Ray Stark
| Ray Stark | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Raymond Otto Stark October 3, 1915 New York, New York |
| Died | January 17, 2004 (aged 88) |
| Alma mater | Rutgers University |
| Occupation | Film Producer, Literary and Talent Agent |
| Years active | 1939-2000 |
| Agent | Famous Artists Agency, Seven Arts Productions, Rastar Film |
| Notable work | Funny Girl, The Night of the Iguana, Lolita, The World of Suzie Wong, The Misfits |
| Spouse(s) | Frances Brice (September 26, 1940 - his death) |
| Children | Peter Stark Wendy Stark |
| Relatives |
Franny Brice (mother-in-law) William Brice (brother-in-law) |
Ray Stark (October 3, 1915 – January 17, 2004) was one of the most successful and prolific independent film producers in postwar Hollywood. Highly tenacious and intelligent, Stark’s background as a literary and theatrical agent groomed him to produce some of the most dynamic and profitable films of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, such as The World of Suzie Wong (1961), West Side Story (1961), The Misfits (1961), Lolita (1962), The Night of The Iguana (1964), Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967), Funny Girl (1968), The Goodbye Girl (1977), The Toy (1982), Annie (1982), and Steel Magnolias (1989).
In addition to his roster of films, Stark formed relationships with various directors and writers throughout his inspired career. Stark made eight films with Herbert Ross, five with John Huston, and three with Sydney Pollack. Additionally, Stark’s 18-year partnership with playwright Neil Simon yielded 11 films between the duo, including The Goodbye Girl (1977) and The Sunshine Boys (1975). In 1980, the Motion Picture Academy awarded him the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award for a lifetime of achievement in film.
Raymond Otto Stark was born on October 3, 1915 in Manhattan, the second child of Sadie (née Gotlieb) and Maximilian Stark. Ray grew up on East 58th street near Central Park. It was Ray’s mother who took a dutiful approach to his education, grooming him to be well-read and precocious. Ray attended grade school in Manhattan, skipping two grades, before attending The Kohut School, a boarding school for boys in Harrison, New York. There, Stark’s major scholastic interest was writing where he went on to write articles for the school’s newspaper, The Kohut Klipper, in which his first article was an interview with actress Ginger Rogers whom he brazenly approached after seeing her in a play.
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Wikipedia