Rob Tapert facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rob Tapert
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Tapert in 2018
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Robert Gerard Tapert
May 14, 1955 Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S.
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| Other names | Robert G. Tapert |
| Alma mater | Michigan State University |
| Occupation | Film and television producer, screenwriter, television director |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
Robert Gerard Tapert (born May 14, 1955) is an American film and television producer, writer, and director. He is best known for co-creating the popular TV series Xena: Warrior Princess. He has also produced many other movies and TV shows, often working with his friends Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell.
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Robert Tapert's Career in Film and TV
Robert Tapert started his journey in filmmaking while studying economics at Michigan State University. There, he met Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, who would become his long-time partners in making movies.
Early Films and The Evil Dead
Tapert and director Sam Raimi first made several short films together. Their first full-length movie was a horror film called The Evil Dead. Tapert produced it, Raimi directed, and Bruce Campbell starred.
This movie was a big hit at the Cannes Film Festival in France. A famous horror writer, Stephen King, even gave it a great review. This helped the film get released in cinemas in the USA and around the world.
Even though critics didn't love it at first, The Evil Dead became a cult classic. This means many fans loved it over time. The movie led to a whole series of five films and a TV show. Robert Tapert has been a producer for all of them.
Producing More Movies
Tapert continued to produce many other films. He often worked with Raimi or Campbell on these projects. Some of these movies include Darkman, Timecop, and The Gift.
In 2002, Tapert helped start a film production company called Ghost House Pictures. Their first movie, The Grudge, earned almost $200 million worldwide. They also produced other films like Boogeyman, 30 Days of Night, and Drag Me to Hell.
In 2013, Tapert and Raimi chose a director named Fede Álvarez to create a new version of The Evil Dead. They had seen his short film, Ataque de pánico!. Tapert worked with Álvarez again in 2016 on the successful movie Don't Breathe, which made $157 million globally. He also produced its sequel in 2021.
Television Projects
In the 1990s, Robert Tapert produced and wrote several TV series. These included Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and American Gothic. He also helped create Young Hercules, a show that starred Ryan Gosling.
While working on Hercules, Tapert created the character of Xena. This character became so popular that she got her own TV show, Xena: Warrior Princess. This show was very important because it featured a strong female hero. Many people, including the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, say that Xena helped open the door for other female action heroes in TV and movies. It also helped the job of stuntwomen become more recognized.
In 2008, Tapert produced Legend of the Seeker. This TV show was based on the popular Sword of Truth books.
He then worked on the Roman epic series Spartacus for Starz, which included several parts like Spartacus: Blood and Sand and Spartacus: War of the Damned.
Tapert's most recent TV project is Ash vs Evil Dead. This show is based on The Evil Dead film series and started in 2015.
Robert Tapert's Personal Life
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Robert Tapert has two sisters, Dorothy and Mary Beth, and a younger brother, Jeff. He married actress Lucy Lawless on March 28, 1998. They have two sons together. Lucy Lawless played the main character in Xena: Warrior Princess.
Filmography Highlights
Here are some of the films Robert Tapert has produced or executive produced:
Films Produced
- Evil Dead II (1987)
- Darkman (1990)
- Army of Darkness (1992)
- Timecop (1994)
- The Grudge (2004)
- Drag Me to Hell (2009)
- Evil Dead (2013)
- Don't Breathe (2016)
- Evil Dead Rise (2023)
Films Executive Produced
- The Evil Dead (1981)
- Hard Target (1993)
- The Quick and the Dead (1995)
- The Gift (2000)
Direct-to-video Productions
- Darkman II: The Return of Durant (1995) (Executive producer)
- Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus (1998) (Executive producer)
Television Series Highlights
- M.A.N.T.I.S. (1994–1995) (Executive producer)
- Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1994–1999) (Director, writer, executive producer)
- Xena: Warrior Princess (1995–2001) (Director, writer, executive producer)
- Young Hercules (1998–1999) (Writer, executive producer)
- Legend of the Seeker (2008–2010) (Executive producer)
- Spartacus (2010–2013) (Executive producer)
- Ash vs Evil Dead (2015–2018) (Executive producer)
Musical Production
Robert Tapert also produced a stage musical called Pleasuredome. It was a love story set in 1980s New York City and used songs from that time. The musical was based on Tapert's own experiences. It opened in 2017 and was very successful, selling 57,000 tickets in its first 13-week run. His wife, Lucy Lawless, starred in the show.
