Stephen Wolf Previn (born Wolf Stefan Priwin; 21 October 1925 Berlin – 9 July 1993 Palm Desert, California) was a German-born American (i) director of television episodes and feature films and (ii) film production executive. Previn began his film career in 1943 as an editor for MGM and later Universal Studios. In 1950, he moved to Europe. Previn directed numerous television series, and a decade later, directed several features for Walt Disney in Europe.
In 1965 he went to work for Eon Productions in London as a television executive and in 1966 joined Paramount London as a film executive. In 1970 he segued to Commonwealth United Entertainment, Inc., as a production executive and also freelanced in Europe on several films.
While living in London, Previn, in the 1970s, served as the English Representative and Production Executive for American International Pictures.
He was the brother of musician André Previn and great-nephew of American-born film composer Charles Previn.
As production executive
As producer
As director
As editor
Steve's father, Jack Previn (Jacob Priwin; 1885–1963), had been an attorney and judge in Germany before fleeing from the Nazis to the United States. Steve Previn (then known as Wolf Priwin) steamed aboard the SS Hamburg from Hamburg, Germany to New York from January 16, 1936, to January 24, 1936, to join a family friend in New York, Rudolph Polk (1895–1957), a concert violinist who, at the time, lived at 35 West 81st Street in Manhattan.
Steve's immediate family — Jacob, Charlotte (Steve's mother, née Epstein; 1893–1996), Leonore (Steve's sister; 1923–1959; husband – Sidney Saul Young; 1912–1987), and Andreas Priwin — steamed aboard the SS Manhattan from Le Havre, France to New York City, arriving October 27, 1938. Jacob Priwin listed his cousin, Leo Previn (1884–1954) (who lived on the Upper West Side in Manhattan), as his U.S. contact. Charlotte, Andreas, and Leonore then sailed from New York to Los Angeles from November 26, 1938, to December 11, 1938, aboard the SS City of Newport News.