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2008-01-28T15:30:56Z

New article copied from Wikipedia Deletion Review (no GFDL sourcing info provided)

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'''Michael Gruskoff''' began his entertainment career in the mailroom of the [[William Morris Agency]] in New York City. He subsequently became an agent with Creative Management Associates (CMA) in Los Angeles, where he represented such clients as [[Robert Redford]], [[Peter Sellers]], [[Albert Finney]], [[Anouk Aimee]], [[Faye Dunaway]], and [[Sydney Pollack]]. Amongst the films Michael set up as an agent during this period was Robert Redford’s [[Jeremiah Johnson]] ([[Warner Bros.]]), and [[Little Faus and Big Halsey]] ([[Paramount]]). While representing [[Dennis Hopper]] and [[Peter Fonda]], he expedited the packaging of [[Easy Rider]] (Columbia) as well as Sydney Pollack’s [[They Shoot Horses, Don't They?]] ([[Buena Vista]]), starring [[Jane Fonda]].

He left CMA to produce films at [[Universal]], beginning as executive producer on Dennis Hopper’s 1971 cult classic [[The Last Movie]], followed by the environmental science fiction adventure [[Silent Running]] with Douglas Trumbull, written by Michael Cimino, Deric Washburn and [[Steven Bochco]].

In 1974, he produced [[Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins]] (Warner Bros.) and [[Mel Brooks]]’ [[Young Frankenstein]] (20th Century Fox). Young Frankenstein became one of the biggest-grossing comedies of the decade, and is now a major musical. During this period, he produced [[Stanley Donen]]’s [[Lucky Lady]] (20th Century Fox), starring [[Gene Hackman]], [[Burt Reynolds]] and [[Liza Minelli]].

Gruskoff then went to Europe to produce [[Werner Herzog]]’s remake of the silent classic, [[Nosferatu the Vampyre]] (20th Century Fox) and [[Quest for Fire]] (20th Century Fox), directed by [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], which won France’s [[Cesar Award]], equivalent to the [[Academy Award]]. Returning to the U.S., he helped create one of 1982’s biggest critical hits, [[My Favorite Year]] ([[MGM]]) and also produced [[Until September]] (directed by [[Richard Marquand]] for MGM), [[Burnin' Love]] (Hemdale Films), and [[Clint Eastwood]]’s [[Pink Cadillac]] (Warner Bros). From 1990-1994, Michael produced [[Article 99]] (MGM) starring [[Ray Liotta]], [[Kiefer Sutherland]], and [[Forest Whitaker]]; and [[Prelude to a Kiss]] (20th Century Fox), starring [[Alec Baldwin]] and [[Meg Ryan]].

From 1995 to 1998 Michael developed a number of other projects... The Wild, still active at [[Beacon Pictures]], and a reality-based TV series called Stalking which was recently picked up by the [[Oxygen Channel]]. In 1999, Michael was appointed to oversee the production department at [[Industry Entertainment]], a production/management company, where they made [[Spike Lee]]'s [[25th Hour]] (Buena Vista), starring [[Edward Norton]]. While at Industry they made [[15 Minutes]] ([[New Line]]), starring [[Robert DeNiro]], [[Phillip Kaufman]]'s [[Quills]] (20th Century Fox) starring [[Geoffrey Rush]], and [[James Gray]]'s [[The Yards]] (Miramax) starring [[Joaquin Phoenix]] and [[Charlize Theron]]. He was at Industry until 2003.

Since then, he has been a consultant and director of American Rights Management Company, where he joined Howard Zuker / Zack Norman in operating one of the world’s largest owners and managers of literary properties. During this period, Michael created and taught a class at [[NYU]]’s [[Tisch School of the Arts]] for two years, in the development of turning classic stage plays into contemporary screenplays. American Rights Management has subsequently developed a number of the plays from this program into TV and film projects.

Through his Gruskoff Film Organization, he has projects in development at New Line and Beacon Pictures, where he is producing [[Not of This World]], with [[Shainee Gabel]] directing, as well as producing Puss In Boots with [[The Jim Henson Company]] and Odyssey Entertainment Limited. Gruskoff created a half-hour reality TV series for [[Charles Barkley]] that [[Norman Steinberg]] ([[Blazing Saddles]] / [[The Cosby Show]]) is developing. He also has The Executioner's Daughter with director [[Christian Alvart]] (Case 39 at Paramount with [[Rene Zellweger]]) attached, and Catchcan and the Dimension Magicians, an exiting special effects comedy in the vein of [[Ghostbusters]].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gruskoff, Michael}}

[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American film producers]]

Directory:Michael Gruskoff - Revision history

MyWikiBiz: New article copied from Wikipedia Deletion Review (no GFDL sourcing info provided)