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

Mike Medavoy (born January 21, 1941) is a famous American film producer and business leader. He helps make movies happen, from getting the idea to showing it in theaters. He helped start Orion Pictures, led TriStar Pictures, and was in charge of making films for United Artists. Today, he is the head of Phoenix Pictures.

Mike Medavoy's Early Life

Mike Medavoy was born in Shanghai, China, on January 21, 1941. His parents were Dora and Michael Medavoy. His mom owned a dress shop, and his dad was a mechanic. His family was Ukrainian Jewish and spoke Russian.

In 1947, when Mike was six, his family moved to Chile. They lived there for ten years. Mike went to school in Santiago. In 1957, his family moved again, this time to Los Angeles, USA. He became an American citizen in 1963. That same year, he graduated from UCLA, a big university. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserve for six years.

His Amazing Film Career

Mike Medavoy has had a long and successful career in the movie business. He helped create many films you might know!

Starting Out in Movies

Mike began working at Universal Studios in 1964. He started in the mail room, which is where new people often begin. In 1965, he became an agent, helping actors and directors find work. He worked with famous people like Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola.

In 1974, Mike joined United Artists as a senior vice president. This meant he was a big part of deciding which movies to make. While he was there, United Artists made some classic films. These include One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Rocky, and Annie Hall. All three of these movies won the Best Picture Oscar! Other great films from that time were Apocalypse Now and Raging Bull.

Creating Orion Pictures

In 1978, Mike Medavoy helped start a new movie company called Orion Pictures. He worked with other leaders from United Artists. Orion Pictures made many popular films. Some of their big hits were Platoon, Amadeus, and RoboCop. They also made The Terminator, Dances with Wolves, and The Silence of the Lambs.

Leading TriStar Pictures

Mike became the chairman of TriStar Pictures in 1990. As chairman, he was in charge of the company's movie projects. He helped release movies like Philadelphia, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and Sleepless in Seattle. Other films from his time at TriStar include Cliffhanger and Hook. He left TriStar in 1994.

Starting Phoenix Pictures

Medavoy at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival

In 1995, Mike Medavoy started his own company, Phoenix Pictures, with Arnold W. Messer. He is the chairman and CEO of this company. Phoenix Pictures has produced many successful films. Some of these are The People vs. Larry Flynt, The Thin Red Line, and Zodiac.

Phoenix Pictures also made Shutter Island in 2010. This movie earned a lot of money when it first came out. Another big success was Black Swan, directed by Darren Aronofsky. The main actress, Natalie Portman, won an Oscar for her role in Black Swan.

In 2011, Mike Medavoy announced a movie project about the 2010 Copiapó mining accident. This was a real event where 33 miners were trapped underground in Chile for 69 days. Mike worked with Chilean officials to make sure the story was told accurately. He said the movie was about "the triumph of the human spirit."

He also worked on a film and a TV miniseries with The Shanghai Film Group. These projects were about Jewish people seeking safety in Shanghai during World War II. In 2015, he announced he would produce The Promise, starring Oscar Isaac and Christian Bale.

Giving Back to the Community

Mike Medavoy is involved in many organizations outside of filmmaking. He helps lead the board of the California Science Center in Los Angeles. He also serves on boards for the University of Tel Aviv and UCLA.

He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. This group helps discuss important global issues. Mike and his wife, Irena, also do charity work. Their program, C.O.A.C.H. For Kids, provides free medical care to children in need.

His Political Views

Mike Medavoy has often supported politicians from the Democratic Party. He helped with the presidential campaigns of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. His wife, Irena, also helped with Barack Obama's campaign.

Mike Medavoy's Family Life

Mike Medavoy has been married three times. His first wife was Marcia Rogers. They have a son named Brian, who is also a film producer.

He then married Patricia Duff in 1986. They divorced in 1993.

In 1995, Mike married Irena Gerasimenko. She is a philanthropist and former model. They have a son named Nick.

Mike was a close friend of the famous actor Marlon Brando. Mike can speak several languages. Besides English, he is fluent in Russian and Spanish.

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 - Listen to Me Marlon
• 2019 - RiverRun International Film Festival - Master of Cinema Award
• 2019 - Beverly Hills Film Festival - Legends Award

Involvement in Film Organizations

Mike Medavoy is also part of many 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 from 1977 to 1981
• One of the first 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

Mike Medavoy has also written books. In 2002, he published You're Only As Good As Your Next One. This book became a best-seller. In 2009, he published American Idol After Iraq, which he wrote with Nathan Gardels.

Filmography

Mike Medavoy has been a producer on many films. Here are some of them:

Film

As an actor

Thanks

Television

Thanks