Mike Medavoy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mike Medavoy
Medavoy in May 2012
Born	Morris Mike Medavoy (1941-01-21) January 21, 1941 (age 84) Shanghai, China
Occupation	Film producer business executive
Years active	1964–present
Spouse(s)	Marcia Rogers (div.) Patricia Duff ​ ​ (m. 1986; div. 1994)​ Irena Gerasimenko ​ (m. 1995)​
Children	2, including Brian Medavoy

Morris Mike Medavoy (born January 21, 1941) is a famous American film producer and business leader. He helped start a company called Orion Pictures. Today, he is the boss (chairman and CEO) of Phoenix Pictures. Before this, he was a leader at other big movie companies like TriStar Pictures and United Artists.

Mike Medavoy's Early Life

Mike Medavoy was born in Shanghai, China, on January 21, 1941. His father, Michael, was a garage mechanic. His mother, Dora, owned a dress shop. Many Chinese actresses were her customers.

His parents were Ukrainian Jews who spoke Russian. His mother was born in Harbin, and his father was from Ukraine. Mike also has a younger sister named Ronnie.

The Medavoy family lived in Chile from 1947 to 1957. Mike went to school there. Later, they moved to Los Angeles, California, and stayed with a relative.

Mike became a U.S. citizen in 1963. That same year, he graduated from the UCLA. He also joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 1963 and served until 1969.

Mike Medavoy's Career in Film

Starting Out in Movies

In 1964, Mike Medavoy began his career at Universal Studios. He worked in the mailroom, which is where many people start in Hollywood.

The next year, he became an agent. He worked for companies like General Artists Corporation and Creative Management Associates (CMA). By 1967, he was a vice president at CMA. He helped new filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola. In 1970, he moved to the International Famous Agency.

Leading United Artists

In 1974, Medavoy joined United Artists as a senior vice president. During his time there, the studio made many popular movies. These included One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Rocky (1976), and Annie Hall (1977). All three of these films won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Creating Orion Pictures

In 1978, Mike Medavoy helped start Orion Pictures. He teamed up with Warner Bros. and other former United Artists leaders.

At Orion, they released many successful movies. Some of these were Amadeus (1984), RoboCop (1987), Dances With Wolves (1990), and The Silence of the Lambs (1991).

Working at TriStar Pictures

In 1990, Medavoy became the chairman of TriStar Pictures. Under his leadership, the studio released films like Philadelphia (1993) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). Other movies included Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and Hook (1991). He left TriStar in 1994.

Founding Phoenix Pictures

Medavoy at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival

In 1995, Medavoy started Phoenix Pictures with Arnold W. Messer. He became the chairman and CEO. Phoenix Pictures made films such as The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996) and The Thin Red Line (1998). Both of these films were nominated for Academy Awards.

Other well-known movies from Phoenix Pictures include Zodiac (2007), Shutter Island (2010), and Black Swan (2010). These movies were very popular with critics.

In 2011, Medavoy announced a movie project about the 2010 Chilean mining accident. This was when 33 miners were trapped underground for 69 days. He worked with Chilean officials to tell this story of courage.

That same year, Medavoy worked with the Shanghai Film Group. They planned two projects about Jewish refugees in China during World War II. He also worked on a movie based on Ray Bradbury’s book Dandelion Wine.

In 2015, Medavoy helped produce The Promise (2016). This historical drama starred Oscar Isaac and Christian Bale.

Community Work and Other Roles

Mike Medavoy has been involved in many important groups. He was on the board of the Museum of Science and Industry in Los Angeles. He also served on the Los Angeles Board of Parks and Recreation.

He is a member of the board of directors at Tel Aviv University. At UCLA, he is on the board of trustees for the UCLA Foundation. He also helps with the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.

Medavoy is a co-chairman for the Burkle Center at UCLA. He was also on the advisory board for the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

He is part of the advisory committee for the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York. With his wife, Irena, he supports C.O.A.C.H. for Kids. This program helps children get free medical care.

Mike Medavoy's Political Views

Medavoy has supported the Democratic Party. He helped with Gary Hart's presidential campaign in 1988. He also supported Bill Clinton's campaigns in 1992 and 1996.

He supported Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2008. His wife, Irena, also helped with fundraising for that campaign.

Mike Medavoy's Personal Life

Medavoy was married to Marcia Rogers. They did not have children together. He has a son named Brian Medavoy (born 1965) from an earlier relationship. Brian is also a film producer.

In 1986, Mike married Patricia Duff. They divorced in 1993. In 1995, he married Irena Gerasimenko, who is a philanthropist. They have a son named Nick.

Medavoy was a close friend of actor Marlon Brando. He helps manage Brando’s estate. Mike speaks Russian, his first language. He also speaks Spanish, which he learned in Chile, and English.

Awards and Honors

Mike Medavoy has received many awards for his work and contributions:

• 1980 - Honored by the Society of Fellows of the Anti-Defamation League
• 1992 - Motion Picture Pioneer of the Year Award
• 1997 - UCLA Career Achievement Award
• 1998 - The Cannes Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award
• 1999 - UCLA Neil H. Jacoby Award for Exceptional Contributions to Humanity
• 2002 - Israeli Film Festival's Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2004 - Florida Atlantic University's Louis B. Mayer Motion Picture Business Leader of the Year Award
• 2004 - UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Honorary Member Award
• 2005 - Producers Guild of America Vision Award
• 2005 - Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
• 2007 - Stella Adler Actors Studio Marlon Brando Award
• 2008 - Jerusalem Film Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2008 - International Student Film Festival Hollywood Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2009 - Declared an honorary Doctorate at the Academy of Art in San Francisco
• 2009 - Declared Chevalier of the French Government's Legion of Honor
• 2009 - Independent Spirit Award
• 2010 - Bernardo O'Higgins award from the Chilean government
• 2011 - The Locarno Film Festival Raimondo Rezzonico Prize (Locarno, Switzerland)
• 2011 - Hebrew University Award
• 2011 - Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award
• 2012 - Shanghai International Film Festival – Outstanding Achievement Award
• 2014 - Satellite Awards Mary Pickford Award - Outstanding Artistic Contribution to the Entertainment Industry
• 2015 - Cinequest Maverick Spirit Award
• 2016 - Peabody Award - for Listen to Me Marlon
• 2019 - RiverRun International Film Festival - Master of Cinema Award
• 2019 - Beverly Hills Film Festival - Legends Award

Film Organization Memberships

Mike Medavoy has been a member of several important film organizations:

• Chairman of The Jury of the Tokyo Film Festival
• Advisor to The Shanghai Film Festival
• Advisor to The St. Petersburg Film Festival
• Member of the Board of the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences (1977-1981)
• One of the first founding members of the board of governors of the Sundance Institute (1978)
• Chairman Emeritus of the American Cinematheque
• Chairman Emeritus of the Stella Adler Actors Studio in New York

Books Written by Mike Medavoy

In 2002, Medavoy wrote a book about his career called You're Only As Good As Your Next One. It was a bestseller.

In 2009, he co-wrote another book, American Idol After Iraq: Competing for Hearts and Minds in the Global Media Age.

Mike Medavoy's Filmography

Medavoy has produced many films and television shows.

Films Produced

Acting Roles

Special Thanks in Films

Television Shows Produced

Special Thanks in Television