Jerry Ziesmer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jerry Ziesmer
Publicity Photo of Jerry Ziesmer
Born	(1939-05-31)May 31, 1939 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S
Died	August 1, 2021(2021-08-01) (aged 82)
Occupation	Assistant director Production manager Actor
Years active	1969–2021

Jerry Ziesmer (born May 31, 1939 – died August 1, 2021) was an American filmmaker. He worked mostly as an assistant director and production manager. He also sometimes acted in movies. He is most famous for playing a character named Jerry in the 1979 film Apocalypse Now. In this movie, he says a very well-known line: "terminate with extreme prejudice". This line means to get rid of someone completely.

Jerry Ziesmer's Early Life and Education

Jerry Ziesmer was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His father worked for the post office. His mother's parents were immigrants from the Netherlands.

He went to Rufus King High School in Milwaukee. He graduated in 1957 with a scholarship. In 1961, he earned a degree in acting from Northwestern University.

After college, Jerry moved to Beverly Hills. He worked for the United States Post Office. Later, he taught part-time at a junior high school. He also earned a master's degree from UCLA. In 1964, he married Mary Kate Denny. They had three children together.

In 1969, he saw an advertisement in Variety magazine. It was for a training program for assistant directors. He joined the program and earned a certificate from the Directors Guild.

Jerry Ziesmer's Film Career

Jerry Ziesmer worked on more than 50 films. He usually worked as an assistant director. This job helps the main director keep the movie on schedule. His first movie job was as a trainee for Hello, Dolly!.

Famous Movies He Worked On

Jerry Ziesmer helped make many popular movies. Some of these include The Way We Were, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Scarface. He also worked on Midnight Run, Annie, and Jerry Maguire.

Acting Roles in Films

Jerry also took small acting parts in some of the movies he worked on. For example, he played a pilot in Blue Thunder. He was also a salesman in Rocky II.

His most famous acting role was in the Vietnam War film, Apocalypse Now. He played a civilian intelligence officer named Jerry. The director, Francis Ford Coppola, gave him the role suddenly. Jerry Ziesmer said the movie's most memorable line: "Terminate, with extreme prejudice." This line told the main character to carry out an assassination.

Writing and Awards

In 2000, Jerry Ziesmer wrote a book called Ready when You Are, Mr. Coppola, Mr. Spielberg, Mr. Crowe. It was a memoir, which means it told stories from his own life. The book shared his experiences working with famous Hollywood stars.

Jerry was also involved with the Directors Guild of America (DGA). He served on their council from 1987 to 1998. He even led the council for three years. He helped create a program to guide women and non-white directors. For many years, he and his wife, Suzanne, taught a course. It was about being an Assistant Director at UCLA's Extension school. In 2006, he won the DGA's "Frank Capra Achievement Award". This award honors assistant directors for their long careers.

Jerry Ziesmer's Personal Life

In 1981, Jerry Ziesmer reconnected with Suzanne. She was his high school girlfriend and his prom date from 1957. They started dating again and married in 1982. Suzanne often joined him on movie sets. She even helped tutor actors like Mel Gibson.

Jerry Ziesmer passed away on August 1, 2021. He was 82 years old.

Jerry Ziesmer's Acting Roles

Here are some of the movies where Jerry Ziesmer appeared as an actor: