Next person biography:
Ilya Salkind was born in Mexico City and grew up in the world of motion pictures. His grandfather, Michael Salkind, was a pioneer of silent films and produced The Joyless Street (1925) featuring Greta Garbo in her first major role. Ilya's father, Alexander Salkind, was also a successful filmmaker, and Ilya followed in their footsteps, becoming the third generation of Salkind filmmakers.
Ilya started his career as a producer and has accumulated a stunning filmography. He produced The Three Musketeers (1973) and The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge (1974) with his father and grandfather, which was the first time a film and its sequel were shot simultaneously. Ilya was nominated for a Golden Globe for his work on The Three Musketeers (1973).
Ilya then went on to initiate the blockbuster "Superman" franchise, one of the most successful in film history. The Academy Award-winning Superman (1978) was the first major Comic Book film adaptation ever made. Under Ilya's supervision, this film and its first two sequels became worldwide blockbusters.
Ilya's venture into television, Superboy (1988-1992),also proved successful, lasting four seasons for a total of 100 episodes. The show was recognized by the Young Artist Awards as one of the Best Family Series on television.
After producing the $50 million Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992) with Marlon Brando, Benicio Del Toro, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ilya and his wife Jane Chaplin settled down in Orlando, Florida and took a sabbatical to raise their two young sons.
