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Lawrence Turman
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Lawrence Turman (November 28, 1926 – July 1, 2023) was an American film producer. He was best known for being a producer of The Graduate, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Turman was born in Los Angeles, California, on November 28, 1926, into a Jewish family.[1] His father was Jacob Turman and his mother Esther Gldman Turman.[2] Turman served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.[3]
Career
[edit]Turman was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture as producer of The Graduate (1967).[4][5] He also produced other films such as Pretty Poison (1968), The Great White Hope (1970), The Thing (1982),[6] Mass Appeal (1984), Short Circuit (1986), The River Wild (1994), and American History X (1998).[7]
Turman also directed two films: The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker (1971) and Second Thoughts (1983).[7]
Turman was co-partner on The Turman/Foster Company with David Foster, which was established in 1972, to make theatrical films, which was increasingly prominent in television production, in order to eye on television movies, and planned work on series, and eyeing television sales, and the company ran under contract to Warner Bros., developing their failed television pilots, like Mass Appeal.[8]
Turman was a member of the Producers Guild Hall of Fame.[9] He was the director of The Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California.[7]
Turman published the book So You Want to be a Producer in 2005.[10]
In 2014, he appeared as a guest critic on the fourth season of the web series On Cinema. In 2015, he appeared as himself in ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary Trojan War.[11]
Death
[edit]Turman died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Los Angeles on July 1, 2023, at the age of 96.[9]
Filmography
[edit]He was producer for all films unless otherwise noted.
Film
[edit]| Year | Film | Credit | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | The Young Doctors | |||
| 1963 | I Could Go On Singing | |||
| Stolen Hours | Executive producer | |||
| 1964 | The Best Man | |||
| 1967 | The Flim-Flam Man | |||
| The Graduate | ||||
| 1968 | Pretty Poison | Executive producer | ||
| 1970 | The Great White Hope | |||
| 1971 | The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker | |||
| 1974 | The Nickel Ride | Executive producer | ||
| 1975 | The Drowning Pool | |||
| 1977 | First Love | |||
| Heroes | ||||
| 1979 | Walk Proud | |||
| 1981 | Caveman | |||
| 1982 | The Thing | |||
| 1983 | Second Thoughts | |||
| 1984 | Mass Appeal | |||
| 1985 | The Mean Season | |||
| 1986 | Short Circuit | |||
| Running Scared | ||||
| 1988 | Short Circuit 2 | |||
| Full Moon in Blue Water | ||||
| 1989 | Gleaming the Cube | |||
| 1994 | The Getaway | |||
| The River Wild | ||||
| 1997 | Booty Call | Executive producer | ||
| 1998 | American History X | Executive producer | ||
| 2001 | Kingdom Come | Executive producer | ||
| What's the Worst That Could Happen? | ||||
| 2011 | The Thing | Executive producer | Final film as a producer |
- Miscellaneous crew
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | I Could Go On Singing | Presenter |
| 1964 | The Best Man | |
| 1980 | Tribute |
- As director
| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 1971 | The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker |
| 1983 | Second Thoughts |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | The Flim-Flam Man | Executive producer | Television pilot |
| 1973 | She Lives! | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1974 | Get Christie Love! | Executive producer | Television film |
| The Morning After | Executive producer | Television film | |
| Unwed Father | Executive producer | Television film | |
| 1982 | Between Two Brothers | Executive producer | Television film |
| The Gift of Life | Executive producer | Television film | |
| 1986 | News at Eleven | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1996 | Pretty Poison | Executive producer | Television film |
| 1998 | The Long Way Home | Executive producer | Television film |
| 2000 | Miracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family Story | Executive producer | Television film |
- Miscellaneous crew
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Savages | Creative consultant | Television film |
References
[edit]- ^ Erens, Patricia (1998). The Jew in American Cinema. Indiana University Press. p. 392. ISBN 978-0-253-20493-6.
- ^ "New York Times. pg B9". July 8, 2023.
- ^ Lawrence Turman, Oscar-nominated producer of ‘The Graduate,’ dies at 96 Los Angeles Times via Internet Archive. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
- ^ Hello Again, Mrs Robinson
- ^ The 40th Academy Awards (1968) Nominees and Winner
- ^ a b Canby, Vincent (June 25, 1982). "The Thing, Horror and Science Fiction". New York Times. Retrieved March 4, 2009.
- ^ a b c Saperstein, Pat (July 3, 2023). "Lawrence Turman, Oscar-Nommed for Producing 'The Graduate,' Dies at 96". Variety. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ "Theatrical Production Company Turman Foster Eyeing TV Sales". Variety. December 31, 1986. p. 32.
- ^ a b Barnes, Mike (July 3, 2023). "Lawrence Turman, Oscar-Nominated Producer of 'The Graduate,' Dies at 96". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ Clack, Erin. "Lawrence Turman, Oscar-Nominated Producer of 'The Graduate,' Dead at 96". People. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ Fienberg, Daniel (October 12, 2015). "'30 for 30: Trojan War': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| People | |
| Other | |
Lawrence Turman
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Family background
Lawrence Turman was born on November 28, 1926, in Los Angeles, California, to Jewish parents Jacob Turman, a fabric business owner, and Esther Goldberg Turman.[4][3][5] The family resided in Los Angeles, where Turman's father operated an upholstery and fabric shop in downtown, immersing the young Turman in the practicalities of small business management from an early age and shaping his initial understanding of commerce.[4][6] As an only child in this close-knit household, Turman embodied the quintessential "L.A. boy through and through," spending his formative years immersed in the city's vibrant street life and pursuing passions like sports, particularly basketball, which he excelled at during his youth.[4][7][8]Education
Turman graduated from Los Angeles High School, where he excelled in athletics as an all-city basketball player and contributed to student journalism as the sports editor of the school newspaper.[2] After high school, he served two years in the U.S. Navy.[4][2] He then attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he earned a bachelor's degree in English literature.[3] After completing his degree, Turman briefly worked in his father's fabric business, a short transitional period that bridged his academic background to his ambitions in the entertainment industry.[4]Career
Entry into entertainment
After graduating from UCLA with a degree in English literature, Turman initially supported himself by working in his father's garment business in downtown Los Angeles, where he carried bolts of cloth and faced repeated rejections while trying to make sales across multiple floors of manufacturing buildings.[9] He found the work grueling and unfulfilling, preferring pursuits in theater and film, which prompted him to seek opportunities in the entertainment industry.[4] In 1955, Turman responded to a blind advertisement in Variety for an experienced agent and secured a position as an assistant at the Kurt Frings Agency, a small firm specializing in European talent, despite having no prior experience; he was hired for his energy and willingness to work for $50 a week.[9] He was soon promoted to full agent and represented high-profile clients including actress Joan Fontaine and director Alan J. Pakula, as well as several performers who appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest.[4] This role immersed him in Hollywood's inner workings, allowing him to build essential connections among producers, directors, and executives.[10] By the late 1950s, Turman began transitioning from talent representation to producing, leveraging his industry contacts to pursue creative projects and partnerships that would define his later career.[4]Breakthrough productions
Turman's entry into film production began with The Young Doctors (1961), a medical drama co-produced with Stuart Millar. Subsequent early credits included Stolen Hours (1963), starring Susan Hayward, and I Could Go on Singing (1963), a musical drama directed by Ronald Neame and co-produced with Stuart Millar, featuring Judy Garland in one of her final leading roles as a celebrated singer navigating personal turmoil.[11][12][10] In October 1963, as a novice producer, Turman optioned the film rights to Charles Webb's debut novel The Graduate for $1,000 after reading a positive review in The New York Times, recognizing its potential to capture the disillusionment of post-college youth.[13][14] Leveraging connections from his earlier career as a talent agent, Turman recruited stage director Mike Nichols—who had no prior film experience—to helm the adaptation, leading to a screenplay by Buck Henry that amplified the story's satirical edge on suburban conformity and generational conflict.[3][15] Released in December 1967, The Graduate became a landmark success, earning $43.7 million in domestic rentals during its initial run—making it the highest-grossing film of the year—and ultimately accumulating over $104 million in North American box office receipts, a testament to its enduring popularity through re-releases.[16][17] The film's cultural resonance as a touchstone of 1960s counterculture stemmed from its portrayal of youthful alienation, sexual liberation, and rebellion against materialistic elders, resonating deeply amid the era's social upheavals like the Vietnam War protests and the sexual revolution.[18] Building on this momentum, Turman produced The Flim-Flam Man (1967), a comedic road film directed by Irvin Kershner and starring George C. Scott as a sly con artist mentoring a young deserter, which showcased his ability to blend humor with character-driven narratives.[2] He followed with Pretty Poison (1968), serving as executive producer on Noel Black's dark comedy about a delusional arsonist (Anthony Perkins) and his unwitting accomplice (Tuesday Weld), further demonstrating his eye for offbeat, psychologically layered stories.[19] These projects marked the establishment of Lawrence Turman Productions, his independent banner that solidified his reputation in Hollywood by prioritizing innovative, youth-oriented cinema.[2]Later career highlights
In the 1970s, Turman continued to champion adaptations addressing social issues, producing The Great White Hope (1970), a film version of Howard Sackler's Pulitzer Prize-winning play about boxer Jack Johnson and racial prejudice in early 20th-century America, starring James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander.[20][3] He served as executive producer on The Nickel Ride (1974), a gritty crime drama exploring urban decay and mob influence in Los Angeles, directed by Robert Mulligan and written by Eric Roth.[21][2] Turman then produced The Drowning Pool (1975), a neo-noir thriller adapting Ross Macdonald's novel and reuniting Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward as detective Lew Archer and his client, delving into themes of corruption and family secrets in the American South.[22][4] His work in the decade culminated with First Love (1977), a coming-of-age romance directed by Joan Darling that examined young adult relationships and emotional vulnerability, marking one of the early female-directed major studio films.[23][24] The success of The Graduate allowed Turman to take greater risks in independent-style productions throughout his later career. In 1974, he partnered with David Foster to form Turman-Foster Productions, which became a prolific banner for character-driven stories and adaptations over the next two decades.[1][10] During the 1980s, Turman produced Tribute (1980), an adaptation of Bernard Slade's play starring Jack Lemmon as a dying publicist confronting his life choices, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.[25][2] He followed with The Thing (1982), John Carpenter's influential sci-fi horror remake of the 1951 film, based on John W. Campbell Jr.'s novella and focusing on isolation and paranoia in Antarctica.[3] Turman made his directorial debut with Second Thoughts (1983), a romantic comedy about a lawyer navigating suitors, though it received mixed reviews.[26][10] The decade closed with Mass Appeal (1984), another play adaptation by John Patrick Shanley about mentorship and faith within the Catholic priesthood, featuring Jack Lemmon and Zeljko Ivanek.[27][4] Turman's productions in the 1990s and 2000s shifted toward high-stakes thrillers and socially charged dramas, often through executive producing roles as his company evolved. He executive produced The River Wild (1994), a suspenseful family adventure directed by Curtis Hanson and starring Meryl Streep, adapting a story of survival against kidnappers on a rafting trip.[2] A standout was American History X (1998), a raw examination of neo-Nazism and redemption directed by Tony Kaye, with Edward Norton in a career-defining role, earning widespread acclaim for tackling white supremacy and family trauma.[10] Later efforts included executive producing What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001), a comedy starring Martin Lawrence and Danny DeVito. Over his career, Turman produced or executive produced more than 40 films, frequently emphasizing adaptations and narratives on social issues like race, identity, and human resilience.[10][4][28]Academic contributions
In 1991, Lawrence Turman was appointed director of the Peter Stark Producing Program at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, a position he held until his retirement in 2021.[1][10] Under his leadership, the program became a cornerstone of film education, emphasizing practical training for aspiring producers.[29] The Peter Stark Producing Program is a two-year, full-time graduate MFA program that enrolls approximately 24 students each year, focusing on the creative and managerial aspects of producing for film, television, and new media.[30] The curriculum integrates instruction in producing techniques, scriptwriting, marketing strategies, and financial management, requiring students to complete 2,800 hours of industry internships alongside coursework that culminates in a thesis project, such as a detailed production plan for a film or series including budget, schedule, and distribution elements.[30] Turman's extensive producing background informed his teaching methods, bridging real-world challenges with academic rigor to prepare students for professional roles.[31] Beyond USC, Turman lectured globally on film producing and served as a mentor to generations of industry professionals, drawing on his decades of experience to guide emerging talent through the complexities of the field.[32] His mentorship extended through guest lectures and advisory roles, fostering networks that supported students' transitions into Hollywood.[10] Turman also authored So You Want to Be a Producer, first published in 2005, offering practical guidance on navigating film production careers from script acquisition to distribution.[33] The book provides insider advice on key producer responsibilities, including deal-making, budgeting, and talent management, based on Turman's own successes and lessons from over 40 films.[32]Personal life and death
Marriages and family
Lawrence Turman was married three times, all of which ended in divorce. His first marriage was to Suzanne Rita Trieb on December 26, 1958 (some sources state 1959); she was an aspiring New York actress who later transitioned into interior design.[10][34] The couple had three sons: John, a screenwriter known for co-writing films like Hulk (2003); Andrew; and Peter.[2][10] They divorced in December 1974 after living in a large house in Brentwood, Los Angeles.[4][34] Turman's second marriage was to Margaret Buckley (also known as Margaret Buckley Parker) on March 19, 1976; it ended in divorce, with no children from the union.[3][34][35] His third marriage was to Lauree Berger; the date is not widely documented, but they were married as of 1994 and divorced around 2008, with no children from the union.[3][6][36] From his first marriage, Turman had four grandchildren: Audrey, Jack, Quinn, and Miles.[1] He was also survived by two nieces, Katherine and Suzanna, daughters of his brother Herbert Turman.[4][37] The family maintained close ties in the Los Angeles area, where Turman spent much of his life.[4]Death
Lawrence Turman died on July 1, 2023, at the age of 96.[2] He passed away at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.[4] The cause of death was not publicly disclosed.[38] His son, John Turman, announced the death, stating, “Our father Lawrence Turman passed away late yesterday. It’s sad, but he had a long and storied life, and it’s the passing of an era.”[10] The USC School of Cinematic Arts paid tribute to Turman, with Dean Elizabeth Daley describing him as “a movie industry legend” whose 50-year career produced classics like The Graduate and who transformed the Peter Stark Producing Program into a key training ground for the industry.[39] Provost Andrew Guzman added that Turman was “a giant in our industry” whose legacy would endure through the students he inspired at USC.[2] Industry peers shared remembrances highlighting Turman’s mentorship and wisdom, including filmmaker Iram Parveen Bilal, who noted his emphasis on “personal life and family above movies,” and producer Michael Mandaville, who called him “a considerate, thoughtful and wise producer.”[4]Awards and honors
Academy Awards nomination
Lawrence Turman received his sole Academy Awards nomination for Best Picture at the 40th Academy Awards in 1968 for producing The Graduate. The film earned seven nominations in total, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Dustin Hoffman, Best Actress for Anne Bancroft, and Best Supporting Actress for Katharine Ross, ultimately winning only for Best Director for Mike Nichols. The Graduate grossed over $104 million at the box office in the United States and Canada, becoming a massive commercial success that reflected shifting youth culture and disillusionment in the late 1960s.[17] Its cultural impact was profound, capturing generational anxieties and influencing American cinema with its innovative storytelling and iconic soundtrack, which helped cement its status as a landmark film.[1] Reflecting on the nomination, Turman described it as a brief moment of fame amid his career, stating in a 2017 interview, "I was famous after The Graduate for about 20 minutes. It's nice to get a better table at the restaurant, but basically nothing changed," viewing it as a pinnacle validation of the film's resonance with audiences.[4]Other recognitions
Turman earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy as producer of The Graduate in 1968.[40] He was inducted into the Producers Guild of America Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions to motion pictures over decades of production work.[38] In 2007, Turman received the Producers Guild of America's David O. Selznick Achievement Award for his lifetime contributions to the industry.[2] For his educational efforts, Turman received honors from the University of Southern California, where he directed the Peter Stark Producing Program from 1991 to 2021, shaping generations of film producers through innovative training in the craft and business of filmmaking.[1] Throughout his career, Turman was celebrated as a movie industry legend, with a legacy spanning fifty years of influential productions and mentorship.[10] These accolades built upon his Academy Award nomination for The Graduate, underscoring his enduring impact on cinema.[41]Filmography
Feature films
Lawrence Turman served as producer or director on numerous feature films throughout his career, spanning from the early 1960s to the early 2000s.[42]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | The Young Doctors | Producer[43] |
| 1963 | I Could Go on Singing | Producer |
| 1963 | Stolen Hours | Executive Producer[44] |
| 1964 | The Best Man | Producer |
| 1967 | The Flim-Flam Man | Producer[45] |
| 1967 | The Graduate | Producer |
| 1968 | Pretty Poison | Executive Producer |
| 1970 | The Great White Hope | Producer |
| 1971 | The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker | Director, Producer |
| 1971 | T. R. Baskin | Producer |
| 1974 | The Nickel Ride | Producer |
| 1975 | The Drowning Pool | Producer |
| 1977 | First Love | Producer |
| 1977 | Heroes | Producer |
| 1979 | Walk Proud | Producer |
| 1981 | Caveman | Producer |
| 1982 | The Thing | Producer |
| 1983 | Second Thoughts | Director, Producer |
| 1984 | Mass Appeal | Producer |
| 1985 | The Mean Season | Producer |
| 1985 | The River Rat | Producer |
| 1986 | Running Scared | Producer |
| 1986 | Short Circuit | Producer |
| 1988 | Full Moon in Blue Water | Producer |
| 1988 | Gleaming the Cube | Producer |
| 1988 | Short Circuit 2 | Producer |
| 1988 | Stealing Home | Producer |
| 1994 | The Getaway | Producer |
| 1994 | The River Wild | Producer |
| 1997 | Booty Call | Executive Producer[46] |
| 1998 | American History X | Executive Producer |
| 2001 | Kingdom Come | Executive Producer |
| 2001 | What's the Worst That Could Happen? | Producer |
Television productions
Lawrence Turman's contributions to television were more limited than his feature film work, primarily involving executive producing roles on made-for-television movies that explored social and personal dramas. These projects, often aired on networks like ABC and CBS, highlighted themes such as health crises, family conflicts, and ethical dilemmas, reflecting his interest in character-driven narratives outside theatrical releases.[3] His television credits include the following made-for-TV films, listed chronologically:| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | She Lives! | Executive producer[47] |
| 1974 | The Morning After | Executive producer[48] |
| 1974 | Get Christie Love! | Executive producer[49] |
| 1974 | Unwed Father | Executive producer[50] |
| 1982 | Between Two Brothers | Executive producer[51] |
| 1982 | The Gift of Life | Executive producer[52] |
| 1986 | News at Eleven | Executive producer[53] |
| 1996 | Pretty Poison | Executive producer[54] |
| 1998 | The Long Way Home | Executive producer[55] |
| 2000 | Miracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family Story | Executive producer[56] |