Robert Tapert

Robert Tapert
Rob Tapert speaking at SPADA 2010
Born	Robert Gerard Tapert (1955-05-14) May 14, 1955 (age 61) Royal Oak, Michigan
Alma mater	Michigan State University
Occupation	Film and television producer
Spouse(s)	Lucy Lawless (m. 1998)
Children	2

Robert Gerard "Rob" Tapert (born May 14, 1955) is an American film producer, best known as the co-founder of Renaissance Pictures and founder of Ghost House Pictures.

Tapert first became involved with filmmaking while attending Michigan State University. He intended to study economics, but was drawn into film courses by his roommate Sam Raimi, who had been making films of his own for many years, usually with his brothers Ivan and Ted, and Raimi's childhood friend Bruce Campbell.

He has two sisters, Dorothy and Mary Beth Tapert. He also has a younger brother, Jeff Tapert. He has been married to actress Lucy Lawless since 28 March 1998; the couple have two sons.

Tapert and Sam Raimi worked together to create the film The Happy Valley Kid, the story of a young man, played by Tapert, who goes to college only to be met with rejection at every turn. Near the end of the film he loses his mind, dresses up as a cowboy, and begins gunning down all those who wronged him. Despite its dramatic plot, the film is largely a comedy. The film was screened at Michigan State university several times and made a profit for Raimi and Tapert.

Tapert next made a feature film, a graphic horror film titled The Evil Dead, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Bruce Campbell. Thanks to a glowing review from horror author Stephen King, the film was a success with the crowd at the Cannes Film Festival in France, and although not a favorite of critics at the time, it was critically acclaimed as a horror classic in later years. The film was successful enough to spawn two sequels, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness.

Tapert has produced numerous other films, typically involving Raimi and/or Campbell in some capacity, such as Crimewave, Easy Wheels, Lunatics: A Love Story, Darkman, Timecop, The Gift, The Grudge (and its sequel, The Grudge 2) and 30 Days of Night.