Jerry Bruckheimer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jerry Bruckheimer
Bruckheimer in 2022
Born	Jerome Leonard Bruckheimer (1943-09-21) September 21, 1943 (age 81) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Arizona (BA)
Occupation	Producer advertiser
Years active	1972–present
Organization	Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Notable work	Pirates of the Caribbean Bad Boys National Treasure Beverly Hills Cop Top Gun CSI Armageddon Black Hawk Down
Spouse(s)	Bonnie Fishman ​ ​ (m. 1969; div. 1974)​ Linda Cobb

Jerome Leonard Bruckheimer, born on September 21, 1943, is a famous American film and television producer. He has created many popular movies and TV shows. These include action, drama, comedy, fantasy, horror, and science fiction stories.

After college, Bruckheimer worked in advertising. In the 1970s, he started producing films. He became well-known for his partnership with producer Don Simpson in the 1980s and 1990s. Together, they made big hits like Flashdance, Beverly Hills Cop, and Top Gun.

Bruckheimer has produced many successful movies. Some of these are The Rock, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, and Black Hawk Down. He also produced popular movie series like Pirates of the Caribbean and National Treasure.

His company, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, works with major studios like Paramount Pictures and Disney. His TV shows are often made with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Studios. In 2003, he made history by producing the two highest-grossing films in a single weekend: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Bad Boys II. In 2023, his film Top Gun: Maverick was nominated for Best Picture at the 95th Academy Awards.

Bruckheimer is also famous for his TV series. These include the crime dramas CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, and CSI: NY. He also produced the reality competition show The Amazing Race, which won him many Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2003, three of his TV shows were among the top ten most-watched in the U.S.

Beyond entertainment, Bruckheimer is a co-founder and owner of the Seattle Kraken. This is a professional ice hockey team that joined the National Hockey League in 2021.

Early Life and Education

Jerry Bruckheimer was born in Detroit, Michigan, on September 21, 1943. He went to Mumford High School and graduated in 1961. At age 17, he moved to Arizona for college.

He loved films and photography from a young age. He would take pictures whenever he could. Bruckheimer earned a degree in psychology from the University of Arizona. He was also part of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. After college, he worked in advertising in Detroit and New York City. He even produced TV commercials, including one for Pepsi.

Career Highlights

Starting in Film Production

Bruckheimer began producing films in the 1970s. He left his advertising job to work with director Dick Richards. They made films like The Culpepper Cattle Company and Farewell, My Lovely. He then worked with Paul Schrader on American ... and Cat People. These films helped him get noticed in Hollywood.

Partnership with Don Simpson

In the 1980s and 1990s, Bruckheimer teamed up with Don Simpson. They produced many very successful films for Paramount Pictures. They first met at a movie screening in 1973. Their first big hit together was Flashdance in 1983, which earned a lot of money.

They had many other hits, including the Beverly Hills Cop movies, Top Gun, and Days of Thunder. Top Gun was the first time Bruckheimer worked with director Tony Scott. The first Beverly Hills Cop movie helped launch Eddie Murphy's career. It became the highest-grossing winter release in Paramount's history in just five days.

Bruckheimer was known as "Mr. Outside" because he focused on making the films. Simpson was "Mr. Inside" because he had many contacts in the film industry. Their last film together was The Rock. After Simpson passed away in 1996, Bruckheimer made sure The Rock was dedicated to his memory.

Big-Budget Films and New Directors

In 1990, Bruckheimer and Simpson made a huge deal with Paramount to produce five movies. Their 1990 film Days of Thunder, starring Tom Cruise, did not do as well as expected. But they made a comeback in 1994 with the smaller film The Ref.

Bruckheimer (right) and Michael Bay during the filming of 1998's Armageddon

Even after Simpson's death, Bruckheimer continued to produce many action films. He often worked with director Michael Bay on hits like Armageddon. Other popular films he produced include Remember the Titans, Black Hawk Down, and the Pirates of the Caribbean series. He also started a company called Technical Black Films to make non-action movies.

Expanding into Television and Video Games

Since 1996, Bruckheimer has also worked in television. He created many police dramas, with CSI: Crime Scene Investigation being one of the most famous. He also produced the reality game show The Amazing Race. In 2008, CBS picked up his new science fiction drama, Eleventh Hour.

From 2004 to 2009, Bruckheimer had six hit TV shows on the air at the same time. These included CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Cold Case, Without a Trace, and The Amazing Race. At one point, three of his shows were among the top 10 most-watched.

In 2007, Bruckheimer announced plans to create a new game studio with MTV. He also joined the board of directors for ZeniMax Media, a video game company. In 2009, he launched Jerry Bruckheimer Games. This company aimed to create new video games. However, Jerry Bruckheimer Games closed in 2013.

Recent Projects and Sports Ventures

In 2014, after films like The Sorcerer's Apprentice and The Lone Ranger did not do as well, Bruckheimer and Disney decided to go separate ways. He then signed a new deal with Paramount. He mentioned working on a new Beverly Hills Cop movie and Top Gun 2 (which became Top Gun: Maverick).

In 2016, Jerry Bruckheimer Television became an independent company. It later signed a deal with CBS Television Studios.

Bruckheimer also became an investor in a proposed sports arena in Las Vegas. He was a leading choice to own an expansion hockey team for the National Hockey League (NHL). In 2018, he was part of an investment group for a Seattle-based NHL team. The NHL Board of Governors approved the team, named the Seattle Kraken, in December 2018. The team started playing in the 2021–22 season.

Impact on the Film Industry

Creating High-Profit Productions

Bruckheimer (center) with Johnny Depp (left) and Tom Cruise (right) in June 2013

The movie Top Gun was made with help from the Pentagon. It aimed to improve the image of the U.S. Navy after the Vietnam War and attract new recruits. Top Gun was the first big collaboration between Hollywood and the Navy. This model, developed by Bruckheimer, led to a trend of military movies in the 1990s and beyond.

In July 2003, Variety magazine honored Bruckheimer. He was the first producer in Hollywood history to have the top two highest-grossing films in a single weekend. These were the action-comedy Bad Boys II and the Disney adventure Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Variety described his style as "edgy, high-octane visual dynamic and equally distinctive storytelling."

The Pirates of the Caribbean film series was very profitable. It showed Bruckheimer's skill in creating successful projects. The first film, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, came out in 2003. It was a huge hit with both critics and audiences. Because of its success, Disney planned a trilogy.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest was released in 2006. This sequel broke records worldwide on its opening day. It earned over $1 billion globally, becoming one of the fastest films to reach that amount. The third film, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, came out in 2007. Two more films, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, were released in 2011 and 2017. Overall, the Pirates of the Caribbean series has earned over $4.5 billion worldwide.

Bruckheimer's View on Moviemaking

When asked about what the film industry owes its audience, Bruckheimer said, "We are in the transportation business. We transport audiences from one place to another." He explained why he makes films by saying, "If I made films for the critics, or for someone else, I'd probably be living in some small Hollywood studio apartment."

In a 1984 interview, Bruckheimer stated, "We [he and Don Simpson] put together all the elements. We decide what aesthetic is right for a picture. We are as much a part of the process as the director."

Personal Life

Bruckheimer at the 2014 WonderCon

Jerry Bruckheimer has been married twice. His first marriage was to Bonnie Fishman Bruckheimer from 1969 to 1974. He lives in Los Angeles with his second wife, novelist Linda Cobb Bruckheimer. They married in 1993. He has one stepdaughter named Alexandra. The couple owns farms in Bloomfield, Kentucky, and Ojai, California.

When asked about his favorite films, Bruckheimer mentioned The Godfather (1972), The French Connection (1971), Good Will Hunting (1997), and The 400 Blows (1959).

In May 2006, the University of Arizona honored him with a special Doctorate of Fine Arts degree.

Helping Others

Bruckheimer has supported various causes. He has publicly helped the fight against multiple sclerosis through The Nancy Davis Foundation for MS. He also established the Jerry Bruckheimer Foundation to help different causes.

He helped repair and restore the historic clipper ship, Cutty Sark. In 2007, a collection of photos taken by Bruckheimer was shown in London. These photos were taken on the set of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. The exhibition helped raise money for the Cutty Sark Conservation Project.

Filmography

All films were produced by him, unless otherwise noted.

Film

As producer, except where noted:

Films with Paramount Pictures

Films with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Films with Sony Pictures Releasing

Films with Warner Bros.

Other Films

Television

Co-producer

• Fearless (2004)
• Take the Money and Run (2011)

Executive producer (selected)

Awards and Recognition

Jerry Bruckheimer has received many honors for his work:

• 1998: ShoWest Producer of the Year Award
• 2000: Producers Guild of America
• 2000: David O. Selznick Award for Lifetime Achievement
• 2003: Named "No. 1 most-powerful person in Hollywood" by Entertainment Weekly
• 2003–2009, 2011–2012, 2014: Won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program for The Amazing Race
• 2006: Ranked #10 on Premiere's "Power 50" list
• 2013: Received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located near the El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.

His productions have also won many awards:

• Academy Award: 47 nominations, 7 wins
• Grammy Award: 8 nominations, 5 wins
• Golden Globe: 23 nominations, 4 wins
• Emmy Award: 77 nominations, 17 wins
• Peabody award for visionary award
• People's Choice Awards: 8 nominations, 4 wins

See also

In Spanish: Jerry Bruckheimer para niños