Gareth Wigan
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
In a career spanning four decades, London-born Gareth Wigan rose from talent agent to independent producer to studio executive. After graduating from Oxford, he joined the British office of MCA as an agent. Within a few years, Wigan had partnered with Richard Gregson, forming their own talent agency. By 1970, he moved to producing. Relocating to L.A., Wigan joined Twentieth Century Fox as vice president of creative affairs, teaming with Alan Ladd Jr and Jay Kanter. The studio enjoyed one of its best years in 1977 with the release of such box-office successes as "Star Wars," "The Turning Point" and "Julia." Under his aegis, Fox also produced Ridley Scott's "Alien" (1979).
In 1979, Ladd, Kanter and Wigan formed The Ladd Company, a subsidiary of Warner Communications, Inc. The company had a success d'estime with Philip Kaufman's Oscar-nominated "The Right Stuff" (1980) and the crowd-pleasing "Police Academy" (1984). After another brief stint as a producer (in partnership with Paula Weinstein) which yielded the Kevin Costner vehicle "American Flyers" (1985), Wigan joined Columbia Pictures as a production consultant. In January 1997, he was named as co-vice chairman of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, sharing responsibility with Lucy Fisher.
Life Events
1957
Joined MCA in London as an agent
1960
Worked at John Redway & Associates
1961
With Richard Gregson, formed the talent agency Gregson & Wigan Ltd
1968
Co-founded London International
1970
Became an independent film producer
1971
First feature credit as producer, "Unman Wittering & Zigo"
1975
Joined 20th Century Fox as vice president of creative affairs; worked with Alan Ladd Jr and Jay Kanter
1976
Promoted to vice president of production at Fox
1983
With Paula Weinstein, formed W.W. Productions; produced "American Flyers" (1985)
1987
Joined Columbia Pictures as a production consultant
1993
Promoted to executive vice president of Columbia Pictures
1997
Named co-vice chair of Sony Pictures Entertainment in January; shared responsibilities with Lucy Fisher
1998
In March, named as co-vice chair of the merged Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Groupn
Family
Companions
