Joe Pasternak
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Joseph Herman "Joe" Pasternak (September 19, 1901 – September 13, 1991) was an Hungarian-born American film producer in Hollywood. He was born to a Jewish family in Szilágysomlyó, Austria-Hungary (now Șimleu Silvaniei, Romania). His father was a town clerk and Pasternak was one of eleven children. In 1920 he emigrated to the US as a teenager and went to stay with an uncle in Philadelphia. He worked in a factory, punching holes in leather belts, and did a variety of other jobs. He also studied acting in New York. Pasternak became an assistant director at Paramount on The Phantom of the Opera (1925). Several years later he was directing at Universal. In 1928 Universal sent him as an associate producer to Germany. Upon return from Europe he produced a number of hits with new talent such as Deanna Durbin and Gloria Jean, reputedly saving Universal from Bankruptcy. Pasternak also had careers at MGM, Fox and Euterpe. He made mostly musicals. In 1968 he was stricken with Parkinson's Disease. He recovered slightly two years later but made no more films. He said at the time "I am proud that I have produced 105 pictures and not one of them is adults only." In 1980 he estimated his films had earned $400 million. "If I had a percentage I'd be the richest man in town," he said. His career as a film producer spanned 40 years and earned him two Oscar nominations and three Golden Globe Award nominations. He retired in 1968, having produced more than ninety feature-length films as well as three Academy Award shows.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (49)
Unwanted Cinema
2005
Mario Lanza: The American Caruso
as Self
1983
The Sweet Ride
Producer (Production)
1968
Penelope
Executive Producer (Production)
1966
Spinout
Producer (Production)
1966
Made in Paris
Producer (Production)
1966
Girl Happy
Producer (Production)
1965
Looking for Love
Producer (Production)
1964
A Ticklish Affair
Producer (Production)
1963
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Producer (Production)
1963
Billy Rose's Jumbo
Producer (Production)
1962
The Horizontal Lieutenant
Producer (Production)
1962
Where the Boys Are
Producer (Production)
1960
Please Don't Eat the Daisies
Producer (Production)
1960
Ask Any Girl
Producer (Production)
1959
Party Girl
Producer (Production)
1958
This Could Be the Night
Producer (Production)
1957
Ten Thousand Bedrooms
Producer (Production)
1957
The Opposite Sex
Producer (Production)
1956
Meet Me in Las Vegas
Producer (Production)
1956
Love Me or Leave Me
Producer (Production)
1955
Hit the Deck
Producer (Production)
1955
Athena
Producer (Production)
1954
The Student Prince
Producer (Production)
1954
Flame and the Flesh
Producer (Production)
1954
Easy to Love
Producer (Production)
1953
Latin Lovers
Producer (Production)
1953
Small Town Girl
Producer (Production)
1953
Because You're Mine
Producer (Production)
1952
The Merry Widow
Producer (Production)
1952
Skirts Ahoy!
Producer (Production)
1952
The Strip
Producer (Production)
1951
Rich, Young and Pretty
Producer (Production)
1951
The Great Caruso
Producer (Production)
1951
Summer Stock
Producer (Production)
1950
The Toast of New Orleans
Producer (Production)
1950
Duchess of Idaho
Producer (Production)
1950
Nancy Goes to Rio
Producer (Production)
1950
That Midnight Kiss
Producer (Production)
1949
In the Good Old Summertime
Producer (Production)
1949
The Kissing Bandit
Producer (Production)
1948
Luxury Liner
Producer (Production)
1948
A Date with Judy
Producer (Production)
1948
On an Island with You
Producer (Production)
1948
Big City
Producer (Production)
1948
Three Daring Daughters
Producer (Production)
1948
This Time for Keeps
Producer (Production)
1947
The Unfinished Dance
Producer (Production)
1947
Holiday in Mexico
Producer (Production)
1946
