Jon Avnet American producer, director and screenwriter Date of Birth: 17.11.1949 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Career
2. American Film Institute and Tisch/Avnet Productions
3. Collaboration with Jordan Kerner
4. Directorial Debut and Children's Films
5. Romantic Dramas and War Films
6. "Up Close and Personal" and "Red Corner"
7. "Uprising" and Later Films
8. Personal Life

Early Life and Career

Johnathan Michael Avnet, known professionally as John Avnet, was born on November 17, 1949, in Brooklyn, New York. He began his career in the entertainment industry by directing off-Broadway theater productions.

American Film Institute and Tisch/Avnet Productions

In 1975, Avnet was accepted into the American Film Institute (AFI) program. His student film, "Confusion's Corner," earned him a scholarship for further studies. In 1977, he co-founded Tisch/Avnet Productions with Steven Tisch. The company produced several successful projects over seven years, including the hit comedy-drama "Risky Business" (1983) and the critically acclaimed television dramas "The Burning Bed" (1984) and "Call to Glory" (1984).

Collaboration with Jordan Kerner

In 1986, Avnet co-wrote the ABC drama "Between Two Women." Later that year, he began collaborating with Jordan Kerner, a former vice president at ABC. Together, they produced the crime drama "Less Than Zero" (1987), based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, and the drama "Men Don't Leave" (1990).

Directorial Debut and Children's Films

Avnet made his directorial debut with the acclaimed comedy-drama "Fried Green Tomatoes" in 1991, starring Kathy Bates and Mary Stuart Masterson. He also gained recognition for producing children-oriented films, including the family sports comedy "The Mighty Ducks" (1992), the adventure tale "The Three Musketeers" (1993), and the family drama "George of the Jungle" (1997).

Romantic Dramas and War Films

Avnet's success as a producer was solidified with the release of "When a Man Loves a Woman" (1994), starring Andy Garcia and Meg Ryan. The same year saw the release of the critically praised war drama "The War," starring Elijah Wood and Kevin Costner.

"Up Close and Personal" and "Red Corner"

In 1996, Avnet directed the romantic drama "Up Close and Personal," which critics hailed as one of the best dramas of the 1990s. He then faced challenges while filming the crime thriller "Red Corner" (1997), which depicted the complexities of the Chinese legal system. Despite obtaining some footage in Beijing, the majority of the film had to be shot in Southern California.

"Uprising" and Later Films

In 2001, Avnet produced and directed the war drama "Uprising," which told the tragic story of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943. In 2007, he directed the thriller "88 Minutes" with Al Pacino and Lily Sobieski. His attempt to rebound with the thriller "Righteous Kill" (2008) received negative reviews. Despite critical acclaim, his television film "Bunker Hill: Bridget Moynahan" (2009) did not garner widespread recognition.

Personal Life

John Avnet married artist Barbara Brody in 1975. They have been together for over 35 years and have three children: Alexandra, Jacob, and Lily.