Gregory Hoblit American director, producer Date of Birth: 27.11.1947 Country: USA

1. Biography of Gregory Hoblit
2. Early Career
3. Collaboration with Bochco
4. Independent Projects
5. Transition to Film
6. Later Works
7. Recent Work

Biography of Gregory Hoblit

Gregory King Hoblit was born on November 27, 1947, in Abilene, Texas, to parents Harold Foster Hoblit and Elizabeth Hubbard King. He studied Television and Film at the University of Berkeley and the University of California. Currently, Hoblit is a renowned producer and director of the television series "Hill Street Blues," which has received multiple Emmy Awards.

Early Career

Hoblit began his television career as an assistant producer on a local Chicago channel. In the late 1970s, he returned to Los Angeles and became an assistant producer for the series "Loose Change" (1978). Stephen Bochco, a popular television writer known for "Columbo" and other prestigious series, asked Hoblit to assist him in a new project for MTM Enterprises. Although their collaboration had a rocky start, their second series, "Hill Street Blues" (1981-1987), became a television phenomenon and earned numerous Emmy nominations.

Collaboration with Bochco

After the success of "Hill Street Blues," Hoblit and Bochco worked together on the series "Bay City Blues," which depicted the lives of players in a minor league baseball team. Although the show garnered a loyal fan base, it was canceled after only four episodes. Subsequently, MTM Enterprises became part of 20th Century Fox TV. Hoblit and Bochco created another successful series, "L.A. Law," which focused on a specialized law firm. Hoblit also took on the role of director for the new series "Hooperman" (1987) and "Civil Wars" (1991), which centered around a law firm specializing in divorce cases.

Independent Projects

While primarily collaborating with Bochco, Hoblit occasionally worked independently. He produced and directed the TV movie "Roe vs. Wade" (NBC, 1998), which revolved around property rights and architectural preservation. The film starred Holly Hunter and Amy Madigan and received an Emmy Award for Best Drama or Comedy. Hoblit's success in television eventually led him to pursue a career as a film director.

Transition to Film

Hoblit's first feature film, "Primal Fear" (1996), starred Richard Gere as a lawyer whose desire to win a case outweighs the pursuit of truth. Edward Norton's performance as the defendant earned him an Academy Award nomination. Hoblit showcased his ability to guide actors and create suspenseful narratives in his next film, "Fallen" (1998), which tells the story of a detective pursued by a serial killer. The film's ensemble cast, including Denzel Washington, John Goodman, and Donald Sutherland, garnered critical acclaim.

Later Works

Continuing his exploration of supernatural themes, Hoblit directed "Frequency" (2000), a drama in which a detective investigating a murder unexpectedly communicates with his deceased firefighter father from 1969. The film received positive reviews, primarily attributed to Hoblit's skill in eliciting strong performances from actors such as Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel. Hoblit's next film, "Hart's War" (2002), depicted a young law student (Colin Farrell) forced to defend a black officer accused of killing a prisoner of war. The film featured a strong ensemble cast, including Bruce Willis, Cole Hauser, and Terrence Howard.

Recent Work

Hoblit's most recent film as of 2008 is the thriller "Untraceable," starring Diane Lane.