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Lawrence Gordon (producer)

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Lawrence Gordon
Born (1936-03-25) March 25, 1936 (age 88)
Yazoo City, Mississippi, U.S.
Occupation(s)Producer, executive
Years active1964–present
Children3

Lawrence Gordon (born March 25, 1936) is an American producer and motion picture executive.[1] He specializes in producing action-oriented films and other genres. Some of his most popular productions include 48 Hours (1982), Predator (1987), Die Hard (1988), Die Hard 2 (1990), Predator 2 (1990), Point Break (1991), Boogie Nights (1997), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), and Prey (2022).

Life and career

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Gordon was raised in a Jewish family[2] in Belzoni, Mississippi. He graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans. After moving to Los Angeles he began his producing career in 1964 working for Aaron Spelling and became writer and associate producer on the TV series Burke's Law. He quickly moved up the ranks and worked as an executive producer at ABC and at Screen Gems.[3]

In early 1968 Gordon joined American International Pictures. In August 1969 he was named vice president for motion picture and film development. He resigned in February 1970 to form his own company. In 1971 Gordon went to Screen Gems and he returned to AIP in January 1972 as head of production. Among the films released under his auspices were Slaughter and Boxcar Bertha.

He received credit as executive producer on John Milius's Dillinger (1973).[3]

Gordon left as worldwide production head in early 1974 to form his own company and did a deal with Columbia Pictures. Its first film was Hard Times (1975).[4][3] In 1978 he had two high-grossing films with Hooper and The End, both starring Burt Reynolds.[3]

Gordon and Walter Hill were going to make The Last Gun. Financing fell through so they made The Warriors instead.[5]

In the early 1980s, he created the TV series Matt Houston.

Gordon worked on multiple films in the 1970s and 1980s with fellow producer Joel Silver, most notably Streets of Fire and 48 Hrs.[6]

In July 1984, he replaced Joe Wizan as head of production at 20th Century Fox.[7] Two months later, he was appointed president of Fox Entertainment Group. In January 1986, he resigned as president and chief operating officer, citing poor health due to a heart condition.[8][9] He was planning to reactive Lawrence Gordon Productions in a two-year independent production deal with the studio.[8]

In 1989, he produced Field of Dreams which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. He subsequently formed Largo Entertainment which was backed by the Japanese company JVC.[10]

Gordon also had an independent production deal with Universal Pictures under the name Lawrence Gordon Productions. Under Lawrence Gordon Productions, he produced Jumpin' Jack Flash, Boogie Nights, Mystery Men, K-9, the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider franchise, and Watchmen.

For three years, from 1986 until its founding of Largo in 1989, Lawrence Gordon Productions was based at 20th Century Fox, sometimes heading under the name Gordon Company.[11]

Selected filmography

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He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Films made while head of production at AIP

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  • Coffy
  • Slaughter
  • Boxcar Bertha
  • Dr Phibes Rides Again
  • Blacula
  • The Thing with Two Heads
  • Slaughter 2
  • Dillinger
  • Sugar Hill
  • Little Cigars
  • Madhouse
  • Heavy Traffic
  • Black Caesar
  • The Sisters
  • Cannibal Girls
  • The Land that Time Forgot (initial deal done)
  • Fritz the Cat
  • Macon County Line
  • The Black Windmill
  • Golden Needles
  • Truck Turner
  • Black Mama White Mama
  • Scream Blacula Scream
  • Foxy Brown

Film

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Year Film Credit Notes
1973 Dillinger Executive producer
1975 Hard Times
1977 Rolling Thunder Executive producer
1978 The End
The Driver
Hooper Executive producer
1979 The Warriors
1980 Xanadu
1981 Paternity
1982 Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again
48 Hrs.
1984 Streets of Fire
1985 Brewster's Millions
1986 Jumpin' Jack Flash
1987 Predator
1988 The Couch Trip
The Wrong Guys Executive producer
Die Hard
1989 Leviathan Executive producer
Field of Dreams
K-9
Lock Up
Family Business
1990 Another 48 Hrs.
Die Hard 2
Predator 2
1991 The Rocketeer
1995 Waterworld
1997 The Devil's Own
Event Horizon
Boogie Nights Executive producer
1999 Mystery Men
K-911 Executive producer Direct-to-video
Thieves
2001 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
K-PAX
2002 K-9: P.I. Executive producer Direct-to-video
2003 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life
2004 Hellboy
2008 Hellboy II: The Golden Army
2009 Watchmen
2019 Hellboy
2022 Prey Executive producer
Miscellaneous crew
Year Film Role
1991 Point Break President: Largo Entertainment
1992 Back in the USSR
Unlawful Entry
Dr. Giggles
Used People President: Largo Entertainment
Presenter
1994 Timecop President: Largo Entertainment
1995 Waterworld Presenter
1997 The Devil's Own
Event Horizon
1999 Mystery Men
Thanks
Year Film Role
2020 Da 5 Bloods Special thanks

Television

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Year Title Credit Notes
1975 The Missing Are Deadly Executive producer Television film
Home Cookin' Executive producer Television film
1977 Dog and Cat Executive producer
Executive producer Television film
1978 Lacy and the Mississippi Queen Executive producer Television film
1980 Stunts Unlimited Executive producer Television film
1982 The Renegades Executive producer Television film
1983 Executive producer
Just Our Luck Executive producer
Lone Star Executive producer Television film
1984 The Streets Executive producer Television film
1982−84 Matt Houston Executive producer
1985 Our Family Honor Executive producer
1997 Timecop Executive producer
2006 Hellboy: Sword of Storms Executive producer Television film
2007 Hellboy: Blood and Iron Executive producer Television film
2019 Watchmen Consulting producer
TBA The Warriors
As writer
Year Title Notes
1982 The Renegades Television film
1983
1982−84 Matt Houston

References

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  1. ^ "Battle Over 'Watchmen' Surrounds a Producer (Published 2008)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2023-06-07.
  2. ^ Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life: "Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities – Belzoni, Mississippi" retrieved October 25, 2017
  3. ^ a b c d Klain, Stephen (September 6, 1978). "Gordon, Ex AIP Prod. Head, Gets Payoff From Indie Flexibility". Variety. p. 26.
  4. ^ Taylor, Clarke (Oct 8, 1978). "Larry Gordon Rolls His Dice". Los Angeles Times. p. n35.
  5. ^ Vagg, Stephen (14 July 2020). ""John Wick with spurs" – A look at Walter Hill's Unmade The Last Gun". Diabolique.
  6. ^ Barnes, Brooks; Cieply, Michael (2010-08-28). "Hey, Big Spender: Hollywood Isn't in the Mood". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  7. ^ "Day-by-Day News Summary, Oct. '83-Sept. '84". Daily Variety. October 30, 1984. p. 136.
  8. ^ a b Galbraith, Jane (January 15, 1986). "Gordon Ankles As Prez Of Fox; Cites Poor Health, Denies Discord". Variety. p. 3.
  9. ^ Hal Erickson (2014). "New York Times Biography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  10. ^ Weinraub, Bernard (13 January 1994). "COMPANY NEWS; Chief Quits Film Venture Financed by Japanese". The New York Times.
  11. ^ "BUSINESS PEOPLE; President Leaves Fox's Film Unit". The New York Times. 1986-08-19. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
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