Stanley R. Jaffe
Encyclopedia
Stanley Richard Jaffe is an American
film producer, responsible for blockbusters such as Fatal Attraction
, The Accused, and Kramer vs. Kramer
.
. He received a Bachelor of Science
degree in Economics from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
, in 1962. He is the son of Leo Jaffe
, film executive and "Hollywood Deal Maker." Leo Jaffe was a close friend of independent producer Sam Spiegel
; Stanley Jaffe described how he would find his father and Siegel at his father's office at Columbia Pictures
: "The lights were turned low and there they were, at the end of the table, playing gin."
, and in 1964 was named executive assistant to the president of Seven Arts
. After Warner Brothers purchased Seven Arts in 1967, Jaffe left to join CBS
for two years.
After producing Goodbye Columbus
, he was in 1970 appointed executive vice president and chief operations officer of Paramount Pictures
, and within three months was named president of Paramount Television
, which post he resigned in 1971 to form an independent production company, Jaffilms, which was "associated" with Columbia Pictures
. Jaffilms produced Bad Company
(1972) and The Bad News Bears (1976). In 1977 he became executive vice president of worldwide production at Columbia Pictures.
Jaffe returned to independent production with Kramer vs. Kramer
in 1979. In 1983, in collaboration with Sherry Lansing (then president of 20th Century-Fox), he started the production company Jaffe-Lansing. In 1991, he was named president and chief operating officer of Paramount Communications, and dissolved his partnership with Lansing. In 1992 he was named successor to Brandon Tartikoff
as president of Paramount.
When Viacom
purchased Paramount in 1994, Jaffe was forced out and filed a lawsuit against Paramount for $20 million in a stock option dispute. The case was dismissed by the court in 1995, and in 1995 Jaffe's company Jaffilms entered into a production agreement with Sony Pictures Entertainment
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film producer, responsible for blockbusters such as Fatal Attraction
Fatal Attraction
Fatal Attraction is a 1987 American thriller blended with horror, directed by Adrian Lyne and stars Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Anne Archer. The film centers around a married man who has a weekend affair with a woman who refuses to allow it to end, resulting in emotional blackmail, stalking...
, The Accused, and Kramer vs. Kramer
Kramer vs. Kramer
Kramer vs. Kramer is a 1979 American drama film adapted by Robert Benton from the novel by Avery Corman, and directed by Benton. The film tells the story of a married couple's divorce and its impact on everyone involved, including the couple's young son...
.
Background
Jaffe was born in New Rochelle, New YorkNew Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
. He received a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Economics from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, in 1962. He is the son of Leo Jaffe
Leo Jaffe
Leo Jaffe was an American film executive. He was chairman of the board of Columbia Pictures from 1973 until his retirement in 1981. He is the father of film producer Stanley R...
, film executive and "Hollywood Deal Maker." Leo Jaffe was a close friend of independent producer Sam Spiegel
Sam Spiegel
Sam Spiegel was an Austrian-born American independent film producer.-Life and career:Spiegel was born in Jarosław, Galicia, Austria-Hungary as Samuel P. Spiegel to a German-Jewish father and Polish mother and educated at the University of Vienna. His brother was Shalom Spiegel, a professor of...
; Stanley Jaffe described how he would find his father and Siegel at his father's office at Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
: "The lights were turned low and there they were, at the end of the table, playing gin."
Career
In 1962 Jaffe joined Seven Arts AssociatesSeven Arts Productions
Seven Arts Productions was founded in 1957 by Ray Stark and Eliot Hyman. The company was a frequent producer of movies for other studios, including The Misfits for United Artists, Gigot for Twentieth Century-Fox, Lolita for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Is Paris Burning? for Paramount Pictures.Over...
, and in 1964 was named executive assistant to the president of Seven Arts
Seven Arts Productions
Seven Arts Productions was founded in 1957 by Ray Stark and Eliot Hyman. The company was a frequent producer of movies for other studios, including The Misfits for United Artists, Gigot for Twentieth Century-Fox, Lolita for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Is Paris Burning? for Paramount Pictures.Over...
. After Warner Brothers purchased Seven Arts in 1967, Jaffe left to join 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...
for two years.
After producing Goodbye Columbus
Goodbye, Columbus (film)
Goodbye, Columbus is a 1969 American romantic comedy drama film starring Richard Benjamin and Ali MacGraw, directed by Larry Peerce and based on the novella of the same name by Philip Roth...
, he was in 1970 appointed executive vice president and chief operations officer of Paramount Pictures
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...
, and within three months was named president of Paramount Television
Paramount Television
Paramount Television was an American television production/distribution company that was active from January 1, 1968 to August 27, 2006.Its successor is CBS Television Studios, formerly CBS Paramount Television...
, which post he resigned in 1971 to form an independent production company, Jaffilms, which was "associated" with Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
. Jaffilms produced Bad Company
Bad Company (1972 film)
Bad Company is a 1972 American Western film directed by Robert Benton, who also co-wrote the film with David Newman. It stars Barry Brown and Jeff Bridges as two of a group of young men that flee the draft during the American Civil War to seek their fortune and freedom on the unforgiving American...
(1972) and The Bad News Bears (1976). In 1977 he became executive vice president of worldwide production at Columbia Pictures.
Jaffe returned to independent production with Kramer vs. Kramer
Kramer vs. Kramer
Kramer vs. Kramer is a 1979 American drama film adapted by Robert Benton from the novel by Avery Corman, and directed by Benton. The film tells the story of a married couple's divorce and its impact on everyone involved, including the couple's young son...
in 1979. In 1983, in collaboration with Sherry Lansing (then president of 20th Century-Fox), he started the production company Jaffe-Lansing. In 1991, he was named president and chief operating officer of Paramount Communications, and dissolved his partnership with Lansing. In 1992 he was named successor to Brandon Tartikoff
Brandon Tartikoff
Brandon Tartikoff was a television executive who was credited with turning around NBC's low prime time reputation with such hit series as Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, ALF, Family Ties, The Cosby Show, Cheers, Seinfeld, Miami Vice, The Golden Girls, Knight Rider, The A-Team, St...
as president of Paramount.
When Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
purchased Paramount in 1994, Jaffe was forced out and filed a lawsuit against Paramount for $20 million in a stock option dispute. The case was dismissed by the court in 1995, and in 1995 Jaffe's company Jaffilms entered into a production agreement with Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc. is the television and film production/distribution unit of Japanese multinational technology and media conglomerate Sony...
.
Producer
- The Four FeathersThe Four Feathers (2002 film)The Four Feathers is a 2002 action drama film directed by Shekhar Kapur, starring Heath Ledger, Wes Bentley, Djimon Hounsou and Kate Hudson...
(2002) - I Dreamed of AfricaI Dreamed of AfricaI Dreamed of Africa is a 2000 film starring Kim Basinger, Vincent Perez, Eve Marie Saint, Garrett Strommen, Liam Aiken and Daniel Craig. It is based on the autobiographical novel I Dreamed of Africa by Kuki Gallmann, an Italian writer who moved to Kenya and became involved in conservation work...
(2000) - MadelineMadeline (1998 film)Madeline is a live-action adaptation of the book series by Ludwig Bemelmans, starring Hatty Jones as the title character, Frances McDormand as Miss Clavel and Nigel Hawthorne as Lord Cuckoo Face aka Lord Covington. The film encompasses the plots of four Madeline books...
(1998) - School TiesSchool TiesSchool Ties is a 1992 film directed by Robert Mandel starring Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Chris O'Donnell, Cole Hauser, Randall Batinkoff, and Anthony Rapp....
(1992) - Black Rain (1989)
- The Accused (1988)
- Fatal AttractionFatal AttractionFatal Attraction is a 1987 American thriller blended with horror, directed by Adrian Lyne and stars Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Anne Archer. The film centers around a married man who has a weekend affair with a woman who refuses to allow it to end, resulting in emotional blackmail, stalking...
(1987) - FirstbornFirstborn (film)Firstborn is a 1984 drama film starring Teri Garr, Peter Weller, Christopher Collet, Corey Haim , Sarah Jessica Parker and Robert Downey Jr....
(1984) - Without a TraceWithout a Trace (film)Without a Trace is a 1983 dramatic film. It is based on the Beth Gutcheon novel Still Missing, which is loosely-based on the real-life disappearance of Etan Patz. The film stars Kate Nelligan, Judd Hirsch, David Dukes and Stockard Channing.-Plot:...
(1983) - TapsTaps (film)Taps is a 1981 drama film starring George C. Scott, Timothy Hutton, Ronny Cox, as well as then up-and-comers Tom Cruise and Sean Penn. Hutton was nominated for a Golden Globe award in 1982 for his role in the film. The film was directed by Harold Becker. The screenplay by Robert Mark Kamen, James...
(1981) - Kramer vs. KramerKramer vs. KramerKramer vs. Kramer is a 1979 American drama film adapted by Robert Benton from the novel by Avery Corman, and directed by Benton. The film tells the story of a married couple's divorce and its impact on everyone involved, including the couple's young son...
(1979) - The Bad News Bears (1976)
- Bad CompanyBad Company (1972 film)Bad Company is a 1972 American Western film directed by Robert Benton, who also co-wrote the film with David Newman. It stars Barry Brown and Jeff Bridges as two of a group of young men that flee the draft during the American Civil War to seek their fortune and freedom on the unforgiving American...
(1972) - Goodbye, ColumbusGoodbye, Columbus (film)Goodbye, Columbus is a 1969 American romantic comedy drama film starring Richard Benjamin and Ali MacGraw, directed by Larry Peerce and based on the novella of the same name by Philip Roth...
(1969) - I Start CountingI Start Counting (film)I Start Counting was a British film made in 1969 and starring Jenny Agutter in one of her first serious roles. It was based on the novel of the same name by Audrey Erskine Lindop....
(1969)
Filmography (as himself)
- Black Rain: Making the Film - Part 2 (2006) (V)
- Black Rain: The Script, the Cast (2006) (V)
- Black Rain: Post-Production (2006) (V)
- Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003)
- Bravo Profiles (1 episode, 2002)
- Finding the Truth: The Making of 'Kramer vs. Kramer' (2001) (V)
- HBO First LookHBO First LookHBO First Look is an American television show on HBO that chronicles up and coming movies. It first started in 1992 with a documentary on A League of Their Own starring Tom Hanks, and still airs today. The series shows behind-the-scenes looks at the filming and interviews with the actors. The show...
(1 episode, 2000) TV episode - The 52nd Annual Academy Awards52nd Academy AwardsThe 52nd Academy Awards were presented April 14, 1980 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. The ceremonies were presided over by Johnny Carson, who in noting the long duration of the production, joked that President Jimmy Carter was working hard for their "release" from the ceremonies, a...
(1980) (TV)
Awards and nominations
- 1988, Academy AwardsAcademy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
, nominated for Oscar for Best Picture, Fatal AttractionFatal AttractionFatal Attraction is a 1987 American thriller blended with horror, directed by Adrian Lyne and stars Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Anne Archer. The film centers around a married man who has a weekend affair with a woman who refuses to allow it to end, resulting in emotional blackmail, stalking...
(1987) - 1981, British Academy Film AwardsBritish Academy Film AwardsThe British Academy Film Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . It is the British counterpart of the Oscars. As of 2008, it has taken place in the Royal Opera House, having taken over from the flagship Odeon cinema on Leicester Square...
, won BAFTA Film AwardBritish Academy Film AwardsThe British Academy Film Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . It is the British counterpart of the Oscars. As of 2008, it has taken place in the Royal Opera House, having taken over from the flagship Odeon cinema on Leicester Square...
for Best Film, Kramer vs. KramerKramer vs. KramerKramer vs. Kramer is a 1979 American drama film adapted by Robert Benton from the novel by Avery Corman, and directed by Benton. The film tells the story of a married couple's divorce and its impact on everyone involved, including the couple's young son...
(1979) - 1980, Academy AwardsAcademy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
, won Oscar for Best Picture, Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) - 1980, David di Donatello Awards, won David for Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero), Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
External links
- Biography & Credits at Hollywood.com