Bruckheimer, Jerry

▪ 2006

 Already one of Hollywood's most successful movie producers—his explosion-laden, action-packed films had grossed some $3 billion at the U.S. box office—Jerry Bruckheimer proved he could also make a bang on the small screen. In 2005 he made television history as the first producer to have 10 shows air in a single season (2005–06). This feat came after six of his series—CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, Without a Trace, Cold Case, CSI: NY, and The Amazing Race—finished the 2004–05 season in the top 25, with CSI: Crime Scene Investigation the number one scripted show. Much of his success could be credited to his unique brand of “feature television,” in which he brought elements of moviemaking, including high production standards and intricate story lines, to the small screen. In addition to his TV work, Bruckheimer continued to produce films, and two highly anticipated projects were the sequels to Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), a family-friendly swashbuckler that starred Johnny Depp (Depp, Johnny ) (q.v.) and grossed more than $650 million worldwide.

      Jerome Bruckheimer was born on Sept. 21, 1945, in Detroit. After graduating from the University of Arizona in 1965, he embarked on an advertising career in New York City and eventually began producing TV commercials. His interest soon turned to film, and in the early 1970s he moved to California. He attracted attention with American Gigolo (1979) and had his first major success with Flashdance (1983). Bruckheimer worked with Don Simpson to produce the surprise hit, and the production company the two men had formed went on to churn out a string of blockbusters, including the Eddie Murphy comedy Beverly Hills Cop (1984); Top Gun (1986), which established Tom Cruise as a star; and Bad Boys (1995). That same year Bruckheimer ended his partnership with Simpson and launched a highly successful solo career, scoring such hits as Armageddon (1998), Black Hawk Down (2001), and National Treasure (2004).

      In the late 1990s Bruckheimer began producing TV series, and in 2000 he had his first success with CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, a drama about forensic investigators in Las Vegas, Nev. The series was praised for its realism and distinct look, qualities that became trademarks of his programs, and its immense popularity eventually led to spin-offs set in Miami, Fla. (2002), and New York City (2004). Other Bruckheimer series came to include the crime dramas Without a Trace (2002) and Cold Case (2003) as well as the travel competition The Amazing Race (2001). The shows all aired on CBS, and by the end of the 2003–04 season, they had helped make the channel the most watched in the U.S. In the 2005–06 season Bruckheimer introduced four new shows—E-Ring, Close to Home, Modern Men, and Just Legal, although the latter was canceled after several episodes.

Amy Tikkanen

* * *

▪ American film producer

in full  Jerome Leon Bruckheimer 

born Sept. 21, 1945, Detroit, Mich., U.S.

 

 American film and television producer whose many explosion-laden, action-packed movies made him one of Hollywood's most successful producers.

      Bruckheimer, who developed a love for both film and photography while growing up in Detroit, graduated from the University of Arizona in 1965 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. He embarked on an advertising career in New York City and eventually began producing television commercials, but his interest soon turned to film. In the early 1970s he moved to California and began to work as a producer. Bruckheimer attracted attention with American Gigolo (1979) and had his first major success with Flashdance (1983), which he coproduced with Don Simpson. The two men formed a production company and went on to create a string of blockbusters, including the comedy Beverly Hills Cop (1984), which featured Eddie Murphy (Murphy, Eddie), Top Gun (1986), which established Tom Cruise as a star, and Bad Boys (1995). After he and Simpson ended their partnership in 1995, Bruckheimer started producing films on his own, creating such hits as Armageddon (1998), Black Hawk Down (2001), and National Treasure (2004).

  In the late 1990s Bruckheimer began producing television series, and in 2000 he had his first success with CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, a drama about forensic investigators in Las Vegas. The series was praised for its realism and distinct look, qualities that became trademarks of his programs, and its immense popularity eventually led to spin-offs set in Miami (2002) and New York City (2004). Bruckheimer built on his accomplishments by continuing to create television shows—including other investigative crime dramas and the reality series The Amazing Race—that brought the high production standards and intricate story lines of movies to the small screen. In 2005 he made television history as the first producer to have 10 shows air in a single season (2005–06). In addition to his television work, Bruckheimer continued his career in film. He produced the thriller Déjà Vu (2006) and found immense success with the Pirates of the Caribbean series—The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Dead Man's Chest (2006), and At World's End (2007). The films, which starred Johnny Depp (Depp, Johnny), were among the highest-grossing movies of all time.

 

* * *