Jerry Weintraub
Jerome Charles Weintraub (September 26, 1937 – July 6, 2015) was an American film producer, talent manager and actor whose television films won him three Emmys.[1][2]
Jerry Weintraub | |
|---|---|
 Weintraub in 2013 | |
| Born | Jerome Charles Weintraub September 26, 1937 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 6, 2015 (aged 77) |
| Occupation | Film producer, talent agent, concert promoter, actor |
| Years active | 1974–2015 |
| Spouse(s) | Janice Greenberg (div.) |
| Partner(s) | Susan Ekins (1995–2015; his death) |
| Children | 4 |
He began his career as a talent agent, having managed relatively unknown singer John Denver in 1970, developing Denver's success through concerts, television specials and film roles, including Oh, God! (1977). Weintraub has been credited with making "show business history" by being the first to organize and manage large arena concert tours for singers. Among the other performers whose tours he managed were Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, The Four Seasons, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Three Dog Night and The Carpenters.
Following his years as a concert promoter, he began producing films. Among them were director Robert Altman's Nashville (1975), Barry Levinson's Diner (1982), the original version of The Karate Kid (1984) and its 2010 remake, as well as the remake Ocean's Eleven (2001), and its two sequels. Later, Weintraub was executive producer of HBO's series The Brink and HBO's Behind the Candelabra in 2013, which won an Emmy. In 2014, he won another Emmy as co-producer of Years of Living Dangerously, a television documentary about global warming. In 2011, HBO broadcast a television documentary about Weintraub's life, called His Way.
Early years
Weintraub was born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, and raised in the Bronx, the son of Rose (née Bass) and Samuel Weintraub.[3] His father was a gem dealer.[4] While growing up, he worked as a theater usher and as a waiter in the Catskills.[5]
After several years at MCA, where he first started work as a mailroom clerk, he left and formed his own personal management company. While at MCA, he was assistant to Lew Wasserman, whom he thought of as a father figure.[5] In the 1960s, he co-founded the vocal group The Doodletown Pipers. Among the acts that Weintraub managed at this time were Paul Anka, Shelley Berman, Pat Boone, Joey Bishop, The Four Seasons, Jackson Browne, Jimmy Buffett and singer Jane Morgan, whom he would later marry.[6]
Manager and concert promoter
Weintraub was the manager of singer and actor John Denver whom he signed in 1970. Weintraub first saw Denver performing at a small club in Greenwich Village and liked his easy, "mountaineer's" manner. Weintraub produced a dozen television music specials starring Denver, winning an Emmy for one of them.[7] Later, he produced the film Oh, God! (1977), starring George Burns and Denver. After Denver became a major success as a singer, he bought Weintraub a Rolls-Royce as a thank-you gift. Weintraub said, "I couldn't help thinking that it wasn't too long ago that neither of us had bus fare."[7] Denver and Weintraub's professional relationship ended acrimoniously, however.[8]
In 1970 Weintraub convinced Elvis Presley and his manager, Col. Tom Parker, to do his first national tour, something they had not considered, as Elvis was by then a successful film star. The tour, with a modern sound system created for it, helped develop Weintraub's career as a concert promoter.[7]
He next promoted a tour for Frank Sinatra in 1974, whom Weintraub first put in Madison Square Garden's boxing arena. For the previous six years, Sinatra had basically retired due to the failure of his last album. Weintraub convinced him to do a tour, which led to Sinatra's "transformation from saloon singer to stadium singer," writes biographer Will Friedwald. "When Frank came out of retirement and started doing stadiums, he didn't know if he would draw," recalled guitarist Al Viola. "Weintraub deserves most of the credit (after Sinatra, that is) for pulling this off," says Friedwald.[9]
Bob Dylan signed with Weintraub in 1978 after watching a Neil Diamond concert in Las Vegas, knowing that Weintraub managed the impressive event.[10] He began a world tour beginning in Japan which continued through Europe and the U.S., in total performing 114 shows in front of two million people.[11]
Biographer David Morrell writes, "We take this for granted now, but Weintraub's ability to organize these massive concerts made show-business history."[12] Led Zeppelin manager, Peter Grant, recalls that Weintraub worked hard at putting on these large shows. "It was an event," Grant says. And "Jerry Weintraub loved it."[13] Weintraub acknowledged his motivations: "When I believe in something, it's going to get done," he wrote in his autobiography.[6]
Weintraub also managed or promoted concerts for such musical acts as Cuba Gooding, Sr., the Main Ingredient, The Carpenters, The Moody Blues, and The Beach Boys.[7]
Film and television producer
George Clooney[6]
Weintraub's first film as a producer was Robert Altman's Nashville (1975). Until then, United Artists producer David Picker had dismissed the script and would not make the film. A short time later, Weintraub was hosting a party for John Denver in New York, and among the guests he invited was Altman, whom he admired but had never met. "Altman pulled Weintraub aside," recalls the film's screenwriter, Joan Tewkesbury, "and over a shared joint" Altman told Weintraub about the script. After another meeting with Altman, Weintraub was hooked on the story. However, no studio wanted to work with Altman, telling Weintraub that the director was a "pain in the ass". Weintraub eventually managed to find investors and gave Altman the $2 million he needed to make the film.[14] Following Nashville , Weintraub's credits as producer over the next few years included Oh, God! (1977), September 30, 1955 (1978), Cruising (1980), All Night Long (1981), and Diner (1982).
The success of The Karate Kid (1984), led Kirk Kerkorian, then owner of MGM/UA, to appoint Weintraub as chairman and CEO of the neglected United Artists division, with Weintraub acquiring a minority stake, but clashes between the two men led to Weintraub's departure after five months.[15][16] The Karate Kid had several sequels, all produced by Weintraub, The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989) and The Next Karate Kid (1994).
Weintraub formed Weintraub Entertainment Group (WEG) in February 1987 with $461 million in financing from Columbia Pictures, Cineplex Odeon and others. WEG also signed a 20-year distribution deal with Columbia, and planned to release seven or more movies per year.[17] In 1990 WEG filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and Weintraub would then produce for Warner Bros. WEG also subsequently settled a suit brought against it by Columbia.[18][19]
Weintraub's later films as producer were Happy New Year (1987), Pure Country (1992), The Specialist (1994), Vegas Vacation (1997), The Newton Boys (1998), The Avengers (1998), Soldier (1998), Nancy Drew (2007), The Karate Kid (2010), and the 2001 remake of Ocean's Eleven, for which he founded the company JW Productions. In addition to producing the sequels Ocean's Twelve (2004) and Ocean's Thirteen (2007), he appeared in all the Ocean's films. Weintraub had a small role in Vegas Vacation (1997) as "Gilly from Philly" a high roller casino gambler with two pals, and in The Firm (1993). He revived the acting career of Ellen Barkin who underwent a massive makeover for her role as Al Pacino's casino assistant.
He was executive producer of HBO's series, The Brink, and HBO's Behind the Candelabra in 2013, an Emmy-winning drama about the last ten years in the life of pianist, Liberace.[20] In 2014 he also won an Emmy as co-producer of Years of Living Dangerously, a television documentary about global warming.[21]
A television documentary film about Weintraub's life, called His Way, directed by Douglas McGrath, was broadcast on HBO in 2011. On a 2010 television appearance of The View, Weintraub made a handshake deal with Whoopi Goldberg to play the next God in a future Oh, God! sequel, should a favorable script become available. Weintraub had agreed to produce a new adaptation of The Legend of Tarzan for Warner Bros. which was released on July 1, 2016.[6][22]
Philanthropy
Weintraub was a major contributor to many charities, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Music Center, the UCLA School of Dentistry and the Children's Museum of Los Angeles. In 1988, the American Friends of the Hebrew University gave Weintraub and his wife, Jane, the Scopus Award in gratitude for their support. He was also a major supporter of Chabad and was close with the Lubavitcher Rebbe.[23]
He also began doing charitable work to help stop the ongoing genocide taking place in Darfur in 2007. Weintraub, Matt Damon, George Clooney, Don Cheadle, and Brad Pitt cofounded the nonprofit organization, Not On Our Watch, dedicated to preventing mass killings in Darfur and other areas of the world. They also raised $9.3 million to aid their relief efforts.[24]
Personal life
Weintraub was married twice. His first wife was Janice Greenberg, a dentist's daughter from his Bronx neighborhood who had been singer Julius La Rosa's secretary.[25] They had a son Michael. Weintraub's second wife was singer and actress Jane Morgan. Their relationship went from professional to personal and the two were married in 1965 when she was almost 41 and he was 28. Because of her age, she was not able to have children and they ended up adopting three daughters. The couple separated in the 1980s, but never divorced. For 20 years until his death, Weintraub had been living with his girlfriend and longtime companion, Susan Ekins.[7]
Weintraub supported both political parties at various times in his life. However, it is widely noted that he was friends with both George H. W. Bush and Ronald Reagan.[7] He also had a strong spiritual side, which he once described to television host Larry King. He was a devotee of The Lubavitcher Rebbe and believed in his mystical powers.[26]
Death
Weintraub died from cardiac arrest in Santa Barbara, California on July 6, 2015, at the age of 77.[27][7][28][29]
Following the announcement of his death, celebrities and friends paid tribute to Weintraub. "Jerry was an American original, who earned his success by the sheer force of his instinct, drive, and larger-than-life personality," said former president George H.W. Bush, a longtime friend. "He had a passion for life, and throughout the ups and downs of his prolific career it was clear just how much he loved show business."[20]
"He was a force of nature," said actor and director Carl Reiner.[5] Actor Don Cheadle wrote, "Jerry was to me equal parts Godfather, rainmaker, caretaker, PT Barnum and friend."[30] George Clooney, star of the Ocean's movies, said that "in the coming days there will be tributes about our friend Jerry Weintraub. We'll laugh at his great stories, and applaud his accomplishments. And in the years to come the stories and accomplishments will get better with age, just as Jerry would have wanted it. But not today. Today our friend died."[20]
He is interred at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California.[31]
Filmography
He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.
Film
| Year | Title | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Nashville | Executive producer | |
| 1977 | September 30, 1955 | ||
| Oh, God! | |||
| 1980 | Cruising | ||
| 1981 | All Night Long | ||
| 1982 | Diner | ||
| 1984 | The Karate Kid | ||
| 1986 | The Karate Kid Part II | ||
| 1987 | Happy New Year | ||
| 1988 | My Stepmother Is an Alien | Executive producer | |
| 1989 | The Karate Kid Part III | ||
| 1992 | Pure Country | ||
| 1994 | The Next Karate Kid | ||
| The Specialist | |||
| 1997 | Vegas Vacation | ||
| 1998 | The Avengers | ||
| Soldier | |||
| 2000 | The Independent | Executive producer | |
| 2001 | Ocean's Eleven | ||
| 2004 | Ocean's Twelve | ||
| 2007 | Ocean's Thirteen | ||
| Nancy Drew | |||
| 2010 | The Karate Kid | Final film as a producer | |
| 2016 | The Legend of Tarzan | Posthumously released |
- As an actor
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | The Firm | Sonny Capps |
| 1997 | Vegas Vacation | Jilly |
| 2001 | Ocean's Eleven | High Roller |
| 2002 | Full Frontal | Jerry |
| Confessions of a Dangerous Mind | Larry Goldberg | |
| 2004 | Ocean's Twelve | American Businessman |
| 2007 | Ocean's Thirteen | Denny Shields |
- Thanks
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | The Haunting of Pearson Place | Inspired by |
| 2016 | The Legend of Tarzan | For |
| 2018 | Ocean's 8 | In loving memory of |
Television
| Year | Title | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Sinatra – The Main Event | Executive producer | Television special |
| The John Denver Show | Executive producer | ||
| 1975 | An Evening with John Denver | Executive producer | Television special |
| Rocky Mountain Christmas | Executive producer | Television special | |
| 1976 | John Denver and Friend | Executive producer | Television special |
| Father O Father | Executive producer | Television film | |
| The Dorothy Hamill Special | Executive producer | Television special | |
| The Carpenters' Very First TV Special | Executive producer | Television special | |
| 1977 | Neil Diamond: Love at the Greek | Executive producer | Television special |
| The Starland Vocal Band Show | Executive producer | Television special | |
| Neil Diamond: I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight | Executive producer | Television special | |
| Szysznyk | Executive producer | ||
| The Carpenters at Christmas | Executive producer | Television special | |
| 1978 | John Denver in Australia | Executive producer | Television special |
| Pat Boone and Family | Executive producer | Television film | |
| Dorothy Hamill Presents Winners | Executive producer | Television special | |
| King of the Road | Executive producer | Television film | |
| The Carpenters...Space Encounters | Executive producer | Television special | |
| The Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait | Executive producer | Television special | |
| 1979 | John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together | Executive producer | Television special |
| 1980 | When the Whistle Blows | Executive producer | |
| The Jimmy McNichol Special | Television special | ||
| Rocky Mountain Reunion | Executive producer | Television film | |
| The Carpenters: Music, Music, Music | Executive producer | Television special | |
| Blue Jeans | Executive producer | Television film | |
| 1981 | John Denver: Music and the Mountains | Executive producer | Television special |
| 1983 | Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets | Executive producer | Television special |
| Diner | Executive producer | Television pilot | |
| John Denver: The Higher We Fly | Executive producer | Television film | |
| 1984 | The Cowboy and the Ballerina | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1989 | The Karate Kid | Executive producer | |
| 2005 | L'Chaim: To Life Telethon | Executive producer | Television film |
| 2013 | Behind the Candelabra | Executive producer | Television film |
| 2015 | The Brink | Executive producer | |
| 2016 | The Sherry Wolf Show | Co-producer | |
| 2014-2016 | Years of Living Dangerously | Executive producer | Documentary |
| 2016-2018 | Westworld | Executive producer |
Awards and honors
In 1986, the National Association of Theater Owners named Weintraub the Producer of the Year. In 1991, he was named to the board of the Kennedy Center. Weintraub was one of the first independent film producers to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2007, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.[32]
Bibliography
- Weintraub, Jerry (2011). When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man. Twelve. ISBN 978-0446548168.
References
- "‘Ocean’s 11′ Producer Jerry Weintraub Dies", Haute Living, July 7, 2015
- "Jerry Weintraub". Television Academy. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- "Paid Notice: Deaths Weintraub, Rose". The New York Times. May 2, 2000.
- "Jerry Weintraub Biography". Film Reference. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
- Busch, Anita (July 6, 2015). "Jerry Weintraub Dies: 'Karate Kid' & 'Ocean's' Producer Was The Ultimate Storyteller And Showman". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- Weintraub, Jerry; Cohen, Rich; 3M Company (July 2, 2014). When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man. Grand Central Publishing. p. 178. ISBN 9781609414269.
- "Longtime Hollywood producer Jerry Weintraub dies at 77". Associated Press. KTAR-FM. July 6, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- Denver, John; Tobier, Arthur (1994). Take Me Home: An Autobiography. Crown Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0517595374.
- Friedwald, Will. Sinatra! the Song is You: A Singer's Art, Simon & Schuster (1995) p. 451
- Spitz, Bob. Dylan: A Biography, Norton & Co. (1989) p. 521
- Sounes, Howard. Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan, Grove Press (2011) e-book
- Morrell, David. Frank Sinatra: The Artist and His Music, Publ. by David Morrell, (2013) e-book
- Lewis, Dave. Led Zeppelin: The 'Tight But Loose' Files, Music Sales Group (2010) e-book
- Gabler, Neal (June 5, 2015). "Why Robert Altman's brilliant 'Nashville' never had a sequel". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- Fabricant, Geraldine (April 15, 1986). "Chief is Out at United Artists". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
- Dagan, Carmel (July 6, 2015). "Legendary Producer Jerry Weintraub Dies at 77". Variety. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
- Cieply, Michael (January 11, 1989). "Weintraub's Worries : Box-Office Flops Add to Woes of Flashy 'Mini-Major'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
- Cieply, Michael (September 14, 1990). "Weintraub Is Expected to File Chapter 11 : Entertainment: The film firm seeks to cut off bondholders' action". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- Citron, Alan (January 18, 1992). "Creditors Agree With Weintraub to Settle Lawsuit : * Film: Two banks had accused the producer of taking an unwarranted $748,000 in developing 'Hook". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- Associated Press (July 6, 2015). "Longtime Hollywood producer Jerry Weintraub dies at 77". Fox News Channel. FOX. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- Begley, Sarah (July 6, 2015). "Jerry Weintraub Dies at 77". Time. You.com USA, LLC. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- Fleming, Mike (December 14, 2006). "'Tarzan' on vine for Warner Bros". Variety. Penske Business Media. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- "Jerry Weintraub Biography". Starpulse.com. Retrieved May 25, 2008.
- Bartrop, Paul R., and Jacobs, Steven, editors. Modern Genocide: The Definitive Resource and Document Collection, ABC CLIO (2015) p. 735
- Schruers, Fred (May 24, 1987). "The Next Tycoon : Jerry Weintraub Helped Launch the Careers of Singers, Actors and Musicians. Now, He's Launching Himself--as Head of a $461-Million Film Production Company". The Los Angeles Times. p. 2. Archived from the original on September 13, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- Chabad Telethon (August 31, 2010). Larry King Interviews Jerry Weintraub on Chabad Telethon 2010 (YouTube). Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- Cieply, Michael; Barnes, Brooks (July 6, 2015). "Jerry Weintraub, a Force in Film and Music, Dies at 77". The New York Times. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- Byrge, Duane (July 6, 2015). "Producer Jerry Weintraub Dies at 77". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- Estrin, Eric (July 17, 1983). "On The Hollywood Express". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- "Clooney pays tribute to Jerry Weintraub". Stuff. Stuff Limited. July 7, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- "Obituaries » Jack Weintraub". Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary. August 16, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- "Listed by date dedicated" (PDF). Palm Springs Walk of Stars. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 13, 2012.
External links
- Jerry Weintraub interview at Elvis Australia
- Jerry Weintraub at AllMovie
- Jerry Weintraub at IMDb
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