Joe Roth
Joe Roth | |
|---|---|
 Roth in December 2016 | |
| Born | 1948 (age 75–76) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupations | Film director, chairman of 20th Century Fox (1989–1993) and Walt Disney Studios (1994–2000) |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Spouse | Donna Arkoff |
| Children | 3 |
Joseph E. "Joe" Roth[1] (born 1948) is an American film executive, producer and director. He co-founded Morgan Creek Productions in 1988 and was chairman of 20th Century Fox (1989–93), Caravan Pictures (1993–94), and Walt Disney Studios (1994–2000) before founding Revolution Studios in 2000, then Roth Films.
Early life
Roth was born in New York City, the son of Lawrence Roth, a foreman at a plastics plant,[2] and Frances Roth.[3] Roth is of Jewish heritage.[4] In 1959, Roth's father volunteered his son to be a plaintiff in the ACLU's effort to abolish mandatory prayer in public schools. The case, filed in New York, wound its way through the system, finally reaching the U.S. Supreme Court in 1962. The Court ruled that such prayer was unconstitutional under the First Amendment, in the landmark case of Engel v. Vitale.[5]
Roth attended Boston University, graduating in 1970 with a bachelor's degree in communication.[1]
Career
Over the course of his career, he has produced over 40 films, and has directed six to date, including 1990's Coupe de Ville, 2001's America's Sweethearts and 2006's Freedomland.
Roth, who was ranked 6th in Premiere Magazine's 2003 Hollywood Power List, produced the 76th annual Academy Awards. Roth announced that in October 2007, when Revolution's distribution deal with Sony Pictures ends, Revolution Studios will close and he will join Sony as a producer.
On November 13, 2007, Roth was introduced as the majority owner of a Seattle, Washington–based Major League Soccer franchise along with Paul Allen. Seattle Sounders FC—which calls CenturyLink Field home—began regular season play in 2009. On November 12, 2015, Roth passed on majority ownership to Adrian Hanauer.
Personal life
He is married to Donna Arkoff whose father was movie producer Samuel Z. Arkoff.[6] They have three children. They reside in a mansion designed by architect Douglas Honnold for Irish production designer Cedric Gibbons and Mexican actress Dolores Del Rio in 1929 in Los Angeles, California.[7]
Filmography
As Producer
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1976 | Tunnel Vision |
| 1978 | Our Winning Season |
| 1979 | Americathon |
| 1982 | Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains |
| 1983 | The Final Terror |
| 1984 | The Stone Boy |
| 1985 | Moving Violations |
| 1986 | Off Beat |
| Where the River Runs Black | |
| Streets of Gold | |
| 1987 | P.K. and the Kid |
| 1988 | Young Guns |
| 1989 | Major League |
| 1990 | Nightbreed |
| 1994 | Angels in the Outfield |
| A Low Down Dirty Shame | |
| 1995 | Houseguest |
| The Jerky Boys: The Movie | |
| Heavyweights | |
| Tall Tale | |
| While You Were Sleeping | |
| 1996 | Before and After |
| 2004 | The Forgotten |
| 2007 | The Great Debaters |
| 2010 | Alice in Wonderland |
| 2012 | Snow White & the Huntsman |
| 2013 | Oz the Great and Powerful |
| 2014 | Heaven Is for Real |
| Million Dollar Arm | |
| Maleficent | |
| 2015 | In the Heart of the Sea |
| 2016 | Miracles from Heaven |
| The Huntsman: Winter's War | |
| Alice Through the Looking Glass | |
| 2017 | xXx: Return of Xander Cage |
| 2019 | The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle |
| 2020 | Maleficent II |
As Executive Producer
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1977 | Cracking Up |
| 1984 | Bachelor Party |
| 1987 | Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise |
| 1988 | Dead Ringers (uncredited) |
| 1989 | Skin Deep |
| Renegades | |
| Enemies, a Love Story | |
| 1990 | Young Guns II |
| The Exorcist III | |
| Pacific Heights | |
| 1993 | The Three Musketeers |
| 1994 | Angie |
| 2003 | Tears of the Sun |
| Daddy Day Care | |
| Hollywood Homicide | |
| Mona Lisa Smile | |
| 2005 | An Unfinished Life |
| 2010 | Knight and Day |
| 2014 | Sabotage |
As Director
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1986 | Streets of Gold |
| 1987 | Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise |
| 1990 | Coupe de Ville |
| 2001 | America's Sweethearts |
| 2004 | Christmas with the Kranks |
| 2006 | Freedomland |
As Actor
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Tunnel Vision | Player-Announcer |
| 1977 | Cracking Up | Man (uncredited) |
Others
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | The Conversation | production assistant (uncredited) |
References
- ^ a b "B.U. Bridge". October 27, 2003.
- ^ "Joe Roth". Filmreference.com.
- ^ New York Civil Liberties Union: "Obituary: Steven Engel, Plaintiff in Landmark School Prayer Case" February 6, 2008
- ^ Engel V. Vitale By Susan Dudley Gold
- ^ Hammer, Joshua. "The Sly Dog at Fox". Newsweek, May 25, 1992.
- ^ New York Times: "Samuel Z. Arkoff, Maker of Drive-In Thrillers, Dies at 83" By ALJEAN HARMETZ September 19, 2001
- ^ Brown, Patricia Leigh (February 29, 2008). "A Moderne Masterpiece Revived". Architectural Digest. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
External links
- 1948 births
- American soccer chairmen and investors
- American film studio executives
- Living people
- Major League Soccer executives
- Businesspeople from New York City
- American film producers
- Disney people
- American people of Jewish descent
- Boston University College of Communications alumni
- Film directors from Los Angeles