Mace Neufeld
Encyclopedia
Mace Alvin Neufeld is an American film
and television producer
.
, New York
, the son of Margaret Ruth (née
Braun) and Philip M. Neufeld, a stockbroker. He married (to Helen) on 28 February 1954. He has three children, the eldest son Bradley David, Glenn Jeremy and daughter Nancy Ann.
Neufeld began as an amateur photographer in his teens; his first snapshot, a returning World War II
veteran, "Sammy's Home", was widely syndicated and won an award from The New York World Telegram-Sun. He first ventured into the television business when he got a job with the DuMont Television Network
(which was one of the four major networks, alongside ABC
, CBS
, and NBC
). Within a few years Neufeld then formed his own independent television production company and personal management firm which over the years had promoted such popular comedian
s as Don Adams
, Gabe Kaplan
and Don Knotts
. Not only comedians worked under Neufeld, but musical talents as well, including The Captain and Tennille, The Carpenters
, Randy Newman
, and Jim Croce
.
Neufeld also showed his own talent in showcasing performers, writing musical material for the likes of music stars such as Rosemary Clooney
, Sammy Davis Jr., Dorothy Loudon
and The Ritz Brothers. He also wrote the theme song for the popular animated antics of the two crow
s showcased in The Heckle and Jeckle Show
.
Neufeld's career then moved into television series production in the late 1970s. His productions of the time included a enjoyably light-hearted variety show The Captain and Tennille, which ran from 1976 to 1977 on ABC
, The Kids from C.A.P.E.R.
, which ran from 1976 through 1977 on CBS
, and Quark
, which ran for one year in 1978 on NBC
.
He also became a film producer, and enjoyed immediate popular success with The Omen
in 1976, along with its sequels. Neufeld next produced the TV-movie Angel on My Shoulder
on ABC 1980; as well as the features The Frisco Kid
(the first of several film projects with Harrison Ford
) in 1979, The Funhouse
in 1981, and Transylvania 6-5000
in 1985. His television miniseries adaptation of East of Eden in 1981 was highly respected and his production of the film No Way Out
in 1987 was an intriguing and successful thriller starring Kevin Costner
.
Neufeld's small screen work continued, including a 1981 family drama The American Dream and the fantasy of The Magic Planet (both on ABC), as well as White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd
on NBC and the adventure of Lightning Force
, a syndicated series, from 1991 to 1992.
But as the 1990s progressed, more of the prolific producer's energies were focused on blockbuster feature thrillers. His production company, with mogul Marvin Davis
, was followed by one set up with Robert G. Rehme, which arranged an exclusive production deal with Paramount
.
Launching their partnership with 1991's Flight of the Intruder
, the team went on to shepherd The Hunt for Red October
, Patriot Games
and Clear and Present Danger
, three extremely successful films based on the bestselling books of Tom Clancy
.
When Rehme exited the partnership to become President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
, Neufeld went on to produce yet another Tom Clancy adaptation starring Ben Affleck, The Sum of All Fears
as well as Bless the Child
, Lost in Space
and Asylum.
Neufeld was a producer on Sahara
, released in 2005, and was most recently a producer on Invictus
, directed by Clint Eastwood
, starring Morgan Freeman
and Matt Damon
.
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and television producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
.
Life and career
Neufeld was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the son of Margaret Ruth (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Braun) and Philip M. Neufeld, a stockbroker. He married (to Helen) on 28 February 1954. He has three children, the eldest son Bradley David, Glenn Jeremy and daughter Nancy Ann.
Neufeld began as an amateur photographer in his teens; his first snapshot, a returning World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran, "Sammy's Home", was widely syndicated and won an award from The New York World Telegram-Sun. He first ventured into the television business when he got a job with the DuMont Television Network
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
(which was one of the four major networks, alongside ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
). Within a few years Neufeld then formed his own independent television production company and personal management firm which over the years had promoted such popular comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
s as Don Adams
Don Adams
Don Adams was an American actor, comedian and director. In his five decades on television, he was best known as Maxwell Smart in the television situation comedy Get Smart , which he also sometimes directed and wrote. Adams won three consecutive Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Smart...
, Gabe Kaplan
Gabe Kaplan
Gabriel W. "Gabe" Kaplan is an American comedian, actor, poker commentator, and professional poker player.He was born in Brooklyn, New York...
and Don Knotts
Don Knotts
Jesse Donald "Don" Knotts was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, a role which earned him five Emmy Awards...
. Not only comedians worked under Neufeld, but musical talents as well, including The Captain and Tennille, The Carpenters
The Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
, Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
, and Jim Croce
Jim Croce
James Joseph "Jim" Croce January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973 was an American singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, Croce released five studio albums and 11 singles...
.
Neufeld also showed his own talent in showcasing performers, writing musical material for the likes of music stars such as Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit "Come On-a My House" written by William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian , which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me" Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 –...
, Sammy Davis Jr., Dorothy Loudon
Dorothy Loudon
Dorothy Loudon was an American comedy actress and singer. She won the 1977 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Miss Hannigan in Annie.-Early life and career:Loudon was born in...
and The Ritz Brothers. He also wrote the theme song for the popular animated antics of the two crow
Crow
Crows form the genus Corvus in the family Corvidae. Ranging in size from the relatively small pigeon-size jackdaws to the Common Raven of the Holarctic region and Thick-billed Raven of the highlands of Ethiopia, the 40 or so members of this genus occur on all temperate continents and several...
s showcased in The Heckle and Jeckle Show
Heckle and Jeckle
Heckle and Jeckle are cartoon characters created by Paul Terry, and released by his own studio, Terrytoons for 20th Century Fox. The characters are a pair of identical magpies who calmly outwitted their foes in the manner of Bugs Bunny, while maintaining a mischievous streak reminiscent of Woody...
.
Neufeld's career then moved into television series production in the late 1970s. His productions of the time included a enjoyably light-hearted variety show The Captain and Tennille, which ran from 1976 to 1977 on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, The Kids from C.A.P.E.R.
The Kids From C.A.P.E.R.
The Kids From C.A.P.E.R. is a Saturday morning live action television comedy series for children, produced by NBC, that aired from September 11, 1976 to November 20, 1976 and resumed from April 9, 1977 to September 3, 1977. The 13 episodes were produced and directed by Stanley Z. Cherry; among the...
, which ran from 1976 through 1977 on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, and Quark
Quark
A quark is an elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter. Quarks combine to form composite particles called hadrons, the most stable of which are protons and neutrons, the components of atomic nuclei. Due to a phenomenon known as color confinement, quarks are never directly...
, which ran for one year in 1978 on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
He also became a film producer, and enjoyed immediate popular success with The Omen
The Omen
An original score for the film, including the movie's theme song Ave Satani, was composed by Jerry Goldsmith, for which he received the only Oscar of his long career. The score features a strong choral segment, with a foreboding Latin chant...
in 1976, along with its sequels. Neufeld next produced the TV-movie Angel on My Shoulder
Angel on My Shoulder (film)
Angel on My Shoulder is a 1946 American fantasy film about a deal between the Devil and a dead man. It was an independent production, produced by Charles R. Rogers and David W. Siegel, directed by Archie Mayo, written by Harry Segall and Roland Kibbee, and released by United Artists...
on ABC 1980; as well as the features The Frisco Kid
The Frisco Kid
The Frisco Kid is a 1979 movie directed by Robert Aldrich. The movie is a Western comedy featuring Gene Wilder as Avram Belinski, a Polish rabbi who is traveling to San Francisco, and Harrison Ford as a bank robber who befriends him.-Plot:...
(the first of several film projects with Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford is an American film actor and producer. He is famous for his performances as Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy and as the title character of the Indiana Jones film series. Ford is also known for his roles as Rick Deckard in Blade Runner, John Book in Witness and Jack Ryan in...
) in 1979, The Funhouse
The Funhouse
The Funhouse is a 1981 horror film in which four teenagers are trapped in a dark ride and stalked by a deformed killer. The film was directed by Tobe Hooper, and the screenplay written by Larry Block...
in 1981, and Transylvania 6-5000
Transylvania 6-5000 (1985 film)
Transylvania 6-5000 is a movie about two tabloid reporters who travel to modern-day Transylvania to uncover the truth behind Frankenstein sightings. Along the way, they encounter other horror movie staples — a mummy, a werewolf, a vampire — each with a twist.Directed by Rudy De Luca, the film...
in 1985. His television miniseries adaptation of East of Eden in 1981 was highly respected and his production of the film No Way Out
No Way Out (1987 film)
No Way Out is a 1987 thriller film about a U.S. Naval officer investigating a Washington, D.C. murder. It stars Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman and Sean Young...
in 1987 was an intriguing and successful thriller starring Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner
Kevin Michael Costner is an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and businessman. He has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards, won two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Costner's roles include Lt. John J...
.
Neufeld's small screen work continued, including a 1981 family drama The American Dream and the fantasy of The Magic Planet (both on ABC), as well as White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd
White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd
White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd is a 1991 television film. The film is a biographical film, on the life of the 1930s comedienne actress Thelma Todd...
on NBC and the adventure of Lightning Force
Lightning Force
Lightning Force was a short lived action television starring Matthew Walker, Meat Loaf, George Takei and Guylaine St-Onge. The series premiered in 1991 and went off in 1992, in all 22 episodes were produced.-Synopsis:...
, a syndicated series, from 1991 to 1992.
But as the 1990s progressed, more of the prolific producer's energies were focused on blockbuster feature thrillers. His production company, with mogul Marvin Davis
Marvin Davis
Marvin H. Davis was an American industrialist and philanthropist...
, was followed by one set up with Robert G. Rehme, which arranged an exclusive production deal with Paramount
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
.
Launching their partnership with 1991's Flight of the Intruder
Flight of the Intruder
Flight of the Intruder is a 1991 film directed by John Milius, which is based on the novel of the same name by A-6 Intruder pilot Stephen Coonts...
, the team went on to shepherd The Hunt for Red October
The Hunt for Red October (film)
The Hunt for Red October is a 1990 thriller film based on the novel of the same name by Tom Clancy. It was directed by John McTiernan and stars Sean Connery as Captain Marko Ramius and Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan...
, Patriot Games
Patriot Games (film)
Patriot Games is a 1992 film directed by Phillip Noyce and based on Tom Clancy's the novel of the same name. It is a sequel to the 1990 film The Hunt for Red October. In the movie, Jack Ryan is played by Harrison Ford, Jack's surgeon-wife, Dr...
and Clear and Present Danger
Clear and Present Danger (film)
Clear and Present Danger is a 1994 film directed by Phillip Noyce, based on the book of the same name by Tom Clancy. It is a subsequent release to the 1992 film Patriot Games, which in itself is a subsequent release to the 1990 film The Hunt for Red October.It is the last film to feature Harrison...
, three extremely successful films based on the bestselling books of Tom Clancy
Tom Clancy
Thomas Leo "Tom" Clancy, Jr. is an American author, best known for his technically detailed espionage, military science, and techno thriller storylines set during and in the aftermath of the Cold War, along with video games on which he did not work, but which bear his name for licensing and...
.
When Rehme exited the partnership to become President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
, Neufeld went on to produce yet another Tom Clancy adaptation starring Ben Affleck, The Sum of All Fears
The Sum of All Fears (film)
The Sum of All Fears is a 2002 American action film/political thriller directed by Phil Alden Robinson and based on the novel The Sum of All Fears by Tom Clancy...
as well as Bless the Child
Bless the Child
Bless the Child is a 2000 supernatural thriller film directed by Chuck Russell, starring Kim Basinger, Jimmy Smits, Angela Bettis, Rufus Sewell, Christina Ricci, and Holliston Coleman...
, Lost in Space
Lost in Space (film)
Lost in Space is a 1998 American science fiction film starring Gary Oldman and William Hurt. The film was shot in London and Shepperton, and produced by New Line Cinema. The plot is adapted from the 1965–1968 CBS television series Lost In Space...
and Asylum.
Neufeld was a producer on Sahara
Sahara (2005 film)
Sahara is a 2005 action-comedy adventure film directed by Breck Eisner and based on the best-selling book of the same name by Clive Cussler...
, released in 2005, and was most recently a producer on Invictus
Invictus (film)
Invictus is a 2009 biographical sports drama film directed by Clint Eastwood starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.The story is based on the John Carlin book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation about the events in South Africa before and during the 1995 Rugby World...
, directed by Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
, starring Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is an American actor, film director, aviator and narrator. He is noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus and won...
and Matt Damon
Matt Damon
Matthew Paige "Matt" Damon is an American actor, screenwriter, and philanthropist whose career was launched following the success of the film Good Will Hunting , from a screenplay he co-wrote with friend Ben Affleck...
.