Meir Teper is an Israeli film producer and businessman renowned as a co-founder of the Nobu restaurant and hotel chain, which he established in 1994 alongside actor Robert De Niro and chef Nobu Matsuhisa.^[1][2] Teper began his career in the film industry in the 1980s, with early credits including a minor acting role as a customer at a cafe in the 1983 drama Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? and producing independent features.^[3] His production credits expanded in the 1990s with notable films including the critically acclaimed coming-of-age story What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as the Quentin Tarantino-scripted action-horror From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), featuring Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, and Salma Hayek.^[3] Later works include the 1992 romantic comedy Mistress, produced in association with Tribeca Productions, and the 2009 family drama Everybody's Fine, directed by Kirk Jones and starring Robert De Niro.^[3][4] Teper's transition to business came through his partnership with De Niro and Matsuhisa, initially investing in and co-founding the first Nobu restaurant in New York City's Tribeca neighborhood in 1994, the same year he purchased a Malibu beach house for $2 million.^[1][2] Under his involvement, Nobu Hospitality grew from a single location to a luxury global brand, now operating more than 58 restaurants and 18 hotels across five continents as of late 2025, with a company valuation of $900 million.^[5] Teper has been instrumental in the brand's expansion, including high-profile openings like the Nobu Hotel Marbella in 2018 and the first Nobu Hotel & Restaurant in Rome, Italy, in 2025, emphasizing a blend of Japanese cuisine, refined service, and location-specific design.^[2][5]

Early life

Upbringing and family

Meir Teper was born in October 1939 in Israel.^[6] As of 2025, he is 86 years old.^[7] Teper holds dual American-Israeli identity, having relocated to the United States later in life, and has been described as an Israeli businessman in media accounts.^[8] These connections stem from his birth and early life in Israel, though specific details on family immigration history or citizenship affiliations beyond this are not publicly detailed. Information on Teper's parents and any siblings is scarce, with no widely available records illuminating his immediate family background or its influence on his formative years. Teper spent his early life in Israel, but public documentation of his environments, relocations, or personal experiences during this period remains limited.

Entry into fashion industry

Meir Teper entered the fashion industry after relocating from Israel to the United States, building on his early training as a dancer to establish himself as a fashion impresario in the competitive New York scene.^[6] His career in fashion spanned the 1970s and 1980s, a period marked by rapid growth in the sector, where he developed key entrepreneurial skills through involvement in business development and networking among industry leaders.^[9] Teper's experiences in fashion not only sharpened his deal-making abilities but also cultivated connections within creative and high-society circles that bridged into entertainment.^[6] These relationships paved the way for his shift to film production in the early 1980s, where he began collaborating with prominent Hollywood figures, setting the stage for later business expansions.^[9]

Film career

Transition to production

After establishing a successful career in the fashion industry, where he developed strong business acumen applicable to entertainment deals, Meir Teper transitioned to film around 1983 by leveraging his industry contacts for entry into Hollywood.^[10][11] Teper's debut in the film world came with a minor acting role as a customer at a café in the independent drama Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? (1983), directed by Henry Jaglom, which served as an initial foothold and introduction to production circles.^[12][13] Building on this, Teper took on his first production role as associate producer for the documentary Stripper (1985), marking his shift toward behind-the-scenes involvement in film development.^[14] By 1992, he advanced to co-producer on Barry Primus's satirical comedy Mistress, where he handled key aspects of financing and budget management, drawing on a recommendation from producer Arnon Milchan, whom he had met through business ventures in the early 1980s.^[15][16] During this transitional period in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Teper began networking with prominent Hollywood figures, including Robert De Niro, forging connections that would later extend into joint business endeavors beyond film.^[9]

Key films and collaborations

Teper's production career gained prominence with What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), a poignant family drama directed by Lasse Hallström that explored themes of small-town stagnation and emotional burdens in Endora, Iowa. As one of the key producers alongside David Matalon and Bertil Ohlsson, Teper helped shepherd the adaptation of Peter Hedges' novel into a critically acclaimed indie gem, earning a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 51 reviews for its sensitive portrayal of dysfunction and Johnny Depp's breakout performance.^[17] In 1996, Teper produced From Dusk Till Dawn, a genre-bending crime thriller that transitioned into horror, directed by Robert Rodriguez from a screenplay by Quentin Tarantino, who also starred alongside George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, and Juliette Lewis. The film, made on a $19 million budget, grossed $25.8 million domestically and achieved cult status for its audacious shift from heist narrative to vampire mayhem, influencing a franchise including sequels and a TV series.^[18][19] Teper served as executive producer on Everybody's Fine (2009), a heartfelt drama starring Robert De Niro as a widower embarking on a cross-country journey to reconnect with his estranged adult children, directed by Kirk Jones.^[20] The film delved into themes of parental regret, family secrets, and the passage of time, receiving mixed reviews with a 47% Rotten Tomatoes score from 141 critics, though praised for De Niro's nuanced performance conveying quiet vulnerability.^[21] Throughout his producing tenure from 1986 to 2009, Teper's work exemplified a style that merged indie sensibilities—favoring character-driven stories and unconventional narratives—with mainstream appeal, as seen in the intimate realism of Gilbert Grape contrasting the explosive genre hybrid of Dusk. His partnership with Robert De Niro originated from early industry networking and culminated in collaborations like Everybody's Fine.^[3]

Business ventures

Founding Nobu

In 1994, Meir Teper, a film producer and fashion impresario, joined forces with actor Robert De Niro and chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, in partnerships with Drew Nieporent as the operator, to establish the Nobu restaurant chain, following De Niro's repeated visits to Matsuhisa's acclaimed Los Angeles eatery starting in 1988.^[22][9] Their partnership originated from Teper's professional ties in the film industry with De Niro, leveraging shared networks to pursue this venture beyond cinema.^[9] As an early investor and co-founder, Teper played a pivotal role in business strategy, including negotiations and operational setup, while drawing on funding from his connections in fashion and film circles to support the launch.^[23][24] The inaugural Nobu opened in New York City's Tribeca neighborhood, within the Financial District, transforming a former bank space into a sleek dining venue that blended minimalist Japanese design with an air of exclusivity.^[22][25] The restaurant's concept centered on high-end Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine, innovating traditional sushi and sashimi with Peruvian ingredients like anticuchos and tiradito, alongside signature dishes such as miso-marinated black cod and squid "pasta"—dishes that highlighted Matsuhisa's cross-cultural expertise from his time in Peru and Japan.^[25] Initial challenges included refining service and ambiance to overcome criticisms from the Los Angeles original, such as noise and perceived brusqueness, positioning the New York outpost as a more polished iteration still evolving toward its full potential.^[25] Nobu quickly achieved early success in the mid-1990s, becoming an instant hit for its exceptional food quality and innovative menu that appealed to both adventurous diners and sushi purists.^[23][25] It drew rapid popularity among celebrities and high-profile clientele, including Hollywood stars drawn by De Niro's involvement, while earning critical acclaim for elevating fusion dining with thoughtful presentations and diverse offerings like tempura and salads.^[25][26] This buzz solidified Nobu's status as a cultural phenomenon, thronged with celebrity-watchers eager to sample its groundbreaking dishes.^[26]

Expansion of Nobu empire

Following the success of the original New York restaurant in 1994, Nobu Hospitality, co-founded by Meir Teper alongside Robert De Niro and Nobu Matsuhisa, rapidly expanded internationally, growing from a single location to over 58 restaurants worldwide by late 2025.^[5] Key early milestones included the 1997 opening of Nobu London on Old Park Lane, which introduced the brand to Europe and quickly became a celebrity hotspot blending Japanese-Peruvian cuisine with Cool Britannia glamour.^[27] This was followed by the 1999 debut of Nobu Malibu in California, marking the brand's West Coast entry and emphasizing oceanfront luxury dining that attracted Hollywood elites.^[28] Expansion into Asia accelerated in the early 2000s, with Nobu Hong Kong opening in 2000 as the first outpost on the continent, followed by Nobu Tokyo in 2007, which brought the fusion style back to its culinary roots while adapting to local tastes. These openings established Nobu as a global dining phenomenon, with locations spanning five continents and influencing modern fusion cuisine through signature dishes like black cod miso.^[5] In the 2010s, Teper played a pivotal role in diversifying the brand beyond restaurants into hospitality, spearheading the launch of Nobu Hotels to create integrated luxury experiences. The first Nobu Hotel opened in 2013 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, setting the template for properties that combine dining, accommodations, and residences under one roof.^[29] Under Teper's strategic oversight as co-owner, the hotel portfolio grew to 18 properties by 2025, emphasizing curated, destination-specific designs—such as the Nobu Ryokan Malibu, a traditional Japanese inn-style retreat opened in 2017 on a pristine beachfront, and the Nobu Hotel Roma, which debuted in November 2025 in a historic palazzo redesigned by the Rockwell Group with 120 rooms and a sake-barrel ceremony.^[30][31] Teper's investments focused on sustainability and authenticity, incorporating elements like solar panels in Manila and local materials in each site to maintain the brand's vision of effortless luxury without diluting its Japanese essence.^[32] Teper's ongoing involvement in strategic decisions has been instrumental in scaling Nobu into a hospitality powerhouse, with the empire valued at over $900 million by 2025 and plans for 80 hotels by 2030.^[5][33] This growth includes high-profile residences, such as the sold-out 660-unit project in Toronto launched in 2024, demonstrating robust demand and financial milestones.^[32] Culturally, Nobu has reshaped global dining by popularizing high-end fusion as a lifestyle brand, frequented by celebrities and influencing urban culinary scenes from London to Tokyo, while prioritizing innovative wellness offerings like longevity programs in Malibu.^[5]

Filmography

Film

Meir Teper's involvement in feature films began with an acting role in the independent drama Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? (1983), directed by Henry Jaglom, where he appeared as a customer at a cafe alongside stars Karen Black and Michael Emil; the film received praise for its intimate portrayal of urban loneliness but had limited commercial success.^[12] He served as associate producer on the documentary Stripper (1985), directed by Jerome Gary, which explores the lives of professional strippers competing in a contest and received positive reviews for its raw portrayal of the subculture.^[14] In 1992, Teper transitioned to producing with Mistress, a satirical comedy directed by Barry Primus, in which he served as a producer; the ensemble cast included Robert Wuhl, Martin Landau, and a cameo by Robert De Niro, and it earned modest reviews for its Hollywood insider humor, holding a 5.4/10 rating on IMDb.^[34] Teper produced the critically acclaimed drama What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), directed by Lasse Hallström and based on Peter Hedges' novel, featuring Johnny Depp in the title role and a breakout performance by Leonardo DiCaprio as his brother; the film was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for DiCaprio, and is noted for its poignant exploration of family dynamics in small-town America.^[35] Teper produced the sports drama When Saturday Comes (1996), directed by Maria Giese and starring Sean Bean as an aspiring footballer from a working-class background in Sheffield, England; the film highlights themes of determination and class struggle in British soccer culture.^[36] As a producer on the action-horror film From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), directed by Robert Rodriguez from a screenplay by Quentin Tarantino, Teper contributed to a project starring George Clooney, Tarantino, Harvey Keitel, and Juliette Lewis; the movie became a cult favorite for blending crime thriller elements with vampire tropes, grossing over $25 million worldwide on a $19 million budget.^[37] Teper served as co-executive producer on the psychological thriller The Blackout (1997), directed by Abel Ferrara and starring Matthew Modine as a man grappling with amnesia and moral dilemmas after a night of excess; the film explores themes of guilt and redemption in urban noir style.^[38] Teper was executive producer on the direct-to-video action-horror sequel From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money (1999), directed by Scott Spiegel, continuing the vampire saga with a heist gone wrong in Mexico starring Robert Patrick and Bo Hopkins.^[39] Teper produced the comedy-drama Crazy in Alabama (1999), directed by Antonio Banderas in his directorial debut, starring Melanie Griffith as an aspiring actress and Lucas Black in a parallel story of civil rights in the 1960s South; the film intertwines dark humor with social commentary.^[40] Teper was executive producer on the direct-to-video action-horror prequel From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter (2000), directed by John Chappell, set in the 19th century Wild West with vampires, starring Marco Leonardi and Michael Parks.^[41] Teper's most recent credited film role was as executive producer on Everybody's Fine (2009), a family drama remake directed by Kirk Jones and starring Robert De Niro as a widowed father reconnecting with his adult children, including Drew Barrymore and Kate Beckinsale; the film received mixed reviews for its sentimental tone but highlighted De Niro's versatile performance.^[42] In 2024, Teper appeared as himself in the documentary Nobu, directed by Matt Tyrnauer, which chronicles the life and culinary empire of chef Nobu Matsuhisa, including his partnerships with Teper and Robert De Niro.^[43]

Television

Meir Teper's involvement in television is limited, primarily consisting of a special thanks credit in the El Rey Network series From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series.^[44] This recognition appeared in the season three episode "Dark Side of the Sun," aired in 2016, acknowledging his contributions as a producer on the original 1996 film adaptation.^[45] The credit reflects extensions of his film work into serialized formats, where original collaborators often provide guidance on continuity and creative elements. No other television productions, advisory roles, or on-screen appearances are documented in Teper's professional record.^[3]