Tim Zinnemann Explained

Tim Zinnemann
Birth Date:15 April 1940
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation:Film producer, assistant director, photographer
Years Active:1960–present
Children:5

Tim Zinnemann (born April 15, 1940) is an American film producer, former assistant director, and photographer. He is best known for his work on the films The Cowboys, The Long Riders, The Running Man and The Island of Dr. Moreau.

Life and career

Zinnemann was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of director Fred Zinnemann and Renee Bartlett.[1] He attended Columbia University, but left before graduation to work as a film editor in Italy.[1]

He began his career as an assistant director on the film Harlow (1965). Other films followed such as Cast a Giant Shadow, What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (both released in 1966), The Happening (1967), Bullitt (1968), and the Western television series Cimarron Strip. His other assistant directorial credits include The Great White Hope (1970), The Reivers (1969), Cinderella Liberty (1973), The Day of the Locust (1975), Farewell, My Lovely (1975) and Smile (1975).

He then became a line producer. His credits include Straight Time (1978), A Small Circle of Friends (1980), The Long Riders (1980), Impulse (1984), Fandango (1985), The Running Man (1987), Lies of the Twins (1991), Street Fighter and The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996), his last producing credit. In 1985, he directed an episode of Miami Vice, his only directing credit to date.

Since 1992, Zinnemann focused on photography, working for various publications.[2]

Personal life

Zinnemann married his first wife, Anna Bellini, in Italy. He married his second wife, Sharon M. McLaglen, in 1967. The couple had one child before divorcing in 1972. In 1983, Zinnemann married actress Meg Tilly,[1] who was 20 years his junior. Together they had two children, Emily (b. 1984) and David (b. 1986), before their divorce in 1989. Zinnemann's fourth marriage was to actress Christine M. Walton in 1995. They also had two children, before divorcing in 2001.

Filmography

He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

YearFilmCredit
1972 The Cowboys Associate producer
1975 Smile Associate producer
1976 Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood Associate producer
1978 Straight Time
1980 A Small Circle of Friends
The Long Riders
1982 Tex
1984 Impulse
1985 Fandango
1986 Crossroads Executive producer
1987 The Running Man
1989 Pet Sematary Executive producer
1994 Street Fighter Executive producer
1996 The Island of Dr. Moreau Executive producer
Second unit director or assistant director
YearFilmRoleNotes
1964 Kiss Me, Stupid Assistant director Uncredited
1965 The Hallelujah Trail
Harlow
1966 Cast a Giant Shadow
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
1967 The Happening
1968 Bullitt
1969 The Reivers
1970 The Great White Hope
1971 Carnal Knowledge
1972 The Cowboys
The King of Marvin Gardens
1973 Cinderella Liberty First assistant director
1975 Smile Assistant director
The Day of the Locust
Farewell, My Lovely First assistant director
Production manager
YearFilmRole
1973 Cinderella Liberty Production manager
The Day of the Dolphin
1975 Farewell, My Lovely Unit production manager
1976 Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Editorial department
Thanks

Television

YearTitleNotes
1979 The Jericho Mile Television film
1991 Lies of the Twins Television film
Second unit director or assistant director
As director

Notes and References

  1. http://www.xmission.com/~waynew/intrview2.htm "Meg Tilly Interviews"
  2. http://www.timzinnemann.com/biography.htm Tim Zinnemann biography at official website