Morris Mike Medavoy American film producer and director Date of Birth: 24.01.1941 Country: USA

1. Biography of Morris Mike Medavoy
2. Early Life and Career
3. Success at United Artists
4. Founder of Orion Pictures
5. TriStar Pictures and Later Career
6. Current Work

Biography of Morris Mike Medavoy

Morris Mike Medavoy is an American film producer and director, as well as the founder of Orion Pictures. He has also served as the chairman of TriStar Pictures and the head of production at United Artists. Currently, he holds the position of executive chairman at Phoenix Pictures.

Early Life and Career

Medavoy was born in Shanghai, China, to Dora and Michael Medavoy. In 1957, he moved to the United States and obtained citizenship in 1962. He began his career at Universal Studios in 1964 as an expediter. Over time, he worked his way up to director of talent selection. In 1965, he became an agent at General Artist Corporation and later vice president of Creative Management Agency. In 1971, Medavoy was appointed vice president of International Famous Agency, where he worked with renowned figures such as Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, Terrence Malick, Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland, Gene Wilder, Gene Hackman, and Jean-Louis Trintignant.

Success at United Artists

After joining United Artists in 1974, Medavoy became the senior vice president of production. He was part of the team responsible for projects such as "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Rocky," and "Annie Hall," which all won Oscars in 1975, 1976, and 1977, respectively. Medavoy also worked on other major films, including "Apocalypse Now," "Raging Bull," "Network," and "Coming Home."

Founder of Orion Pictures

In 1978, Medavoy co-founded Orion Pictures. Under his leadership, the company released legendary films such as "Platoon," "Amadeus," "Robocop," "Hannah and Her Sisters," "Terminator," "Dances with Wolves," and "Silence of the Lambs." During his 20-year tenure at Orion, a total of 16 films produced by Medavoy won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

TriStar Pictures and Later Career

In 1990, Medavoy became the chairman of TriStar Pictures, where he continued to produce successful films such as "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," "Sleepless in Seattle," "Cliffhanger," "The Fisher King," "Legends of the Fall," and "Steven Spielberg's Hook." Throughout his career, Medavoy received numerous awards, including internal honors from the American film industry, the University of California Award, personal achievement awards from the Cannes Film Festival, and awards from the Producers Guild of America.

Current Work

Medavoy is currently the executive chairman of Phoenix Pictures, which he co-founded. Some of the notable films he has worked on in recent years include "The People vs. Larry Flynt," "The Mirror Has Two Faces," "The Thin Red Line," "The 6th Day," and "Apt Pupil." These films have garnered him two Golden Bears from the Berlin International Film Festival, five Golden Satellites, and several other accolades. "The Thin Red Line" and "The People vs. Larry Flynt" were even nominated for Academy Awards.