Mark Johnson
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Biography
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Biography
Although executive producers Jon Peters and Peter Guber grabbed an Oscar the night "Rain Man" (1988) won Best Picture honors and posed for a widely-circulated picture, the real winner of the statuette was the film's producer Mark Johnson, longtime collaborator of its director Barry Levinson. The pair met on the set of the Mel Brooks comedy "High Anxiety" (1977) where Levinson was the screenwriter and Johnson an assistant director, and their partnership began in earnest when Johnson executive produced Levinson's acclaimed directorial debut, "Diner" (1982). After that, he served as producer on all 10 of Levinson's movies through "Jimmy Hollywood" (1994), as well as co-executive producing the short-lived ABC comedy series "Harry" (1987). Although the self-effacing Johnson does not attribute any of the artistic achievement of these films (including "The Natural" 1984, "Tin Men" 1987, "Avalon" 1990, and "Bugsy" 1991) to his efforts, he clearly showed a sensitive and supportive talent for opening creative spaces for Levinson, his actors and crew.
Johnson and Levinson were all set to make "Donnie Brasco" (1997) with Al Pacino and Tom Cruise when "GoodFellas" (1990) came out and "no one wanted to compete with Martin Scorsese," so they shelved the movie indefinitely, eventually casting Johnny Depp opposite Pacino. Away from Levinson, Johnson produced Clint Eastwood's "A Perfect World" (1993) and Alfonso Cuaron's remake of "The Little Princess" (1995), the third film adapted from Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel "Sarah Crewe." Don Parisot's "Home Fries" (1998), starring Drew Barrymore, reteamed him with Levinson (and Lawrence Kasdan and Charles Newirth) as producers, and he executive produced Rand Ravich's "The Astronaut's Wife" (1999). Among the numerous projects Johnson has in various stages of development are the TV pilot "Falcone," based on the same material that was the basis for "Donnie Brasco," and a screen version of Nicholas Sparks' best-seller "The Notebook" (lensed 1999).
Filmography
Assistant Direction (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Film Production - Main (Feature Film)
Special Thanks (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Life Events
1953
Moved to Spain with mother, brother and sister at age seven
1964
Moved back to the United States at age 18 to enroll at the University of Virginia
1974
Moved to New York City; worked as a production assistant on TV commercials; began in editing, later assumed responsibilities related to producing
1976
Studies with DGA program led to first feature film credit as production assistant on Paul Mazursky's "Next Stop, Greenwich Village"
1977
Worked as an assistant director on Mel Brooks' "High Anxiety"; first met Barry Levinson, one of the film's writers
1980
Served as executive in charge of production on William Friedkin's controversial "Cruising", starring Al Pacino
1982
First collaboration with director/screenwriter Levinson; executive produced "Diner"
1983
Produced "Diner", a half-hour TV adaptation for CBS of the successful feature film; unsold pilot based on the successful film
1987
Co-executive produced (with Levinson and star Alan Arkin) short-lived ABC comedy series, "Harry"
1988
With Levinson, produced the Oscar-winning Best Picture "Rain Man"
1991
First film produced by Baltimore Pictures not directed by Levinson, Steven Soderbergh's "Kafka"
1991
Served as a producer (along with Levinson and star Warren Beatty) on the Academy Award nominated Best Picture "Bugsy"
1993
Reteamed with Clint Eastwood (who directed and co-starred) as producer of "A Perfect World"
1995
Produced Alfonso Cuaron's remake of "The Little Princess"
1996
Signed two-year production deal with DreamWorks
1997
Reunited with Levinson as producer on "Donnie Brasco", helmed by Mike Newell and starring Pacino and Johnny Depp
1998
One of four producers (along with Levinson, Lawrence Kasdan and Charles Newirth) for Don Parisot's "Home Fries", starring Drew Barrymore
1999
Executive produced "The Astronaut's Wife", directed by Rand Ravich; project reuinted him with star Johnny Depp
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