Joe Roth
| Joe Roth | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1948 (age 67–68) New York City |
| Occupation | Film director, chairman of 20th Century Fox (1989–1993) and Walt Disney Studios (1994–2000) |
| Spouse(s) | Donna Arkoff (3 children) |
Joseph E. "Joe" Roth[1] (born 1948) is an American film executive, producer and film director. He co-founded Morgan Creek Productions in 1987 and was chairman of 20th Century Fox (1989–93), Caravan Pictures (1993–94), and Walt Disney Studios (1994–2000) before founding Revolution Studios in 2000.
Early life
Roth was born in New York City, the son of Lawrence Roth, a foreman at a plastics plant,[2] and Frances Roth.[3] Roth is of Jewish heritage.[4] In 1959, Roth's father volunteered his son to be a plaintiff in the ACLU's effort to abolish mandatory prayer in public schools. The case, filed in New York, wound its way through the system, finally reaching the U.S. Supreme Court in 1962. The Court ruled that such prayer was unconstitutional under the First Amendment, in the landmark case of Engel v. Vitale.[5]
Roth attended Boston University, graduating in 1970 with a bachelor's degree in communication.[1]
Career
Over the course of his career, he has produced over 40 films, and has directed six to date, including 1990's Coupe de Ville (in which a Cadillac Coupe de Ville plays a big part), 2001's America's Sweethearts and 2006's Freedomland.
Roth, who was ranked 6th in Premiere Magazine's 2003 Hollywood Power List, produced the 76th annual Academy Awards. Roth announced that in October 2007, when Revolution's distribution deal with Sony Pictures ends, Revolution Studios will close and he will join Sony as a producer.
On November 13, 2007, Roth was introduced as the majority owner of a Seattle, Washington–based Major League Soccer franchise along with Paul Allen. Seattle Sounders FC—which calls CenturyLink Field home—began regular season play in 2009. On November 12, 2015, Roth passed on majority ownership to the team owner Adrian Hanauer.
Personal life
He is married to Donna Arkoff whose father was movie producer Samuel Z. Arkoff.[6] They have three children.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | The Conversation | production assistant (uncredited) | |
| 1976 | Tunnel Vision | Player-Announcer | producer |
| 1977 | Cracking Up | Man (uncredited) | executive producer |
| 1978 | Our Winning Season | producer | |
| 1979 | Americathon | producer | |
| 1982 | Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains | producer | |
| 1983 | The Final Terror | producer | |
| 1984 | The Stone Boy | producer | |
| Bachelor Party | executive producer | ||
| 1985 | Moving Violations | producer | |
| 1986 | Off Beat | co-producer | |
| Where the River Runs Black | producer | ||
| Streets of Gold | director/producer | ||
| 1987 | P.K. and the Kid | producer | |
| Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise | director/executive producer | ||
| 1988 | Young Guns | producer | |
| Dead Ringers | executive producer (uncredited) | ||
| 1989 | Skin Deep | executive producer | |
| Major League | co-producer | ||
| Renegades | executive producer | ||
| Enemies, a Love Story | executive producer | ||
| 1990 | Nightbreed | co-producer | |
| Coupe de Ville | director | ||
| Young Guns II | executive producer | ||
| The Exorcist III | executive producer | ||
| Pacific Heights | executive producer | ||
| 1993 | The Three Musketeers | executive producer | |
| 1994 | Angie | executive producer | |
| Angels in the Outfield | producer | ||
| A Low Down Dirty Shame | producer | ||
| 1995 | Houseguest | producer | |
| The Jerky Boys: The Movie | producer | ||
| Heavyweights | producer | ||
| Tall Tale | producer | ||
| While You Were Sleeping | producer | ||
| 1996 | Before and After | producer | |
| 2001 | America's Sweethearts | director | |
| 2003 | Tears of the Sun | executive producer | |
| Daddy Day Care | executive producer | ||
| Hollywood Homicide | executive producer | ||
| Mona Lisa Smile | executive producer | ||
| 2004 | The Forgotten | producer | |
| Christmas with the Kranks | director | ||
| 2005 | An Unfinished Life | executive producer | |
| 2006 | Freedomland | director | |
| 2007 | The Great Debaters | producer | |
| 2010 | Alice in Wonderland | producer | |
| Knight and Day | executive producer | ||
| 2012 | Snow White & the Huntsman | producer | |
| 2013 | Oz the Great and Powerful | producer | |
| 2014 | Sabotage | executive producer | |
| Heaven Is for Real | producer | ||
| Million Dollar Arm | producer | ||
| Maleficent | producer | ||
| 2015 | In the Heart of the Sea | producer | |
| 2016 | Miracles from Heaven | producer | |
| The Huntsman: Winter's War | producer | ||
| Alice Through the Looking Glass | producer | ||
| 2017 | XXX: Return of Xander Cage | producer | |
References
- 1 2 "B.U. Bridge". October 27, 2003.
- ↑ "Joe Roth". Filmreference.com.
- ↑ New York Civil Liberties Union: "Obituary: Steven Engel, Plaintiff in Landmark School Prayer Case" February 6, 2008
- ↑ Engel V. Vitale By Susan Dudley Gold
- ↑ Hammer, Joshua. "The Sly Dog at Fox". Newsweek, May 25, 1992.
- ↑ New York Times: "Samuel Z. Arkoff, Maker of Drive-In Thrillers, Dies at 83" By ALJEAN HARMETZ September 19, 2001
External links
- Joe Roth at the Internet Movie Database