Michael Phillips (producer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Phillips
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Phillips in 1978
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| Born | June 29, 1943 |
| Alma mater | Dartmouth College (B.A.) New York University (J.D.) |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Picture (1973) Palme d'Or (1976) |
Michael Phillips, born on June 29, 1943, is a famous American film producer. He is known for helping create some very popular movies.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Michael Phillips grew up in Brooklyn and on Long Island, New York. His mom, Shirley, was a teacher and homemaker. His dad, Larry, worked in clothing manufacturing. Later, his parents became art dealers, focusing on ancient Asian art.
Michael went to Dartmouth College and earned a degree in history. He then studied law at New York University School of Law. After finishing law school in 1969, he worked as a financial expert on Wall Street. In 1971, he and his wife moved to Malibu, California. There, they produced their first movie, Steelyard Blues. It starred famous actors Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland.
Amazing Film Career
In 1972, Michael Phillips, his wife at the time, Julia Phillips, and producer Tony Bill worked together. They invested $3,500 to develop the script for a movie called The Sting. This movie became a huge success!
Winning Big Awards
In 1973, The Sting won the Academy Award for Best Picture. This is one of the biggest awards in movies! Michael and Julia Phillips were the first husband-and-wife team to win this award.
After The Sting, they produced another important film, Taxi Driver. This movie won the Palme D'Or at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival. The Palme d'Or is a very important award from a famous film festival in France.
They also produced Close Encounters of the Third Kind, a science fiction movie directed by Steven Spielberg. This film was also very popular.
Later Projects and Recognition
In 1984, Michael Phillips started his own production company called Mercury Entertainment. He hoped to make more successful movies. Some of his later films included The Flamingo Kid (1984) and Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991).
Over the years, Michael Phillips's films have received many honors. The Sting was added to the Producers Guild of America's Hall of Fame. In 2007, Taxi Driver was named one of the best American films ever by the American Film Institute. Also in 2007, Close Encounters of the Third Kind was chosen by the Library of Congress to be saved in the National Film Registry. This means it's considered a very important film for history and culture.
Selected Filmography
Michael Phillips has worked as a producer on many films and TV shows. Here are some of them.
Movies He Produced
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Steelyard Blues | Producer |
| The Sting | Producer | |
| 1976 | Taxi Driver | Producer |
| The Big Bus | Executive producer | |
| 1977 | Close Encounters of the Third Kind | Producer |
| 1981 | Heartbeeps | Producer |
| 1982 | Cannery Row | Producer |
| 1984 | The Flamingo Kid | Producer |
| 1991 | Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead | Executive producer |
| Eyes of an Angel | Executive producer | |
| 1992 | Mom and Dad Save the World | Producer |
| 1997 | Mimic | Executive producer |
| 2001 | Impostor | Executive producer |
| 2007 | The Last Mimzy | Producer |
Television Projects
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Flamingo Kid | Producer | Television pilot |
| 1994 | Jane's House | Executive producer | Television film |
| The Companion | Producer | Television film | |
| 1995 | Trailer Park | Co-executive producer | |
| 2024 | Earth Abides | Executive producer |
Personal Life
Michael Phillips is also a professor at Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. He has taught there for many years, sharing his knowledge with new filmmakers.
He has been married to writer Juliana Maio since 1987. They have three daughters named Kate, Amanda, and Natasha.
