Richard D. Zanuck
A Hollywood prince who forged his own legendary producing career, championing bold directors and shepherding films from 'Jaws' to 'Driving Miss Daisy.'
1934–2012 (age 78)·American film producer·Birthday: December 13·The Silent Generation
Biography
Born into Hollywood royalty as the son of 20th Century Fox mogul Darryl F. Zanuck, Richard D. Zanuck could have rested on lineage. Instead, he carved a path defined by gutsy decisions and an unerring instinct for material. Fired from the studio his father built, he partnered with David Brown, forming a producing duo that changed cinema. They bet on a young Steven Spielberg for 'The Sugarland Express' and, more famously, the troubled shark thriller 'Jaws,' a film that invented the modern summer blockbuster. Zanuck's taste was eclectic, spanning the musical spectacle of 'The Sting' to the intimate drama of 'Driving Miss Daisy,' which won him the Best Picture Oscar. Known for his steadfast loyalty to directors and a calm, problem-solving presence on even the most chaotic sets, he was the steady hand behind some of Hollywood's most enduring hits.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Richard was born in 1934, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Richard Was Born
The biggest hits of 1934
#1 Movie
It Happened One Night
Best Picture
It Happened One Night
Richard's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1934Born
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1939Started school
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1947Became a teenager
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1950Could drive
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1952Could vote
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1955Turned 21
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
1964Turned 30
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 40
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 50
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 60
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 70
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Died at 78
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
Key Achievements
- Won the Academy Award for Best Picture for producing 'Driving Miss Daisy' in 1989.
- As head of production at 20th Century Fox in his twenties, he greenlit the groundbreaking film 'The Sound of Music.'
- With partner David Brown, produced 'Jaws,' a film that redefined the summer movie season and launched Steven Spielberg's career.
Did You Know?
He was the first person to win the Best Picture Oscar whose parent had also won it (his father won for 'Gentleman's Agreement').
He famously kept a framed copy of the telegram firing him from 20th Century Fox on his office wall.
He produced Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' (2010), which grossed over $1 billion worldwide.
“I'm a dinosaur in this business, but I'm a dinosaur that still has his teeth.”
