Kathleen Kennedy (producer) explained

Kathleen Kennedy
Honorific Suffix:CBE
Birth Date:5 June 1953
Birth Place:Berkeley, California, U.S.
Years Active:1979–present
Alma Mater:San Diego State University
Occupation:Film producer
Employer:Lucasfilm (2012–present)
President of Lucasfilm
Children:2

Kathleen Kennedy (born June 5, 1953) is an American film producer who has been president of Lucasfilm since 2012.

In 1981, Kennedy co-founded the production company Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and her eventual husband Frank Marshall. Her first film as a producer was E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). A decade later, again with Spielberg, she produced the Jurassic Park franchise, the first two of which became two of the top ten highest-grossing films of the 1990s. In 1992, she and Marshall founded The Kennedy/Marshall Company. In 2012, Kennedy became the president of Lucasfilm after The Walt Disney Company acquired the company.[1]

As Lucasfilm's president, Kennedy has overseen the development, production, and release of projects such as the Star Wars sequel trilogy (2015–2019), the Star Wars standalone films Rogue One (2016) and Solo (2018) as well as the fifth Indiana Jones film, The Dial of Destiny (2023). She has also produced various Star Wars series including six live-action series for Disney+, The Mandalorian (2019–present), The Book of Boba Fett (2021), Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022), Andor (2022–present), Ahsoka (2023–present), and The Acolyte (2024).

Kennedy has produced Spielberg-directed films which have earned over $11 billion worldwide, including five of the fifty highest-grossing movies in film history.[2] As a producer, she has received eight Best Picture Academy Award nominations.

Early life and education

Kathleen Kennedy was born on June 5, 1953, in Berkeley, California,[3] to Dione Marie "Dede" (née Dousseau), a one-time theater actress, and Donald R. Kennedy, a judge and attorney.[4] She has two sisters. Her twin sister, Connie, formerly a location manager in British Columbia, Canada, is now the executive producer of the Virtual Production company Profile Studios. Her other sister is Dana Middleton-Silberstein, a television host and anchor, and press secretary/communications director for former Governor Gary Locke (D-WA).[4]

Kennedy graduated from Shasta High School in Redding, California, in 1971. She continued her education at San Diego State University where she majored in telecommunications and film. In her final year, Kennedy gained employment at a local San Diego TV station, KCST (now KNSD), taking on various roles including camera operator, video editor, floor director and finally as KCST news production coordinator.[5]

Career

1978–2011

After her employment with KCST, she produced a local talk show entitled You're On for the station for four years before moving to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, Kennedy secured her first film production job working as an assistant to John Milius, who at the time was executive producer of Spielberg's 1941 (1979).[6]

While working under Milius during the production of 1941, Kennedy caught the attention of Steven Spielberg,[7] who stated in 2015:

She was horrible at taking notes... but what she did know how to do was interrupt somebody in midsentence. We'd be pitching ideas back and forth, and Kathy—who was supposed to be writing these ideas down—suddenly put her pencil down and would say something like, "And what if he didn't get the girl, but instead he got the dog?"[8]
Spielberg asked Kennedy to become his secretary for her organization abilities, and Kennedy gradually took on larger roles in the moviemaking process. Kennedy was credited as associate to Spielberg on Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), then associate producer on Spielberg's production of Tobe Hooper's Poltergeist (1982).[9]

Kennedy began receiving producer credit with Spielberg on the major box-office hit E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), and continued serving the role on most of his films for the next three decades. In 1982, she helped and run the production company Amblin Entertainment with Spielberg and her future husband Frank Marshall. She also produced Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) with George Lucas and Marshall, and appeared in the film's opening sequence as a dancer.[10] Following her work on the Indiana Jones films, she rose to become one of Hollywood's leading producers. With Amblin, she produced the Back to the Future trilogy, collaborating with such directors as Martin Scorsese, Robert Zemeckis, Barry Levinson, and Clint Eastwood. In 1991, she and Marshall formed The Kennedy/Marshall Company[11] with a deal at DreamWorks. She continued her business relationship with Spielberg and became producer for Jurassic Park (1993) and executive producer for the historical drama Schindler's List (also 1993). Non-Spielberg films that she produced during this time include The Bridges of Madison County (1995), Twister (1996), and The Sixth Sense (1999).

Kennedy was a producer on Spielberg's films: War of the Worlds and Munich (both 2005), the latter of which earned her an Academy Award nomination. Marshall and Kennedy were producers for the US versions of two Studio Ghibli animated features Ponyo (2009) and The Secret World of Arrietty (2012).[12] [13] She also produced Spielberg's Lincoln (2012), which was nominated for seven Golden Globes and twelve Academy Awards.[14] [15]

2012–present

In May 2012, she stepped down from Kennedy/Marshall, leaving Marshall as sole principal of their film company.[16] [17] In the following month, Kennedy became co-chair of Lucasfilm Ltd. alongside George Lucas.[18] [19] On October 30, 2012, when Lucas sold his company to Disney, Kennedy was promoted to president.[20] In 2018, Kennedy's contract to remain president of Lucasfilm was extended another three years, through October 30, 2021.[21]

Filmography

Film

Executive producer

Producer

Associate producer

Co-executive producer

Co-producer

Television

Producer

Executive producer

Accolades

She has received eight Academy Award for Best Picture nominations as a producer. Five of the nominations are for Spielberg directed projects such as (1982), The Color Purple (1985), Munich (2005), War Horse (2011), and Lincoln (2012). As a producer, she is third behind Kevin Feige and Spielberg in domestic box office receipts, with over $7.5 billion .[22] In 2019 she received the Irving J. Thalberg Award along with Marshall.[23] [24] That same year Kennedy was appointed an honorary commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to film production in the United Kingdom.[25] In that same year, it was announced that she would receive the BAFTA Fellowship in 2020.[26]

During the 1980s and 1990s, Kennedy served on the advisory board of the National Student Film Institute and in 1991 was a "Grimmy Award" recipient in recognition for her outstanding support of student film making. Kennedy was also an Honorary Chairperson of the institute.[27] [28] In 1995, she was awarded the Women in Film Crystal Award for outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry.[29] In 1996, she and Marshall received the American Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award.[30] For the 2001–02 period, she was co-president (with Tim Gibbons) of the Producers Guild of America.[31] In 2007, Kennedy was the first recipient of Women in Film's Paltrow Mentorship Award, for showing extraordinary commitment to mentoring and supporting the next generation of filmmakers and executives.[32]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: update: breaking: 'Star Wars' Returns – 'Episode 7' Slated For 2015 And More Movies Planned As Disney Buys Lucasfilm. Deadline Hollywood Daily. October 30, 2012. February 20, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20140806233202/http://www.deadline.com/2012/10/disney-acquires-lucasfilm-star-wars-creator/. August 6, 2014. live.
  2. Web site: Passing the Baton: Kathleen Kennedy. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140404160902/http://starwars.com/news/passing-the-baton-meet-kathleen-kennedy/index.html. April 4, 2014. February 20, 2018. StarWars.com. mdy-all.
  3. Web site: Kathleen Kennedy – Munzinger Biographie. 2020-12-16. Munzinger. January 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117095858/https://www.munzinger.de/search/go/document.jsp?id=00000030708. live.
  4. Web site: Dione Marie (Dousseau) "Dede" Kennedy (1931–2005) obituary. February 4, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110717101327/http://www.trinityjournal.com/common/pastarchives/384.html. July 17, 2011.
  5. Web site: Kathleen Kennedy CSU. www2.calstate.edu. July 29, 2019. October 26, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191026072334/https://www2.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/alumni/Honorary-Degrees/Pages/kathleen-kennedy.aspx. live.
  6. 2016-02-08. Meet the Most Powerful Woman in Hollywood. 2021-11-12. Vanity Fair. en-US. May 16, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180516162649/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/02/kathleen-kennedy-hollywood-producer. live.
  7. News: Ellison. Sarah. February 8, 2016. Meet the Most Powerful Woman in Hollywood. en. Vanity Fair. live. April 30, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180516162649/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/02/kathleen-kennedy-hollywood-producer. May 16, 2018.
  8. Web site: Kathleen Kennedy: From Standing In Line For 'Star Wars' To Producing It Herself . Barco . Mandalit . 2021-03-01 . . December 17, 2015 . April 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210411081703/https://www.npr.org/2015/12/17/459976428/kathleen-kennedy-from-standing-in-line-to-see-star-wars-to-producing-it-herself . live .
  9. Web site: Kathleen Kennedy – Part 2 . The Kennedy/Marshall Company . May 8, 2012 . November 20, 2018 . November 20, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181120180233/http://kennedymarshall.com/about/kathleen-kennedy/2/ . live .
  10. Web site: Did You Know: Kathleen Kennedy Was a Dancer in 'Temple of Doom'?! . del Barco . Mandalit . November 19, 2018 . Bleeding Cool . November 20, 2018 . November 20, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181120221020/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/11/19/did-you-know-kathleen-kennedy-was-a-dancer-in-temple-of-doom/ . live .
  11. Web site: About The Kennedy/Marshall Company . KennedyMarshall.com . April 25, 2012 . November 20, 2018 . February 11, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200211205455/https://kennedymarshall.com/about/the-kennedymarshall-company/ . live .
  12. Web site: "Ponyo" US Release Semi-Detailed . 2008-06-10 . Nausicaa.net . GhibliWiki . June 5, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080502185718/http://www.nausicaa.net/wiki/Latest_News#Ponyo_US_Release_Semi-Detailed . 2008-05-02 . live.
  13. Web site: The Secret World of Arrietty . Disney . Disney.go.com . June 21, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120723051134/http://disney.go.com/official-sites/arrietty/about . 2012-07-23 . live.
  14. Web site: 2012-12-13. 'Lincoln' leads Golden Globes race with 7 nods. 2021-11-12. New York Post. en-US. November 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211112220822/https://nypost.com/2012/12/13/lincoln-leads-golden-globes-race-with-7-nods/. live.
  15. Web site: 2013-01-10. 'Lincoln' Tops All Movies With 12 Oscar Nominations. 2021-11-12. PBS NewsHour. en-us. November 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211112220810/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/oscar-nominations. live.
  16. Web site: The Kennedy/Marshall Company – About. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927165417/http://kennedymarshall.com/about/the-kennedymarshall-company/. September 27, 2013. The Kennedy/Marshall Company. September 27, 2013. October 2, 2012.
  17. News: King. Susan. 'E.T.': Kathleen Kennedy on Spielberg, Lucas and making of a classic. https://web.archive.org/web/20121011003113/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/10/08/e-t-kathleen-kennedy-on-spielberg-lucas-and-making-of-a-classic/. Los Angeles Times. October 11, 2012. October 8, 2012. October 16, 2012.
  18. Web site: Lussier. Germaine. Kathleen Kennedy Named as Co-Chair and Successor to George Lucas at Lucasfilm. slashfilm.com . June 2012 . /Film. June 2, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120601224322/http://www.slashfilm.com/george-lucas-distance-lucasfilm/. June 1, 2012. live.
  19. News: Lucasfilm Names Kathleen Kennedy Co-Chair As Successor To George Lucas. Deadline. June 2, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120603222005/http://www.deadline.com/2012/06/lucasfilms-names-kathleen-kennedy-as-co-chair/. June 3, 2012. live.
  20. News: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.. Yahoo!. October 30, 2012. October 30, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121118203406/http://news.yahoo.com/disney-acquire-lucasfilm-ltd-195100740.html . November 18, 2012. live.
  21. News: 'Star Wars' Chief Kathleen Kennedy's Lucasfilm Deal Extended for Three Years (Exclusive). Kit. Borys. September 28, 2018. The Hollywood Reporter. March 12, 2019. December 5, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191205070019/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-chief-kathleen-kennedys-lucasfilm-deal-extended-three-years-1147653. live.
  22. Web site: People Index – Producers. https://web.archive.org/web/20191017050953/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/?view=Producer&p=.htm. Box Office Mojo. dead. October 17, 2019. December 14, 2019.
  23. Web site: Cicely Tyson, Kathleen Kennedy Among 2018 Honorary Oscar Winners. MSN. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20180906090448/https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/oscars/cicely-tyson-kathleen-kennedy-among-2018-honorary-oscar-winners/ar-BBMVBFH. September 6, 2018. live. September 6, 2018.
  24. News: Cicely Tyson, Kathleen Kennedy among film academy honorees. Associated Press. KFDM. September 6, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180906090508/https://kfdm.com/news/entertainment/cicely-tyson-kathleen-kennedy-among-film-academy-honorees. September 6, 2018. live. en-US.
  25. Web site: Honorary British Awards to Foreign Nationals – 2019. May 25, 2019. May 25, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190525195316/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/802928/2019_Honorary_awards_V1.odt. live.
  26. Web site: Kathleen Kennedy to receive BAFTA Fellowship. December 6, 2019. December 6, 2019. December 16, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191216232753/http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/bafta-fellowship-kathleen-kennedy. live.
  27. Book: National Student Film Institute/L.A: The Sixteenth Annual Los Angeles Student Film Festival. June 10, 1994. 10–11. Program.
  28. Book: Los Angeles Student Film Institute: 13th Annual Student Film Festival. June 7, 1991. 3. Program.
  29. Web site: Past Recipients . WIF.org. June 21, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110630083646/http://wif.org/past-recipients. 2011-06-30.
  30. Web site: Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement. 2021-11-30. American Academy of Achievement. December 15, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161215023909/https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/. live.
  31. Web site: September 22, 2012. History. https://web.archive.org/web/20120922202709/http://www.producersguild.org/?page=history. September 22, 2012. October 2, 2012. Producers Guild of America.
  32. Web site: Awards Retrospective . WIF.org . https://web.archive.org/web/20140806194208/http://www.wif.org/awards-restrospective . 2014-08-06 . 2012-10-02.

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