other filmmakers and actors of color.

Personal Life and Death

With his first wife, Tosha Lewis, Singleton had a daughter named Justice. From his relationship with Vestria Barlow, he had a son named Maasai and a daughter named Cleo. In 1996, Singleton married Ghanaian actress, director, and songwriter Akosua Busia, with whom he had a daughter named Hadar before divorcing in 1997. He later had a daughter with Mitzi Andrews and a son with Rayvon Jones. In 1999, Singleton pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery charges after attacking an ex-girlfriend during a dispute, and was ordered to serve three years of probation and make a film about domestic violence.

In April of 2019, Singleton had a stroke and was placed in intensive care. A week later, it was reported that he was in a coma. On April 28, Singleton passed away after being removed from life support. A private funeral was held in early May in Los Angeles, and Singleton was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.

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Cecil B. DeMille was an American film director and producer who had a net worth equal to $50 million at the time of his death after adjusting for inflation. In roughly five decades, Cecil made 70 feature films spanning the silent era in the mid 1910s to the sound era through late 1950s. Known for co-founding Paramount Pictures and making flamboyantly epic dramas, he directed such hit films as "Samson and Delilah," "The Greatest Show on Earth," and both the silent and sound versions of "The Ten Commandments." In 1952, DeMille was the inaugural recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes, so named in his honor. DeMille also won two Golden Globes and was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.

LA Mansion and Estate Plan

Cecil B. DeMille passed away on January 21, 1959 at 77 years old. According to the terms of his will, Cecil left his lavish LA mansion and the majority of his other assets to his one biological daughter, Cecilia, cutting off three adopted children. His surviving wife lived at the mansion for the next year until she died as well. His adopted children were reportedly stunned to learn that they were cut out of his will. Cecil apparently did not treat them differently than his daughter in life.

In June 2017 Angelina Jolie paid a neighborhood-record $24.5 million for the 2-acre, 11-bedroom estate. The mansion was built in 1913 and acquired by DeMille a few years later for $58,000. That is the same as $1.4 million today after adjusting for inflation. The house traded hands a few times between his death in 1959 and Angelina in 2017.

Early Life and Education

Cecil B. DeMille was born on August 12, 1881 in Ashfield, Massachusetts in a boarding house where his parents Matilda and Henry were vacationing for the summer. His mother was a writer and actress, while his father was an actor, professor, and businessman. DeMille was of English, Dutch-Belgian, and German-Jewish descent, and had an older brother named William. The family lived in Washington, North Carolina for a while, and then moved to Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, where DeMille's father built a three-story Victorian-style home. DeMille's sister, Agnes, was born in 1891; she passed away three years later from spinal meningitis, one year after the kids' father died from typhoid fever.

DeMille was educated at Pennsylvania Military College and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Upon his graduation from the latter in 1900, he performed in the play "The Arcady Trail." In the audience was theater manager Charles Frohman, who would help launch DeMille's career in theater.

Career Beginnings in Theater

Thanks to Charles Frohman, whose theatrical company he joined in early 1900, DeMille made his Broadway debut in Frohman's play "Hearts Are Trumps." He went on to star in productions of "A Repentance," "To Have and to Hold," and "Are You a Mason?" In 1905, DeMille joined the stock cast at the Elitch Theatre in Denver, Colorado, and appeared in numerous plays that summer. He later began collaborating with his brother William, who had become a playwright. DeMille also ventured into playwriting himself, as well as directing and producing plays by other writers. However, he was largely unsuccessful, and struggled to find work after a while. Because of this, DeMille was hired by his mother to work at her theatrical agency. In 1911, he met vaudeville producer Jesse Lasky, with whom he created the hit musical "California."

Start of Film Career

Tired of theater and wishing to work in the fledgling film industry, DeMille partnered with Lasky, Sam Goldfish, and a coterie of East Coast businessmen to create the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company in 1913. DeMille became the director-general of the company, and co-directed his first film, "The Squaw Man," with Oscar Apfel. Released in 1914 as one of the first feature films to come out of what is now Hollywood, "The Squaw Man" was a sensation that put the Lasky Company on the map and eventually led to the founding of Paramount Pictures. DeMille reunited with Apfel to co-direct "Brewster's Millions," which was also a hit; the pair also directed "The Ghost Breaker." By 1915, DeMille had directed 20 films, with some of the most notable being "Rose of the Rancho," "The Warrens of Virginia," "The Cheat," and "The Captive." In the summer of 1916, the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company merged with Adolph Zukor's Famous Players Film Company to become Famous Players-Lasky.

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Silent Successes in the 1920s

In the 1920s, DeMille became the most successful director in the American film industry. With his first Biblical epic, the smash 1923 silent "The  Ten Commandments," he established himself as a master of ostentatious, large-scale historical films. DeMille continued to cement his reputation with such films as "The Volga Boatman," "The Road to Yesterday," "The Godless Girl," and the Jesus biopic "The King of Kings." However, he also courted controversy for his extravagant style and depictions of immorality, raising the ire of Christian groups. This contributed to the creation of the Hays Code and its notorious censorship rules.

Film Career in the Sound Era

With the introduction of sound to cinema in the late 1920s, DeMille made a successful transition thanks to his technological innovations, such as a soundproof camera blimp. His first three sound films, "Dynamite," "Madame Satan," and his remake of "The Squaw Man," were produced by MGM. They were unsuccessful, prompting DeMille to take some time off and travel abroad. He returned to Hollywood in 1932 to make the epic "The Sign of the Cross" for Paramount. DeMille subsequently directed "This Day and Age" and "Four Frightened People." One of his greatest successes of the 1930s was the 1939 Western "Union Pacific," a collaboration with the Union Pacific Railroad. He followed that in 1940 with the Technicolor Western "North West Mounted Police." In 1942, DeMille had great success with the adventure film "Reap the Wild Wind," which featured many groundbreaking special effects. He made another special effects extravaganza with 1947's "Unconquered." DeMille finished the decade with the Biblical epic "Samson and Delilah," which became Paramount's highest-grossing film to that point.

In 1952, DeMille directed the circus drama "The Greatest Show on Earth," which became Paramount's new highest-grossing film ever. The film ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Picture, with DeMille receiving his first and only nomination for Best Director. His next film would be the final film of his directing career: his 1956 remake of "The Ten Commandments." It was also his first widescreen film. The longest and most expensive film in Paramount's history, the Charlton Heston-starring epic became one of the highest-grossing films of all time, and earned seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.

Other Endeavors

DeMille was involved in various other endeavors beyond the world of film. During the 1920s, he opened the Mercury Aviation Company, one of the first commercial airlines in the United States. DeMille also did real estate speculation, underwrote political campaigns, and served as the vice president of Bank of America. A conservative Republican, he did activism against unions and donated heavily to Herbert Hoover. DeMille also did radio, producing, directing, and hosting "Lux Radio Theater" from 1936 to 1945. Broadcast on CBS, it was a weekly digest of current films that became one of the most popular weekly shows in radio history. Among his later endeavors, DeMille helped design the cadet uniforms at the newly created United States Air Force Academy.

Personal Life and Death

In 1902, DeMille married actress Constance Adams. Although they never divorced, the two were reportedly sexually incompatible, and Adams permitted DeMille to have a number of longterm mistresses during their marriage. Despite the turmoil behind the scenes, the couple maintained the appearance of a happy marriage, and had four children, three of whom they adopted.

DeMille struggled with his health for periods of his life. In 1938, he underwent an emergency prostatectomy and had a severe post-surgery infection. Later, while filming "The Ten Commandments" in Egypt in 1954, he had a serious heart attack. Several more heart attacks followed. In January of 1959, after another attack, DeMille passed away. He is interred at the Hollywood Memorial Cemetery.

Read more: Cecil B. DeMille Net Worth

Chris Columbus is an American filmmaker who has a net worth of $90 million. Chris Columbus is one of the most successful directors in the entertainment industry, having directed such blockbusters as "Home Alone" (1990), "Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993), "Stepmom" (1998), "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (2001), "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2002), and "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" (2010).

Chris has produced several of the films he directed, and he has produced more than 20 other films, including "Fantastic Four" (2005), "Night at the Museum" (2006), "The Help" (2011), "Mediterranea" (2015), "The Witch" (2015), "Patti Cake$" (2017), and "Scoob!" (2020). Columbus also wrote the films "Reckless" (1984), "Gremlins" (1984), "The Goonies" (1985), "Young Sherlock Holmes" (1985), "Heartbreak Hotel" (1988), "Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland" (1989), "Only the Lonely" (1991), "Nine Months" (1995), "Christmas with the Kranks" (2004), and "The Christmas Chronicles 2" (2020). Chris co-founded the production company 1492 Pictures in 1994, and in 2013, he co-founded Maiden Voyage Pictures with his daughter Eleanor. In 2017, he teamed up with Haim Saban, Michael Barnathan, and Jeremy Zag to launch ZAG Animation Studios.

Early Life

Chris Columbus was born Chris Joseph Columbus on September 10, 1958, in Spangler, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Champion, Ohio, with mother Mary and father Alex, and his heritage is Czech and Italian. Mary worked in a factory, and Alex worked in an aluminum plant and was also a coal miner. During his childhood, Chris enjoyed drawing storyboards, and he started making 8mm films as a high school student. Columbus attended John F. Kennedy High School, then he studied film at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where future Emmy-winning actor Alec Baldwin and future Academy Award-winning screenwriter Charlie Kaufman were his classmates. Due to Chris forgetting to renew his scholarship, he had to work at a factory to pay for his education and secretly worked on a short screenplay during his shifts. One of his professors later submitted that script to help Columbus sign with an agent. In 1980, Chris directed the short film "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here," which caught the attention of director Steven Spielberg. In 2014, the short film was preserved by the Academy Film Archive.

Career

Columbus began his professional career as the screenwriter of the 1984 "Reckless," then he wrote "Gremlins" (1984), "The Goonies" (1985), and "Young Sherlock Holmes" (1985). Steven Spielberg called Chris in 1981 and said he was interested in buying the "Gremlins" script, and he served as an executive producer on the film. After the release of "Gremlins," which grossed $212.9 million against an $11 million budget, Columbus relocated to Los Angeles to work for Spielberg's production company, Amblin Entertainment. He returned to New York after two years in L.A. and created the animated series "Galaxy High School," which aired 13 episodes on CBS. Chris made his feature film directing debut with 1987's "Adventures in Babysitting," then he directed 1988's "Heartbreak Hotel," which he also wrote. He co-wrote 1989's "Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland," then he was recruited to direct 1990's "Home Alone" by the film's screenwriter, John Hughes. Starring Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, and Catherine O'Hara, "Home Alone" grossed $476.7 million against an $18 million budget, and Columbus directed the 1992 sequel, "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," which brought in $359 million at the box office. "Home Alone" earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy," and "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Comedy Motion Picture.

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Chris wrote and directed 1991's "Only the Lonely," then he directed 1993's "Mrs. Doubtfire," which starred Robin Williams and Sally Field, grossed $441.3 million at the box office, and won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Next, Columbus wrote, directed, and produced 1995's "Nine Months" and directed and produced 1998's "Stepmom" and 1999's "Bicentennial Man." In the early 2000s, he directed and executive produced "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets." Both films were massive hits, grossing $1.017 billion and $879.8 million at the box office, respectively. He also produced 2004's "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban." Chris wrote and produced 2004's "Christmas with the Kranks," then he directed and produced the 2005 film adaptation of the 1996 Broadway musical "Rent" and the 2009 teen romantic comedy "I Love You, Beth Cooper." In 2010, he directed and produced "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief," which grossed $226.4 million at the box office. His follow-up, the 2015 Adam Sandler-Kevin James comedy "Pixels," earned $244.9 million. In 2020, Columbus directed "The Christmas Chronicles 2," which he also co-wrote and produced.

Personal Life

Chris married choreographer Monica Devereux on August 6, 1983, and they have welcomed four children together, Eleanor, Brendan, Isabella, and Violet. All of Columbus' children have appeared in his films, and Monica was a choreographer on "Adventures in Babysitting," "Heartbreak Hotel," and "Only the Lonely." Violet followed in her father's footsteps and became a filmmaker, directing the 2022 documentary "The Exiles." Eleanor produced the documentary, and she has also co-produced several films with Chris. Columbus endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.

Awards and Nominations

In 2012, Columbus received an Academy Award nomination for Best Motion Picture of the Year for "The Help." The film also earned him awards from the Black Reel Awards and Christopher Awards and nominations from the BAFTA Awards, PGA Awards, Gold Derby Awards, and Awards Circuit Community Awards. He also received five BAFTA Award nominations for the "Harry Potter" films, winning Best Feature Film for "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" in 2004. In 2012, the Art Directors Guild honored Chris with the Contribution to Cinematic Imagery Award for the "Harry Potter" films, and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" was named Best Foreign Language Film at the 2003 Mainichi Film Concours. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" both earned Hugo Award nominations for Best Dramatic Presentation, Saturn Award nominations (from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films) for Best Director, and Amanda Award nominations (Norway) for Best Foreign Feature Film. He also received Saturn Award nominations for Best Writing for "Gremlins" (1985) and "Young Sherlock Holmes" (1986). Columbus earned Independent Spirit Award nominations for Best First Feature for "Mediterranea" (2016) and "Patti Cake$ (2018), and "Mediterranea" received an Audience Award nomination at the 2015 Gotham Awards. In 2005, Columbus earned a  Satellite Award nomination for Outstanding Director for "Rent."

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David Leitch is a filmmaker, actor, and stunt performer who has a net worth of $12 million. David Leitch known for directing such action films as "Atomic Blonde," "Deadpool 2," "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw," and "Bullet Train." He also served as an uncredited co-director on "John Wick," which he made with Chad Stahelski. As an actor, Leitch starred in the 2005 mockumentary film "Confessions of an Action Star," and has also appeared in some films he's directed.

Early Life

David Leitch was born on November 16, 1975 in Kohler, Wisconsin.

Stunt Performing

Leitch began his career in the entertainment industry in the mid-to-late 1990s as a stunt performer. His first credits included the television series "Sherman Oaks," "7th Heaven," and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Moving to film, Leitch did stunts for the action thriller "Perfect Target"; the superhero sex comedy "Orgazmo"; the Western comedy "Almost Heroes"; the sports comedy "BASEketball"; and the superhero horror film "Blade." In 1999, Leitch served as the stunt double for Brad Pitt in "Fight Club"; it marked the first of many times he would stand in for the actor. Kicking off the new millennium, he performed stunt work in such films as "Big Momma's House," "Men of Honor," and "The Score."

Leitch reunited with Brad Pitt for "The Mexican," "Ocean's Eleven," and "Spy Game," all released in 2001. The same year, he performed stunts for Jean-Claude Van Damme in "The Replicant" and "The Order," and had such other credits as "Ghost of Mars" and "Corky Romano." Leitch went on to do stunt work in "Daredevil," "In Hell," "Seabiscuit," "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions," "Troy," "Van Helsing," "Constantine," "Serenity," and "V for Vendetta," among other films. In 2007, he and his stunt team won the SAG Award for their work on the action thriller "The Bourne Ultimatum"; they also earned a nomination for the historical action film "300." Leitch's other stunt credits include "Speed Racer," "Bangkok Dangerous," "The Hangover," "In Time," and "Jupiter Ascending."

(Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

Directing Career

Behind the camera, Leitch started out as a second-unit director on the 2003 Jean-Claude Van Damme film "In Hell." He went on to perform second-unit directing duties on such films as "The Midnight Meat Train," "Ninja Assassin," "The King of Fighters," "The Mechanic," and "Conan the Barbarian." In 2013, Leitch was a second-unit director on "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters," "Parker," "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues," "The Wolverine," and "Escape Plan." He made his directorial debut the following year on the action thriller "John Wick," although only his co-director Chad Stahelski received credit. Leitch earned his first credit as director with the 2017 action thriller "Atomic Blonde," based on the graphic novel "The Coldest City" and starring Charlize Theron. He subsequently directed the Marvel Comics superhero sequel "Deadpool 2," starring Ryan Reynolds. After that, Leitch directed "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw," a spinoff of the "Fast & Furious" franchise starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham.

In 2022, Leitch directed the action comedy "Bullet Train," starring Brad Pitt as an operative battling killers on the eponymous high-speed transit vehicle. The cast also features Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, and Logan Lerman, among others. Leitch next directed the action thriller "The Fall Guy," an adaptation of the 1980s television series of the same name. Released in 2024, the film stars Ryan Gosling as a stuntman and Emily Blunt as the prosthetic makeup artist with whom he's romantically involved. "The Fall Guy" also features Academy Award-nominee Stephanie Hsu, Winston Duke, Hannah Waddingham, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, reuniting with Leitch from "Bullet Train."

Acting Career

As an actor, Leitch had his first significant role on the television series "Martial Law," playing the recurring character David Hasbro on the show's first season. Following that, he had guest roles on "Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue" and "Walker, Texas Ranger." Leitch had his first starring role in a film in 2005 when he played Frank Sledge, a chippendale dancer turned martial arts action star, in the mockumentary "Confessions of an Action Star." Leitch also wrote the film.  His next substantial part was in the 2010 science-fiction martial arts film "The King of Fighters." Subsequently, Leitch appeared in "The Mechanic." In 2018, he provided the motion-capture performance for the character Juggernaut in "Deadpool 2," which he also directed. Leitch later had brief roles in his films "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" and "Bullet Train."

Producing

With Chad Stahelski, Leitch opened the action design production company 87Eleven in 1997. The company has produced the "John Wick" sequels, among other films. Later, with his wife Kelly McCormick, Leitch founded the production company 87North Productions. Based in Santa Monica, California, the company focuses on the production of action films. Its credits include "Nobody," "Kate," and "Violet Night," as well as films directed by Leitch such as "Bullet Train" and "The Fall Guy."

Personal Life and Real Estate

David is married to fellow producer Kelly McCormick. Together they produced a number of Leitch-direct films.

In December 2021 David and Kelly paid $4 million for a home in the Hollywood Hills.

Read more: David Leitch Net Worth

David Mamet is an American playwright, screenwriter, and director who has a net worth of $12 million. David Mamet is known for writing such award-winning plays as "Glengarry Glen Ross," "American Buffalo," and "Speed-the-Plow." For the big screen, he wrote and directed such films as "House of Games" and "Heist," and earned Academy Award nominations for his screenplays to "The Verdict" and "Wag the Dog." Mamet's books include "On Directing Film," "The Old Religion," "The Wicked Son," and "Bambi vs. Godzilla."

Early Life and Education

David Mamet was born on November 30, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois to Lenore, a teacher, and Bernard, a labor attorney. He is Jewish. As a youth, Mamet attended Francis W. Parker School. For his higher education, he went to Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont.

Theater Career

Mamet first got involved in theater when he worked for director Robert Sickinger at Hull House Theatre in Chicago. His breakthrough came in the 1970s with his off-Broadway plays "The Duck Variations," "Sexual Perversity in Chicago," and "American Buffalo." Also that decade, Mamet wrote such plays as "Squirrels," "The Water Engine," "A Life in the Theatre," and "The Woods." In the early 1980s, he penned "Edmond," "The Frog Prince," and "Glengarry Glen Ross," the lattermost of which became one of his most famous works. Focused on two days in the lives of four unscrupulous Chicago real estate agents, "Glengarry Glen Ross" premiered in London in 1983 before opening on Broadway the following year. Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize for the play and earned a Tony Award nomination. His subsequent plays included "The Shawl" and "The Poet & the Rent." In 1988, Mamet received his second Tony Award nomination for "Speed-the-Plow," a satire of the American movie industry. He followed that with "Bobby Gould in Hell," a one-act play following a character from "Speed-the-Plow."

In the 1990s, Mamet wrote "Oleanna," "The Cryptogram," "The Old Neighborhood," and "Boston Marriage." The next decade, his credits included "Faustus," "Romance," "November," and "The Vikings and Darwin." Mamet also wrote "Race," which premiered on Broadway in late 2009 with James Spader, Kerry Washington, David Alan Grier, and Richard Thomas. A few years later, his two-person play "The Anarchist" opened on Broadway; it starred Patti LuPone and Debra Winger in her Broadway debut. Mamet subsequently wrote "China Doll" and "The Penitent." In 2019, he returned to London with a new play entitled "Bitter Wheat," starring John Malkovich. The following year, he wrote "The Christopher Boy's Communion." For his career, Mamet was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.

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Film Career

Mamet has both written and directed films. His first produced screenplay was an adaptation of James M. Cain's novel "The Postman Always Rings Twice," directed by Bob Rafelson and released in 1981. He next adapted Barry Reed's novel "The Verdict" into a film directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Paul Newman; for that screenplay, he earned an Academy Award nomination. Mamet went on to make his film directorial debut with the 1987 neo-noir thriller "House of Games," which he also wrote. Hugely acclaimed, the film won Mamet the Best Screenplay award at the Venice Film Festival. Also in 1987, he wrote the screenplay for Brian De Palma's crime film "The Untouchables." The next year, Mamet directed the dramedy "Things Change," which he co-wrote with Shel Silverstein. He closed out the decade writing the screenplay for Neil Jordan's "We're No Angels," an adaptation of the homonymous 1955 comedy film.

Mamet's first film credit of the 1990s was "Homicide," which he wrote and directed. He subsequently wrote the screenplay for Danny DeVito's "Hoffa," and adapted his play "Glengarry Glen Ross" into a film directed by James Foley. In 1994, Mamet adapted another of his plays for the big screen, "Oleanna," which he also directed. Two years later, he adapted his play "American Buffalo" into a film directed by Michael Corrente. Mamet had a big year in 1997, writing the political satire "Wag the Dog" and the survival thriller "The Edge," and writing and directing the neo-noir "The Spanish Prisoner." For "Wag the Dog," he received his second Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Mamet went on to write and direct the period drama "The Winslow Boy." Commencing the new millennium, he adapted his play "Lakeboat" into a film directed by Joe Mantegna, and wrote and directed the comedy "State and Main." Mamet's subsequent credits were "Hannibal," which he co-wrote with Steven Zaillian, and "Heist," which he wrote and directed. In 2004, he wrote and directed the action thriller "Spartan," and in 2008 wrote and directed the martial arts film "Redbelt." Between those, Mamet adapted his play "Edmond" into a film directed by Stuart Gordon.

Television Career

For television, Mamet adapted his plays "A Life in the Theatre" and "The Water Engine" into TV movies. He adapted the former play twice, first in 1979 with the play's original actors Peter Evans and Ellis Rabb, and again in 1993 with Matthew Broderick and Jack Lemmon. Among his other television credits, Mamet wrote the 1999 television film "Lansky" and wrote and directed the 2013 television film "Phil Spector."

Books

Mamet published his first book, the essay collection "Writing in Restaurants," in 1987. He has since written myriad non-fiction books, novels, and children's stories. Some of Mamet's most notable titles include "On Directing Film," "The Village," "The Old Religion," "Wilson: A Consideration of the Sources," "Bambi vs. Godzilla," and "Chicago."

Personal Life

In 1977, Mamet married his first wife, actress Lindsay Crouse. They had two children named Willa and Zosia Mamet before divorcing in 1990. Mamet subsequently wed actress Rebecca Pidgeon in 1991; they have two children named Clara and Noah.

Having become increasingly aligned with the political right, Mamet has gained notoriety for his extremist pro-Israel views, endorsement of Donald Trump, and support for Florida's so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill.

Real Estate

In 1995 David and Rebecca paid $1.93 million for a home in Santa Monica, California, Today this property is likely worth $6-8 million.

Read more: David Mamet Net Worth

Joel Coen is an American director, writer and producer who has a net worth of $100 million. That is a combined net worth with his wife of four decades, actress Frances McDormand. Joel Coen, along with his brother Ethan Coen, is part of the filmmaking duo, the Coen brothers. He and Ethan graduated from Bard College at Simon's Rock, and Joel would attend New York University's film program while Ethan headed to Princeton. Joel worked as a production assistant until he and his brother wrote their first movie "Blood Simple" in 1984. They followed up that effort with "Crimewave" in 1985, "Raising Arizona" in 1987 and "Miller's Crossing" in 1991. The Coen brothers won their first Academy Award for their film "Fargo" in 1996, taking home Best Original Screenplay. They are also credited with titles including "The Big Lebowski", "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", "Intolerable Cruelty", and the Oscar winner "No County for Old Men". Joel married actress Frances McDormand in 1984, and they adopted their son, Pedro, from Paraguay. They live in New York and Northern California.

Early Life

Coen was born on November 29, 1954 in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. He was born to parents Rena and Edward Coen. His mother worked as an art historian at St. Cloud State University while his father was a professor of economics at the University of Minnesota. He grew up with his older sister, Deborah, and his younger brother, Ethan. The family is of Eastern European Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Coen developed an early interest in film and cinema, as he grew up watching Italian films and comedies with his brother. In the mid-1960s, while a teenager, Coen saved up his money from mowing lawns in order to buy a Super 8 camera. With his brother, he began remaking movies that they had seen on television. They also created original films and had their friends star in them.

Coen attended St. Louis Park High School and graduated in 1973. He then attended Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Afterward, he spent four years in the undergraduate film program at New York University. In 1979, he briefly enrolled in the graduate film program at the University of Texas as Austin. However, he left the school after nine months.

Career

After finishing at NYU, Coen began working as a production assistant on a number of industrial films and music videos. He also began working as a film editor during this time and worked as a co-editor on Sam Raimi's film "The Evil Dead" in 1981.

Coen then began working with his brother, Ethan, on their own films. In 1984, the brothers wrote and directed "Blood Simple," their first commercial film. The film was set in Texas and starred Frances McDormand who Coen later married. In 1985, the brothers wrote the film "Crimewave" which was directed by Sam Raimi. The same year, the brothers made a cameo appearance in "Spies Like Us." In 1987, the brothers released the film "Raising Arizona" starring Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter.

In 1990, they created the film "Miller's Crossing" which starred Albert Finney, Gabriel Byrne, and John Turturro. The film is about feuding gangsters during the Prohibition era and is inspired by the novels "Red Harvest" and "The Glass Key." The next year, the released the film "Barton Fink," which was a critical success and won three major awards at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival, including the Palme d'Or. Additionally, it won multiple Oscar nominations. The film marked the brothers' first collaboration with cinematographer Roger Deakins, with whom they would collaborate with many more times over the next 25 years.

The next film Joel and Ethan released came in 1994, "The Hudsucker Proxy." The film was a box office bomb, despite its starring cast of Paul Newman and Jennifer Jason Leigh. In 1996, they experienced greater success with the crime thriller "Fargo." It starred William H. Macy and Frances McDormand and was both a critical and commercial success. It received a BAFTA award and an award at Cannes for direction as well as two Oscars for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actress.

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The brothers' next film was "The Big Lebowski" in 1998 starring Jeff Bridges, Steve Buscemi, and John Goodman. Though it originally received mixed reviews, it has since become both a fan and critical favorite and is considered a classic cult film. It has inspired the annual festival, Lebowski Fest, since 2002.

In 2000, the brothers released "O Brother, Where Art Though?" The film is loosely based on Homer's "Odyssey" and is set in Mississippi, starring George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Tuturro. In 2003, they directed "Intolerable Cruelty" and also rewrote "Bad Santa." The following year, in 2004, the Coens made the film "The Ladykillers" starring Tom Hanks. In 2007, the released "No Country for Old Men" starring Josh Brolin, Jarvier Bardem, and Tommy Lee Jones and based on the Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name.

In 2008, the brothers released "Burn After Reading" starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney. They then directed "A Serious Man" in 2009. The following year, in 2010, the brothers released "True Grit," a film based on the 1968 novel of the same name by Charles Portis.

In 2013, the released "Inside Llewyn Davis" which is loosely based on the life of Dave Van Ronk. It won the Grand Prix at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. The next year, they executive produced "Fargo," a television series inspired by their original film. In 2015, they co-wrote the screenplay "Bridge of Spies," which was directed by Steven Spielberg. The same year, they released "Hail, Caesar!" In 2018, they directed "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs," which was released on Netflix.

In March of 2019, Coen directed an adaptation of "Macbeth" called "The Tragedy of Macbeth," which was his first directorial effort without his brother.

Personal Life

In 1979, Coen married a woman and followed her to the University of Texas at Austin where she was enrolled in a linguistics program and he enrolled in a film program. However, their marriage ended after only nine months.

In 1984, he married actress Frances McDormand. In 1995, they adopted a son, Pedro McDormand Coen, from Paraguay when the boy was six months old. The family resides in Marin County, California.

Read more: Joel Coen Net Worth

Ethan Coen is an American director, writer and producer who has a net worth of $60 million. Ethan and his brother, Joel Coen, have written, directed and produced several Academy Award-winning films. Growing up, the Coen brothers saved money to buy a camera so they could recreate movies with their friends. They both graduated from Bard College at Simon's Rock, and Ethan would later get a philosophy degree from Princeton University.

Ethan and Joel wrote their first movie together in 1984 with "Blood Simple", which was directed by Joel. They would then release "Crimewave" in 1985, "Raising Arizona" in 1987 and "Miller's Crossing" in 1991. Five years later, the Coen brothers won their first Academy Award, Best Original Screenplay, for their movie "Fargo". They are also credited with titles including "The Big Lebowski", "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", "Intolerable Cruelty", and the Oscar winner "No County for Old Men". Ethan and his wife, film editor Tricia Cooke, have two children: Dusty and Buster Jacob, and live in New York.

Early Life

Ethan Coen was born on September 21, 1957 in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. He was born to parents Rena, who worked as an art historian at St. Cloud State University, and Edward Coen, who was a professor of economics at the University of Minnesota. He grew up with his older sister, Deborah, and his older brother, Joel. The family is of Eastern European Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Coen developed an early interest in film and cinema, as he grew up watching Italian films and comedies with his brother. In the mid-1960s, his older brother Joel saved up his money from mowing lawns in order to buy a Super 8 camera. With his brother, Coen began remaking movies that they had seen on television. They also created original films and had their friends star in them.

Coen attended St. Louis Park High School and graduated in 1976. He then attended Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Afterward, he enrolled at Princeton University and received an undergraduate degree in philosophy in 1979. He wrote his senior thesis on the topic of the philosophy of Wittgenstein.

Career

After finishing his degree at Princeton, Coen then began working with his brother, Joel, on making their own films. In 1984, the brothers wrote and directed "Blood Simple," their first commercial film. The film was set in Texas and starred Frances McDormand whom Joel later married. In 1985, the brothers wrote the film "Crimewave" which was directed by Sam Raimi. The same year, the brothers made a cameo appearance in "Spies Like Us." In 1987, the brothers released the film "Raising Arizona" starring Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter.

In 1990, they created the film "Miller's Crossing" which starred Albert Finney, Gabriel Byrne, and John Turturro. The film is about feuding gangsters during the Prohibition era and is inspired by the novels "Red Harvest" and "The Glass Key." The next year, the released the film "Barton Fink," which was a critical success and won three major awards at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival, including the Palme d'Or. Additionally, it won multiple Oscar nominations. The film marked the brothers' first collaboration with cinematographer Roger Deakins, with whom they would collaborate with many more times over the next 25 years.

The next film Joel and Ethan released came in 1994, "The Hudsucker Proxy." The film was a box office bomb, despite its starring cast of Paul Newman and Jennifer Jason Leigh. In 1996, they experienced greater success with the crime thriller "Fargo." It starred William H. Macy and Frances McDormand and was both a critical and commercial success. It received a BAFTA award and an award at Cannes for direction as well as two Oscars for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actress.

The brothers' next film was "The Big Lebowski" in 1998 starring Jeff Bridges, Steve Buscemi, and John Goodman. Though it originally received mixed reviews, it has since become both a fan and critical favorite and is considered a classic cult film. It has inspired the annual festival, Lebowski Fest, since 2002.

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In 1998, Coen also released a collection of short stories called "Gates of Eden." Additionally, he co-wrote the comedy "The Naked Man" which was directed by storyboard artist J. Todd Anderson.

In 2000, the brothers released "O Brother, Where Art Though?" The film is loosely based on Homer's "Odyssey" and is set in Mississippi, starring George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Tuturro. In 2003, they directed "Intolerable Cruelty" and also rewrote "Bad Santa." The following year, in 2004, the Coens made the film "The Ladykillers" starring Tom Hanks. In 2007, the released "No Country for Old Men" starring Josh Brolin, Jarvier Bardem, and Tommy Lee Jones and based on the Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name.

In 2008, Cohen's play, "Almost an Evening," premiered off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company Stage 2. It later moved to do a run at the Bleecker Street Theater. The same year, the brothers released "Burn After Reading" starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney. They then directed "A Serious Man" in 2009. The following year, in 2010, the brothers released "True Grit," a film based on the 1968 novel of the same name by Charles Portis.

In 2011, Coen wrote the one-act comedy "Talking Cure" which was produced on Broadway in 2011. The same year, the brothers won the $1 million Dan David Prize for their contribution to cinema and society.

In 2013, they released "Inside Llewyn Davis" which is loosely based on the life of Dave Van Ronk. It won the Grand Prix at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. The next year, they executive produced "Fargo," a television series inspired by their original film. In 2015, they co-wrote the screenplay "Bridge of Spies," which was directed by Steven Spielberg. The same year, they released "Hail, Caesar!" In 2018, they directed "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs," which was released on Netflix.

In 2022, it was announced that Coen would be directing "Drive-Away Dolls," his first directorial effort without his brother.

Personal Life

In 1990, Coen married film editor Tricia Cooke. Together, they have had two children – a daughter named Dusty and a son named Buster Jacob. The family resides in New York City

Read more: Ethan Coen Net Worth

Jon Turteltaub is an American film producer and director who has a net worth of $80 million. Jon Turteltaub is known for directing such films as "While You Were Sleeping," "National Treasure" and its sequel "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," "Last Vegas," and "The Meg." He has also directed some episodes of television series, including "Jericho" and "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist." In 2022, Turteltaub served as an executive producer on the Disney+ series "National Treasure: Edge of History."

Early Life and Education

Jon Turteltaub was born on August 8, 1963 in New York City to Shirley Steinberg and comedy writer Saul Turteltaub, best known for his work on the television sitcom "Sanford and Son." He is Jewish. For his higher education, Turteltaub first attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. He went on to attend the USC School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles, California.

Film Career in the 1990s

Turteltaub made his feature film directorial debut in 1990 with the adventure comedy "Think Big," starring twin bodybuilders Peter and David Paul. He also co-wrote the film, alongside David Tausik and Edward Kovach. Turteltaub next directed and co-wrote the German-American coproduction "Trabbi Goes to Hollywood," which came out in 1991. After that, he began his long-term professional partnership with Walt Disney Studios, directing the 1992 martial arts comedy "3 Ninjas." Turteltaub had his breakthrough with his fourth film, the 1993 sports comedy "Cool Runnings." Loosely based on the story of the first Jamaican national bobsleigh team to compete at the Olympics, the film stars John Candy, Leon Robinson, Doug E. Doug, Rawle D. Lewis, and Malik Yoba. "Cool Runnings" was a substantial hit, earning praise from critics and grossing over $150 million worldwide.

Turteltaub had another critical and commercial success in 1995 with his romcom "While You Were Sleeping," starring Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman. The film grossed $182 million on a budget of $17 million. Turteltaub's next film, the 1996 romantic fantasy "Phenomenon," was less critically successful. It stars John Travolta as a small-town man who is unexplainably transformed into a genius with telekinetic abilities. Despite the tepid reviews, the film was a box-office hit. Turteltaub closed out the decade with the psychological thriller "Instinct," starring Anthony Hopkins as an anthropologist convicted of murder. Other cast members include Cuba Gooding Jr., Donald Sutherland, and Maura Tierney. "Instinct" was both a critical and commercial flop upon release in 1999.

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Film Career in the 21^st Century

Turteltaub kicked off the 21^st century with the fantasy dramedy "The Kid," starring Bruce Willis as an image consultant who is confronted by a child version of himself, played by Spencer Breslin. In supporting roles are Emily Mortimer and Lily Tomlin, among others. "The Kid" earned mixed reviews from critics. Turteltaub had his greatest commercial success yet with his next movie, the 2004 action adventure film "National Treasure." Starring Nicolas Cage as a historian-cryptographer in search of a lost Freemason treasure, the film grossed over $345 million worldwide and launched a franchise. Turteltaub went on to direct the sequel "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," which was released in 2007 to similar box-office success as its predecessor.

After the "National Treasure" movies, Turteltaub reunited with Nicolas Cage for a different kind of action-adventure fantasy, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." In the film, Cage stars as sorcerer Balthazar Blake, a former apprentice of Merlin who takes under his wing a modern-day physics student, played by Jay Baruchel. "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" was ultimately unable to reach the box-office heights of the "National Treasure" movies before it. More commercially successful was Turteltaub's subsequent film, the 2013 comedy "Last Vegas," starring Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline, and Mary Steenburgen. Five years after that, Turteltaub had an even bigger hit with the science-fiction monster film "The Meg," which grossed more than $530 million worldwide.

Television Career

Although primarily a film director, Turteltaub has ventured into television on occasion. In 1998, he directed an episode of the 12-part HBO miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon," about the Apollo program in the 1960s and early 70s. After a break, Turteltaub returned to television in 2006 to direct three episodes of the post-apocalyptic drama series "Jericho," which he also executive produced. He went on to direct single episodes of the limited mystery-horror series "Harper's Island," the dramedy "Common Law," and the police procedural "Rush Hour," based on the film series of the same name.

In 2020, Turteltaub directed two episodes of the first season of the NBC musical series "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist," including the acclaimed episode "Zoey's Extraordinary Glitch." A couple years after that, he executive produced the Disney+ series "National Treasure: Edge of History," a continuation of the film series he directed.

Personal Life

In 2006, Turteltaub married British television writer and producer Amy Eldon. They have three children together and reside in Malibu, California next to the in-laws.

Read more: Jon Turteltaub Net Worth

Renny Harlin is a Finnish film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor who has a net worth of $10 million. Renny Harlin has directed more than 20 films, including "Born American" (1986), "Prison" (1987), "A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master" (1988), "Die Hard 2" (1990), "Cliffhanger" (1993), "The Covenant" (2006), and "The Legend of Hercules" (2014). Renny has appeared in several of his films, and he wrote "Born American" and "The Legend of Hercules." Harlin has produced seven of his films as well as "Rambling Rose" (1991), "Speechless" (1994), and "Blast from the Past" (1999). His films have grossed more than $1 billion, and 1993's "Cliffhanger" made it into the "Guinness Book of World Records" for "Most expensive film stunt performed in the air" ($1 million). Renny was formerly married to Geena Davis, who starred in his films "Cutthroat Island" (1995) and "The Long Kiss Goodnight" (1996).

Early Life

Renny Harlin was born Renny Lauri Mauritz Harjola on March 15, 1959, in Riihimäki, Finland. Harlin is the son of Oiva Harjola, who was a chief physician at Riihimäki Hospital, and nurse Liisa Koskiluoma. His father's original surname was Harlin, and Renny adopted it in 1987. Harlin's half-brother, Veli-Pekka Harjola, is a sprint canoeist who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics. Renny studied film at the University of Art and Design Helsinki, but he dropped out before earning his degree.

Career

After leaving the University of Art and Design Helsinki, Harlin began directing company films and commercials. He also made a few short films, writing and directing 1980's "Huostaanotto" and directing and producing 1981's "Kohtauspaikka 33." Renny later took a job as a buyer for a Finnish film distributor, and after he met Markus Selin, a fellow Finn, in 1982 in Los Angeles, the two co-wrote a screenplay called "Arctic Heat." The movie eventually became known as "Born American," and after the duo secured financing from the United States, it was released in 1986, becoming the most expensive movie filmed in Finland at the time. That year Harlin and Selin launched the production company Larmark Productions. After directing "Born American," Renny helmed the 1987 film "Prison," followed by 1988's "A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master," which grossed $49.4 million against a $6.5 million budget. The slasher earned three Saturn Award nominations from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, including Best Director and Best Horror Film. In 1990, Harlin directed "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane" as well as the blockbuster "Die Hard 2," which brought in $240 million at the box office. Next, he produced the 1991 Independent Spirit Award-winning drama "Rambling Rose."

In 1992, Harlin, Selin, and several businessmen founded Planet FunFun, an indoor amusement park in Kerava, Finland. The park closed in 1995. Renny directed Sylvester Stallone and John Lithgow in the 1993 action thriller "Cliffhanger," which grossed $255 million at the box office. He produced 1994's "Speechless," then he directed and produced "Cutthroat Island" (1995) and "The Long Kiss Goodnight" (1996) and produced "Mistrial" (1996) and "Blast from the Past" (1999).

"Cutthroat Island" is considered one of the biggest flops in movie history. The movie cost $115 million to make and ended up only earning $11 million globally. The failure is also generally considered to have stalled his then-wife Geena Davis' career.

Harlin finished out the decade by directing the 1999 sci-fi action film "Deep Blue Sea," which earned $164.6 million. In the '90s, he was also a writer, director, and producer on the Finnish TV competition "Gladiaattorit" (1993–1994). Renny reunited with Sylvester Stallone on 2001's "Driven," which the two co-produced; Stallone wrote the film's screenplay. Harlin directed the 2004 films "Mindhunters" and "Exorcist: The Beginning," and he also produced "Mindhunters." He then directed the 2006 supernatural horror film "The Covenant," the 2007 Samuel L. Jackson thriller "Cleaner," and the 2009 action film "12 Rounds."

From 2011 to 2013, Renny directed episodes of the USA Network shows "Burn Notice," (4), "White Collar" (1), "Covert Affairs" (1), and "Graceland" (3). He produced the 2011 film "The Resident," then he directed and produced "5 Days of War" (2011) and "Devil's Pass" (2013). Harlin co-wrote, directed, and produced the 2014 fantasy film "The Legend of Hercules," and he directed 2016's "Skiptrace," 2018's "Legend of the Ancient Sword," 2019's "Bodies at Rest," and 2021's "The Misfits" and "Reunion 3: Singles Cruise." In September 2022, it was reported that Renny would direct a remake of the 2008 horror movie "The Strangers" with "Riverdale" star Madelaine Petsch in the lead role and that it would be the first film in a new trilogy.

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Personal Life

Renny married actress Geena Davis on September 18, 1993. Davis filed for divorce after Tiffany Bowne, her personal secretary, gave birth to Harlin's son, Luukas (better known as Luke), in August 1997, and the divorce was finalized in June 1998. Renny wed schoolteacher/fitness athlete Johanna Kokkila in September 2021, and they welcomed daughter Coco on July 19, 2022.

Awards and Nominations

In 1991, Harlin was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Jussi at the Jussi Awards, and the following year, "Rambling Rose" won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature. At the 2013 Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival, "Devil's Pass" received the Titra Film Award and earned a Narcisse Award nomination for Best Feature Film. For "Prison," Renny received a Grand Prize nomination at the 1988 Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival and an International Fantasy Film Award nomination for Best Film at the 1990 Fantasporto festival. "A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master" earned him a Saturn Award nomination for Best Director, a Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Award nomination for Best Film, and a Sitges – Catalonian International Film Festival nomination for Best Film.

Real Estate

In 2004, Harlin paid $1.7 million for a 2,756 square foot home in Venice, California. He put the three-level home on the market for $1.999 million in April 2012, and it sold for $1.83 million at the end of the year. The home includes three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and an office.

Read more: Renny Harlin Net Worth