Gary Goetzman
About
Biography
Biography
A former child actor who grew up to become the executive producer the multi-Oscar-winning "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991), Gary Goetzman has been working with director Jonathan Demme in various capacities since serving as production manager on Demme's 1974 debut "Caged Heat/Renegade Girls." Simultaneously, he has carried on a career as a composer and producer (as well as music editor and sound recordist) for such artists as Smokey Robinson, Chaka Khan and Thelma Houston.
The Los Angeles native never made it to the top rung of child actors, but he can be seen as Dick Van Dyke's son in "Divorce American Style" (1967) and alongside Tim Matheson and Morgan Brittany (then billed as Suzanne Cupito) as Henry Fonda's children in the family comedy "Yours, Mine and Ours" (1968). He has continued to act in bit roles, usually in Demme's films like "Citizens Band/Handle With Care" (1977), "Melvin and Howard" (1980) and "Married to the Mob" (1988). In both "Something Wild" (1986) and "Philadelphia" (1993), Goetzman portrayed the same character, the lounge singer Guido Paonessa. He also produced Demme's "Stop Making Sense" (1984), the excellent Talking Heads concert film which earned a citation from the National Society of Film Critics.
Separate from his work with Demme, Goetzman has been active as actor (Joel Schumacher's "The Incredible Shrinking Woman" 1981), music supervisor (Dennis Hopper's "Colors" 1988; Barbet Schroeder's "Reversal of Fortune" 1990) and producer of projects of varying quality and success ("Modern Girls" 1986; "Miami Blues" 1990). He was also producer of "Amos & Andrew" (1993), the Nicolas Cage-Samuel and with Jesse Beaton served as executive producer on Carl Franklin's underappreciated "Devil in a Blue Dress" (1995). Not only did he help produce Tom Hanks' directorial debut, "That Thing You Do!" (1996), but he also contributed several original songs to the soundtrack.
In fact, work in the music world has occupied much of Goetzman's professional career. He wrote the theme song for the 1978 syndicated TV series "Hot City Disco" and has worked with such artists as Natalie Cole, The Staple Singers, and The Manhattans. Goetzman directed the music video for Jane Child's single "Don't Want to Fall in Love," which reached Number 1 on MTV and contributed song to the soundtracks of "Fright Night" (1985), "Married to the Mob" and "Miami Blues." He and Demme reteamed for the Robyn Hitchcock concert film "Storefront Hitchcock" and "Beloved" (both 1998).
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Sound (Feature Film)
Special Thanks (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Producer (Special)
Producer (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1967
As child actor, played Dick Van Dyke's son in feature film "Divorce American Style"
1974
First collaboration with Jonathan Demme, production manager on Demme's directorial debut "Caged Heat"; also acted
1978
Wrote theme music for syndicated series "Hot City Disco"
1980
Had bit role in Demme's "Melvin and Howard"
1984
Appeared in Demme's "Swing Shift"
1984
Produced the concert film directed by Demme, "Stop Making Sense"
1986
Introduced character of lounge singer Guido Paonessa in Demme's "Something Wild"
1990
Produced "Miami Blues"; also played bit part
1991
Executive produced Demme's "The Silence of the Lambs"
1993
With Tom Hanks, formed Clavius Base, a production company
1993
Reprised role of Guido Paonessa in Demme's "Philadelphia"; also executive produced
1995
Produced (with Jesse Beaton) "Devil in a Blue Dress"
1996
Produced Tom Hanks' directorial debut, "That Thing You Do!"; also contributed several songs
1997
Signed three-year, first-look production deal with Universal under Clavius Base
1998
Served as a producer on "Beloved"
2001
With Tom Hanks, co-produced the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers"
2002
Produced the surprise hit "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"
2004
Produced Robert Zemeckis' animated film "The Polar Express"
2006
Produced the HBO series "Big Love
2007
Produced "Charlie Wilson's War," starring Tom Hanks
2008
Co-executive produced (with Tom Hanks) the HBO miniseries "John Adams"
2010
Re-teamed with Tom Hanks to produce the HBO miniseries The Pacific"
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Family
