Mike Medavoy is a renowned American film producer, studio executive, and agent who has played a significant role in the success of numerous iconic films over the past forty years. With a career spanning over five decades, Medavoy has been involved in the production of over 300 feature films, including 17 Best Picture Oscar winners and numerous international film festival awards.
Born in Shanghai, China in 1941 to Russian-Jewish parents, Medavoy moved to Chile in 1947 and lived there until 1957. He later graduated from UCLA in 1963 and began his career in the film industry at Universal Studios in 1964. He rose from the mail room to become a casting director and later worked as an agent at General Artist Corporation and Creative Management Agency.
In 1971, Medavoy joined International Famous Agency as vice-president in charge of the motion picture department, where he worked with prestigious clients such as Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, and Terrence Malick. He then became senior vice-president of production at United Artists, overseeing the production of films such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Rocky, and Annie Hall.
In 1978, Medavoy co-founded Orion Pictures, where he oversaw the production of films like Platoon, Amadeus, and The Silence of the Lambs. He later became chairman of TriStar Pictures, where he oversaw the production of films like Philadelphia, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and Hook.
Medavoy is also the co-founder of Phoenix Pictures, where he has produced films like The People vs. Larry Flynt, The Mirror Has Two Faces, and Zodiac. He has received numerous awards and nominations for his work, including the Motion Picture Pioneer of the Year Award, the Career Achievement Award from UCLA, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cannes Film Festival.
In addition to his work in the film industry, Medavoy has been active in politics, serving as Co-Finance Chair of the Gary Hart campaign in 1984 and actively participating in President Clinton's campaigns in 1992 and 1996. He has also written two books, You're Only As Good As Your Next One and American Idol After Iraq, which reflect on his experiences in the film industry and the impact of media on U.S. foreign policy.
Medavoy has been married to Irena Ferris Medavoy, a charity executive and fundraiser, since 1970. He has two sons, Brian and Nicholas, and resides in Beverly Hills, California.
