Lawrence Turman
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
After spending time working in the family textile business, Lawrence Turman entered show business as a talent agent in the 1950s. By 1960, he had formed a producing partnership with Stuart Millar that yielded the soapy "The Young Doctors" (1961) and the critically recognized political drama "The Best Man" (1964). Turman had perhaps his crowning achievement early as co-producer of Mike Nichols' seminal "The Graduate" (1967). After scoring with the film version of the Broadway drama "The Great White Hope" (1970), he entered into a prolific collaboration with fellow producer David Foster that resulted in such well regarded Broadway-based films, like "Mass Appeal" (1984) and youth films, like "Short Circuit" (1986) and "Gleaming the Cube" (1989). Joining with Emese Green, the newly formed TFG Films produced the Meryl Streep adventure film "The River Wild" (1991). That same year, Turman accepted the directorship of the Peter Stark Motion Picture Producing Program at USC. More recently, he and John Morrissey created a new producing entity whose first feature was "American History X" (1998), starring Edward Norton and Edward Furlong.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Production Companies (Feature Film)
Producer (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1960
With Stuart Millar, formed Millar-Turman Productions
1961
Produced first film, "The Young Doctors"
1964
Last film with Stuart Millar, "The Best Man"
1967
Formed own production company, Lawrence Turman, Inc.; first feature "The Flim-Flam Man"
1967
Was co-producer of "The Graduate"; earned Best Picture Oscar nomination
1971
Film directing debut, "The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker"; also produced
1973
Executive produced first TV-movie, "She Lives" (ABC)
1975
With David Foster, formed Turman-Foster Company (date approximate)
1983
Directed second feature "Second Thoughts"; also scripted
1986
Produced comedy hit, "Short Circuit"
1991
Founded TFG film and TV production company with David Foster and independent producer Emese Green
1991
Named director of the Peter Stark Motion Picture Producing Program at USC
1994
Produced Meryl Streep action film, "The River Wild"
1996
With John Morrissey, formed Turman/Morrissey Company; briefly took over Rastar Productions
1996
Returned to TV-movies with small screen remake of "Pretty Poison" (Fox)