Donald Clarence Simpson (October 29, 1943 â€" January 19, 1996) was an
American film producer, screenwriter, and actor. Simpson, along with
his producing partner Jerry Bruckheimer, produced such hit films as
Flashdance (1983), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Top Gun (1986), and The
Rock (1996). His films would go on to earn $3 billion
worldwide.Simpson was born October 29, 1943, in Seattle, Washington,
the son of June Hazel (née Clark), a housewife, and Russell J.
Simpson, a mechanic at Boeing at the time of his birth. He grew up in
Juneau, Alaska. His parents were strict Baptist believers and Simpson
would go to church 4-5 times a week. He would call himself a
"straight-A Bible student. He attended West Anchorage High School,
followed by the University of Oregon (English major). After
graduation, he worked as a ski instructor in Utah, and then he moved
to San Francisco where he worked for a theatrical advertising agency
and did public relations for the First International Erotic Film
Festival.In the early 1970s, Simpson moved to Los Angeles and got a
job marketing exploitation films for Warner Bros in 1971, handling
distribution marketing for the movies Woodstock and A Clockwork
Orange. In 1973, Simpson got a job at Paramount Pictures. While there,
he co-wrote the 1976 film Cannonball, in which he also had a small
role. By 1977, he was named vice-president of production at Paramount,
and president in 1981. He was fired at Paramount in 1982 after passing
out during a studio meeting due to drug use. He was working on 8
productions at once, and would regularly throw a tantrum while in
production.
American film producer, screenwriter, and actor. Simpson, along with
his producing partner Jerry Bruckheimer, produced such hit films as
Flashdance (1983), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Top Gun (1986), and The
Rock (1996). His films would go on to earn $3 billion
worldwide.Simpson was born October 29, 1943, in Seattle, Washington,
the son of June Hazel (née Clark), a housewife, and Russell J.
Simpson, a mechanic at Boeing at the time of his birth. He grew up in
Juneau, Alaska. His parents were strict Baptist believers and Simpson
would go to church 4-5 times a week. He would call himself a
"straight-A Bible student. He attended West Anchorage High School,
followed by the University of Oregon (English major). After
graduation, he worked as a ski instructor in Utah, and then he moved
to San Francisco where he worked for a theatrical advertising agency
and did public relations for the First International Erotic Film
Festival.In the early 1970s, Simpson moved to Los Angeles and got a
job marketing exploitation films for Warner Bros in 1971, handling
distribution marketing for the movies Woodstock and A Clockwork
Orange. In 1973, Simpson got a job at Paramount Pictures. While there,
he co-wrote the 1976 film Cannonball, in which he also had a small
role. By 1977, he was named vice-president of production at Paramount,
and president in 1981. He was fired at Paramount in 1982 after passing
out during a studio meeting due to drug use. He was working on 8
productions at once, and would regularly throw a tantrum while in
production.
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