David Blocker


Producer

Biography

David Blocker spent a decade producing the films and documentaries of writer-director Alan Rudolph--seven collaborations as of 1997--before branching out to work with directors such as Michael Apted and producing more mainstream fare. This son of actor Dan Blocker (remembered for playing Hoss on TV's "Bonanza") attended UC Berkeley and UCLA, where he studied film. While his brother Dirk...

Family & Companions

Debra Dusay
Wife

Biography

David Blocker spent a decade producing the films and documentaries of writer-director Alan Rudolph--seven collaborations as of 1997--before branching out to work with directors such as Michael Apted and producing more mainstream fare.

This son of actor Dan Blocker (remembered for playing Hoss on TV's "Bonanza") attended UC Berkeley and UCLA, where he studied film. While his brother Dirk became an actor, Blocker began by writing and directing short films, including "Scratch Shot," which was honored at the International Film Festival of the Americas. In 1983, he served as production executive on Rudolph's documentary "Return Engagement," which pitted Nixon apologist G Gordon Liddy against 60s guru Timothy Leary. The following year, Blocker produced Rudolph's "Choose Me," which looked at love and relationships in the Los Angeles nightclub scene. He remained with Rudolph throughout the 80s in a collaboration that also reaped "Trouble In Mind" (1985), in which several lives intersect in the hypnotic Rain City, "Made in Heaven" (1987), which dealt with reincarnation, and the critically-acclaimed "The Moderns" (1988), an arty, stylized look at Paris in the 20s. Into the 90s, the pair worked on "Love at Large" (1990) and "Equinox" (1993).

Blocker went on to team with Michael Apted on "Blink" (1994), about a blind witness to a murder who regains her sight. He also served as the film's second unit director. Blocker then joined with actor Bill Paxton to produce "Traveller" (1997), the feature directorial debut of acclaimed cinematographer Jack N Green. Paxton also starred as an Irish grifter who romances Julianna Margulies. The producer made his small screen debut with the HBO biopic, "Tyson" (1995), about the rise and fall of the heavyweight boxing champion.

Life Events

1980

Was assistant director on feature "The House Where Death Lives"

1983

First collaborated with writer-director Alan Rudolph on documentary "Return Engagement"

1984

Produced first feature film, "Choose Me", directed by Rudolph

1988

Served as producer on Rudolph's critically acclaimed "The Moderns"

1994

Produced "Blink"; also served as second unit director

1995

TV debut as producer with the HBO made-for-cable movie "Tyson"

1997

With Bill Paxton and Mickey Lidell, produced "Traveller", the feature directorial debut of cinematographer Jack N Green

1997

Served as producer of the acclaimed HBO TV-movie "Don King: Only in America", directed by John Herzfeld

2000

Produced Herzfeld's "Fifteen Minutes"

Family

Dan Blocker
Father
Actor. Famous as "Hoss" on the "Bonanza" TV series; born in 1928; died in 1972.
Dirk Blocker
Brother
Actor. Born in 1957; co-starred in series "Baa, Baa Black Sheep" and "Ryan's Four".

Companions

Debra Dusay
Wife

Bibliography