Ronald L. Schwary facts for kids

Ronald Louis Schwary (born May 23, 1944 – died July 2, 2020) was an American film producer and director. He won an Academy Award for his work. He helped create many famous movies.

Ronald Schwary won an Academy Award for Best Picture for the movie Ordinary People. He was also a producer or executive producer for other well-known films like Havana, Scent of a Woman, Sabrina, Meet Joe Black, and Random Hearts.

He worked with director Sidney Pollack on movies such as Absence of Malice and Tootsie. Tootsie was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture in 1983. Ronald Schwary also received another Best Picture nomination for A Soldier's Story in 1985.

Even though Scent of a Woman was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars and Golden Globes, Schwary didn't get a personal nomination. This was because he was the executive producer, and the Academy only recognized those listed as the main producers.

Schwary also produced the Rolling Stones documentary Lets Spend the Night Together in 1982. He was an executive producer for the film The Mirror Has Two Faces, which was directed by Barbra Streisand. From 2005 to 2011, he produced the TV series Medium.

Early Life and Family

Ronald Schwary was born in The Dalles, Oregon. His father, Mitchell Schwary, was a real estate broker. His mother was Lorraine Ablan. Ronald's grandparents on both sides were from Lebanon.

He first went to the University of Oregon. Later, he moved to the University of Southern California (USC) and graduated in 1967. While at USC, he became friends with the famous actor John Wayne. John Wayne, who also went to USC, helped Ronald get his first job in movies. He worked as a stand-in for actor Dustin Hoffman in the film The Graduate. In the 1970s, Schwary worked as an assistant director. He later became a production manager.

Ronald Schwary was married to Susan Carol Schwary, a hairstylist, from 1971 to 1994. They had two sons, Brian and Neil Schwary, who both work in the film industry today. He was later married to Karen Feldman from 2009 to 2014.

Ronald Schwary passed away on July 2, 2020, due to a rare brain disease.

What is a Producer?

A producer is a very important person in making a movie or TV show. They are like the project manager. They oversee the entire process, from finding the story to making sure the film stays on budget and schedule. They hire the director, writers, and main actors. The producer makes sure the movie gets made and released.

An executive producer often helps get the money for the film. They might also oversee several projects at once.

Ronald Schwary's Film Work

Ronald Schwary worked on many movies and TV shows. He had different roles, including producer, assistant director, and production manager. He even acted in a few films!

Movies He Produced

Here are some of the movies where Ronald Schwary was a producer or executive producer:

Movies as Assistant Director or Production Manager

Ronald Schwary also helped make movies happen behind the scenes in other ways:

Movies Where He Acted

Ronald Schwary even appeared in some films:

Television Work

Ronald Schwary also worked on several TV shows and movies made for television: