| Don Simpson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Donald Clarence Simpson October 29, 1943 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | January 19, 1996 (aged 52) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Other name(s) | Donald C. Simpson |
| Occupation | Film producer, screenwriter, actor |
| Years active | 1975–1996 |
Donald Clarence Simpson (October 29, 1943 – January 19, 1996) was an American film producer, screenwriter, and actor. He is known for producing such hits as Flashdance, Beverly Hills Cop, Top Gun and The Rock. In 1985 and again in 1988, he and his producing partner, Jerry Bruckheimer, were named Producers of the Year by the National Association of Theatre Owners.
Contents |
Simpson was born in Seattle, Washington, grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and attended West Anchorage High School. He then went on to attend the University of Oregon,[1] where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
Simpson's unusual personal life has been documented in a number of sources. A chapter in the book You'll Never Make Love in This Town Again (which describes four prostitutes' stories about their sexual encounters with Hollywood celebrities) discusses his preferences for S & M and videotaping of their sessions. He is also known to have had several plastic surgery operations.
On January 19, 1996, Simpson was found dead in his home in Los Angeles.[2] The cause of death was a cardiac arrest from combined drug intoxication (CDI).
According to High Concept, a Simpson biography by reporter Charles Fleming, Simpson's prescription drug expenses were over $60,000 a month at the time of his death.[3] His job as an executive at Paramount Pictures came to an end when he allegedly passed out in the middle of a meeting.
The Rock is dedicated to the memory of Simpson. This fact is mentioned at the end of the movie; the beginning identifies him as co-producer with Jerry Bruckheimer. Enemy of the State also has Simpson given screen credit as an executive producer, although the final film was released several years after his death. This is presumably because both Bruckheimer and Simpson developed the story before his death.
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Aloha Bobby and Rose |
|
Writer, uncredited |
| 1976 | Cannonball | Assistant District Attorney | Writer Credited as Donald C. Simpson |
| 1983 | Flashdance |
|
Producer |
| 1984 | Beverly Hills Cop |
|
Producer |
| Thief of Hearts |
|
Producer | |
| 1986 | Top Gun |
|
Producer |
| 1987 | Beverly Hills Cop II |
|
Producer |
| 1990 | Days of Thunder | Aldo Bennedetti | Producer |
| 1994 | The Ref |
|
Executive producer |
| 1995 | Bad Boys |
|
Producer |
| Crimson Tide |
|
Producer | |
| Dangerous Minds |
|
Producer | |
| 1996 | The Rock |
|
Producer |
   | ''New York Times'' article about Simpson - The Death of Don Simpson #2 |
| | ''The Independent'' article about Simpson - Death of Don Simpson #1 |
| | Don Simpson Dead from CDI/MDI - The Death of Don Simpson |
|
|
Wikis
Quiz
Map
Search
