Irwin Winkler facts for kids

Irwin Winkler (born May 25, 1931) is a famous American film producer and director. He has worked on over 58 movies since 1967. One of his first films was Double Trouble, starring Elvis Presley.

Winkler won an Oscar for Best Picture for the movie Rocky in 1976. He was also nominated for Best Picture for other great films like Raging Bull (1980), The Right Stuff (1983), and Goodfellas (1990).

Early Life and School Days

Irwin Winkler was born in New York City on May 25, 1931. He grew up in Coney Island. One of his first jobs was working on a bumper car ride there.

He finished high school early and went to New York University. After a couple of years, he joined the Army during the Korean War. He served for two years in Louisiana. After his service, he went back to New York University. He earned a degree in American Literature in 1955.

Starting a Career in Movies

After college, Winkler got his first job at the William Morris Agency (WMA). This company helps actors and artists find work. He worked as an agent, helping comedians like Sammy Shore.

Later, he met Robert Chartoff, who also managed comedians. They decided to start their own company together. They helped actress Julie Christie get a screen test for the movie Doctor Zhivago. This led them to start producing films instead of just managing talent.

Becoming a Film Producer and Director

Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff formed a company called Chartoff-Winkler Productions. They started making movies in the late 1960s. Their first movie was Double Trouble (1967) with Elvis Presley.

They also produced Point Blank (1967), which is now seen as a classic movie. In 1969, they made They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, which was praised by critics. Their film The Strawberry Statement (1970) won an award at the Cannes Film Festival.

The Rocky Movies and More

Winkler and Chartoff had their biggest success with Rocky (1976). This movie won the Oscar for Best Picture. They also received Oscar nominations for Raging Bull (1980) and The Right Stuff (1983). After these films, their partnership ended in 1985.

Winkler continued to produce many important films on his own. These included The Right Stuff (1983), which won four Oscars. He also produced Round Midnight (1986) and Music Box (1989). In 1990, he received another Best Picture Oscar nomination for Goodfellas. He also produced the sequels Rocky II (1978), Rocky III (1982), Rocky IV (1985), and Rocky V (1990).

Directing His Own Films

Irwin Winkler also started directing movies. His first film as a director was Guilty by Suspicion (1991). This movie was about the Hollywood blacklist, a time when many people in the film industry were unfairly accused. It starred Robert De Niro.

He also directed Night and the City (1992), also starring Robert De Niro. Winkler had a big success as a writer and director with The Net (1995), which starred Sandra Bullock. This movie even led to a TV series!

Later, he directed Life as a House (2001), which was about a man rebuilding his home and his relationship with his son. He then directed De-Lovely (2004), a movie about the composer Cole Porter.

Continuing to Produce

Even while directing, Winkler kept producing many films. These include The Shipping News (2001) and Enough (2002). He also produced a remake of The Gambler in 2014, after producing the original in 1974.

He returned to the Rocky series with Rocky Balboa (2006). He also produced the spin-off movies Creed (2015) and Creed II (2018).

Winkler continued to work with director Martin Scorsese on films like The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Silence (2016), and The Irishman (2019). The Irishman was his first movie made with Netflix.

In 2019, Winkler wrote a book about his life in movies called A Life In Movies: Stories from 50 years in Hollywood.

Family Life

Irwin Winkler married Margo Winkler in 1959. They moved to Los Angeles in 1966. Margo's parents were Vaudeville performers.

Irwin and Margo have three sons: Charles Winkler, David Winkler, and Adam Winkler. Their youngest son, Adam, is a professor of constitutional law at the UCLA School of Law and a writer.

Filmography

Movies Directed by Irwin Winkler

Movies Produced by Irwin Winkler

Executive Producer

As an Actor

Awards and Recognition

Irwin Winkler has won many awards for his work in movies.

Special Honors

Irwin Winkler has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard. This is a special honor for his contributions to movies. He also received the David O. Selznick Achievement Award from the Producers Guild of America in 2017. France also honored him with the Commandeur des Arts et Lettres award.

See also

In Spanish: Irwin Winkler para niños