Sam Raimi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sam Raimi
Raimi at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2024
Born	Samuel M. Raimi (1959-10-23) October 23, 1959 (age 65) Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation	Film director film producer screenwriter actor
Years active	1972–present
Spouse(s)	Gillian Greene ​ ​ (m. 1993; separated 2024)​
Children	5
Relatives	Ted Raimi (brother) Ivan Raimi (brother) Lorne Greene (father-in-law)

Samuel M. Raimi (born October 23, 1959), known as Sam Raimi, is an American filmmaker. This means he directs movies, helps make them as a producer, and sometimes writes the stories. He is famous for directing the first three films in the scary Evil Dead series and the popular Spider-Man movies from 2002 to 2007.

Sam Raimi also directed other well-known films like the superhero movie Darkman (1990), the western The Quick and the Dead (1995), the mystery thriller A Simple Plan (1998), the spooky The Gift (2000), the horror film Drag Me to Hell (2009), the fantasy adventure Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), and the Marvel movie Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).

His movies often have a very active and exciting visual style. This style is inspired by comic books and funny, physical comedy. He started two film companies: Renaissance Pictures in 1979 and Ghost House Pictures in 2002. Raimi has also produced several successful TV shows, including Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, its spin-off Xena: Warrior Princess, and Ash vs Evil Dead. His long-time friend and actor Bruce Campbell often works with him.

Early Life and Family

Sam Raimi was born in Royal Oak, Michigan. His family was Conservative Jewish. His parents were Celia Barbara and Leonard Ronald Raimi, who were merchants. His family's ancestors came from Russia and Hungary.

Sam has two brothers and a sister. His younger brother, Ted Raimi, is an actor. His older brother, Ivan Raimi, is a screenwriter and a doctor. His older sister, Andrea Raimi Rubin, works as a court reporter. Sam also had another older brother, Sander, who passed away at age 15. Sam has shared that this sad event brought his family closer and influenced his work throughout his life. He also said that Sander was the one who first showed him Spider-Man comics, which started his love for them.

Raimi went to Groves High School. He later studied English at Michigan State University and then at Università Bocconi in Italy. However, he left college after three semesters to make his first feature film, The Evil Dead.

Career in Film

Sam Raimi became very interested in making movies when his father brought a movie camera home. He started making short films using Super 8 cameras with his friend Bruce Campbell, whom he met in 1975.

Early Films and Horror Hits

While in college, Raimi teamed up with his brother's roommate Robert Tapert and Bruce Campbell. They made Within the Woods (1978), a 32-minute horror film. This short film helped them raise money for his first full-length movie, It's Murder!. He also made a seven-minute short film called Clockwork (1978).

With help from family, friends, and investors, Raimi was able to fund his first big horror movie, The Evil Dead (1981). This film became a huge "cult hit," meaning it was very popular with a dedicated group of fans. This movie really launched Raimi's career.

He then worked on his third film, Crimewave (1985), which he wrote with the famous Coen brothers. This movie was meant to be like a live-action comic book, but it wasn't very successful, partly because the studio changed things he didn't want them to. Raimi then went back to horror with Evil Dead II. This movie mixed scary moments with funny slapstick comedy, showing his love for classic comedy groups like the Three Stooges.

Sam Raimi also wrote Easy Wheels (1989) with his brother Ivan Raimi. This movie made fun of biker films. Since he loved comic books, he tried to make a movie about "The Shadow" but couldn't get the rights. So, he created his own superhero, Darkman (1990). This was his first movie with a major film studio and it did well, leading to two sequels. This success helped him get money for Evil Dead III, which was renamed Army of Darkness. This film moved away from pure horror and added more fantasy and comedy. While Army of Darkness didn't do great in theaters, it became another cult classic when it came out on video.

Exploring Other Genres

In the 1990s, Raimi directed movies in different styles. These included the western The Quick and the Dead (1995), the well-received crime thriller A Simple Plan (1998), and the romantic drama For Love of the Game (1999).

Raimi in 2007

Spider-Man and Beyond

Raimi achieved huge success with the blockbuster movie Spider-Man (2002), based on the popular comic book. The movie earned over $800 million worldwide. He directed two sequels, Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3, both of which also earned around $800 million. After the third Spider-Man film, he had plans for more sequels but couldn't find a script he liked. He later said that making Spider-Man 3 was a difficult experience for him. In 2022, he helped as a creative consultant for Marvel Studios' Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Raimi often works with the Coen brothers, who are also famous filmmakers. They helped write Crimewave and The Hudsucker Proxy with him. Raimi also made small acting appearances in some of their films.

He has also acted in front of the camera in other movies and TV shows, like The Stand and Indian Summer. Raimi also produced all the English-language films in The Grudge horror series, which were based on Japanese movies.

Raimi directed Oz the Great and Powerful, which came out on March 8, 2013. This movie earned $493 million around the world. He decided not to direct the planned sequel.

In 2020, it was announced that Raimi would direct Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness for Marvel Studios. He confirmed his involvement in April 2020. This marked his return to directing superhero films after more than 15 years and his first feature film since 2013.

Raimi speaking at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con

Career in Television

Besides films, Raimi has also worked in television. He produced popular series like Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and its spin-off Xena: Warrior Princess. Both shows featured his younger brother Ted Raimi and his friend Bruce Campbell. He also produced American Gothic, Cleopatra 2525, and Jack of All Trades.

In 2008, Raimi was an executive producer for a TV series called Legend of the Seeker, which was based on the fantasy books The Sword of Truth. He also executive produced the Starz TV series Spartacus: Blood and Sand and its follow-ups. He directed the first episode of Ash vs Evil Dead for Starz.

Personal Life

Since 1993, Sam Raimi has been married to Gillian Greene. She is the daughter of the Canadian actor Lorne Greene. They have five children. Their three oldest children, Emma Rose, Lorne, and Henry, appeared as extras in Drag Me to Hell and in the big final battle scene in Spider-Man 3.

Filmography

Film

Short film

Television

Awards and Recognition

Sam Raimi has received many awards for his work in film:

• Sitges – Catalan International Film Festival Prize of the International Critics' Jury 1981
• Sitges – Catalan International Film Festival Best Director Award 1990
• Sitges – Catalan International Film Festival Time-Machine Honorary Award 1992
• Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film Golden Raven Award 1993
• Fantasporto Critics' Award 1993
• Cognac Festival du Film Policier Special Jury Prize 1999
• Saturn Award Best Director Award 2004
• Empire Award Best Director Award 2004
• Inkpot Award 2014

See also

In Spanish: Sam Raimi para niños

• Sam Raimi's unrealized projects