David Kirschner
A producer who championed animated underdogs, from a singing mouse to a murderous doll, shaping childhoods and nightmares.
Born 1955 (age 71)·American producer and screenwriter·Birthday: May 29·Baby Boomers
Biography
David Kirschner operates from the belief that the most compelling stories often come in small, or startling, packages. Born in 1955, he carved a niche in Hollywood not by chasing trends but by nurturing peculiar ideas into cultural fixtures. His first major success was as the producer and story creator of 'An American Tail,' a film that proved animated features could tackle immigrant narratives with warmth and song. He then demonstrated remarkable range, shepherding the sunny, hand-drawn charm of 'Cats Don't Dance' and the gentle mischief of 'Curious George' for the big screen. In a stark parallel track, Kirschner is the man who gave voice to a toy, conceiving the 'Child's Play' franchise and unleashing Chucky upon the world. His career is a study in contrasts, built on a producer's instinct for character—whether that character is a lost mouse or a doll possessed by a serial killer.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
David was born in 1955, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1955
#1 Movie
Lady and the Tramp
Best Picture
Marty
#1 TV Show
The $64,000 Question
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1955Born
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1960Started school
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1968Became a teenager
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1971Could drive
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1973Could vote
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Turned 21
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1985Turned 30
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 40
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 50
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 60
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 70
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 71 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Created the story and served as producer for the landmark animated film 'An American Tail,' a major box office success in 1986.
- Conceived the original story for the 'Child's Play' horror franchise, introducing the enduring villain Chucky.
- Produced the animated musical 'Cats Don't Dance,' which later gained a cult following for its ambitious artistry.
- Brought the beloved literary character 'Curious George' to the big screen as a producer in 2006.
Did You Know?
He is the Chairman of the Board for the Jim Henson Company.
The character of Fievel Mousekewitz was named after his grandfather, Philip.
He initially worked as a graphic designer and illustrator before moving into film production.
“I look for stories with a strange magic that can become timeless.”
