Frank Marshall
Marshall at 2012 Deauville American Film Festival
Born
Frank Wilton Marshall

(1946-09-13) September 13, 1946 (age 77)
Glendale, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Film producer, film director
Years active1968–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1987)​
Children2

Frank Wilton Marshall (born September 13, 1946) is an American film producer and director. He often collaborates with his wife, film producer Kathleen Kennedy, with whom he founded the production company Amblin Entertainment, along with Steven Spielberg. In 1991, he founded, with Kennedy, The Kennedy/Marshall Company, a film production company. Since May 2012, with Kennedy taking on the role of President of Lucasfilm, Marshall has been Kennedy/Marshall's sole principal.[1]

Marshall has worked with directors such as Spielberg, Paul Greengrass, Peter Bogdanovich, David Fincher, M. Night Shyamalan, and Robert Zemeckis. He has also directed the films Arachnophobia (1990), Alive (1993), Congo (1995), Eight Below (2006), and the documentaries The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart (2020) and Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story (2022).

Marshall has produced various successful film franchises, including Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Bourne and Jurassic World, and has received five nominations for the Academy Award for Best Picture. His other accolades include the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, bestowed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to "creative producers, whose bodies of work reflect a consistently high quality of motion picture production",[2] the David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures, a Grammy Award, a Sports Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. Marshall is one of the few people to have received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT), with one of the awards being non-competitive.

Early life and education

Born in Glendale, California, Marshall is the son of guitarist, conductor and composer Jack Marshall. His early years were spent in Van Nuys, California. In 1961, his family moved to Newport Beach, where he attended Newport Harbor High School, and was active in music, drama, cross country, and track. He entered UCLA in 1964 as an engineering major, and graduated in 1968 with a degree in Political science. While at UCLA, he was initiated into Alpha Tau Omega fraternity,[3] helped create its first NCAA soccer team, and played collegiate soccer there in 1966, 1967 and 1968.[4]

Career

In 1966, he met film director Peter Bogdanovich at a birthday party for the daughter of director John Ford, a friend of his father. Marshall volunteered to work on Bogdanovich's first film, Targets (1968), which became his apprenticeship in film production, as he assumed various productions roles, even appearing in a bit part. Following graduation from UCLA, Marshall spent the next two years working in Aspen and Marina del Rey, as a waiter/guitar player at "The Randy Tar," a steak and lobster restaurant. While traveling through Europe in March 1970, he received another call from Bogdanovich, offering him a position on The Last Picture Show (1971). Three days later he arrived in Archer City, Texas, doubling as location manager and actor in this seminal film. Under Bogdanovich's guidance, Marshall would work his way up from producer's assistant to associate producer on five more films. He branched out to work with Martin Scorsese as a line producer on the music documentary The Last Waltz (1978) and as an associate producer on director Walter Hill's gritty crime thriller, The Driver (1978). The following year, Marshall earned his first executive producer credit on Hill's cult classic street gang movie, The Warriors (1979) and first producer credit on George Lucas and Steven Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). He continued to collaborate with Bogdanovich, completing their tenth film together, Orson Welles' unfinished The Other Side of the Wind in 2018.[5]

Marshall in 1982.

In 1981, together with his future wife Kathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg, he co-founded Amblin Entertainment, one of the industry's most productive and profitable production companies. As a producer, Marshall has received five Oscar nominations for Best Picture for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Seabiscuit (2003), The Sixth Sense (1999), The Color Purple (1985), and Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).[6] During the 1980s and 1990s, Marshall served on the advisory board of the National Student Film Institute.[7][8]

His feature film directing debut was the thriller Arachnophobia (1990), starring Jeff Daniels. In 1991, he and Kennedy created The Kennedy/Marshall Company and began producing their own films. Marshall directed the company's first film, Alive (1993), about a rugby team struggling to survive in the snow after their plane crashes in the Andes. Next, he directed Congo (1995), based on Michael Crichton's novel, followed by Eight Below (2006),[6] an adventure about loyalty and the bonds of friendship set in the extreme wilderness of Antarctica. In 1998, he directed the episode "Mare Tranquilitatis", for the Emmy Award-winning HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon. As part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series, Marshall directed a documentary about Olympian Johann Olav Koss entitled Right to Play (2012). (the name of Koss's humanitarian organisation).[9] Marshall stated that the documentary, broadcast in 2012, sought to capture not only Koss' sporting career and the ideals behind his nonprofit organization, but also his "drive and how it has changed the world."[9]

From 1991 to 2012, The Kennedy/Marshall Company produced many films, including The Sixth Sense, Signs, Seabiscuit, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, War Horse, Lincoln, Sully, the Bourne series and the feature documentary The Armstrong Lie (2013). Since taking over as sole principal of the company, Marshall has broadened its slate beyond feature films to include television, documentaries and Broadway musicals. Those include the summer blockbuster series Jurassic World, Orson Welles's final film, The Other Side of the Wind, and the Emmy Award-nominated documentaries Sinatra: All or Nothing at All, Laurel Canyon, and McCartney, 3,2,1. In 2020, he directed the Hélder Guimarães virtual magic shows The Present and The Future for the Geffen Stayhouse, both which had sold-out runs and The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, which was nominated for six Emmys. In 2022, he produced the Tony award-winning musical, A Strange Loop and co-directed the Grammy winning documentary, Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story. His 2023 productions include Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Good Night, Oscar, starring Sean Hayes, which ended a very successful 20 week run on Broadway in September.

Personal life

Marshall is a former VP, member of the board of directors and member of the Executive Committee of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). He was awarded the Olympic Shield in 2005, and inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame class of 2008 for his years of service to the USOPC.[10]

Currently, he serves on the board of Athletes for Hope, LA's Promise Fund, as Board Co-Chair of The Archer School for Girls, the UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television Executive Board, and the BAFTA North America Board. He is a recipient of the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented alongside Kathleen Kennedy by Awards Council member George Lucas,[11] the UCLA Alumni Professional Achievement Award and the California Mentor Initiative's Leadership Award. In June 2004, Marshall gave the Commencement Address at the UCLA College of Letters and Science graduation ceremony in Pauley Pavilion.[12]

Marshall enjoys magic and music and has performed under the moniker of "Dr. Fantasy" or "DJ Master Frank".[13] Marshall, a long distance runner, and American premiere miler Steve Scott founded the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, which debuted in 1998 in San Diego as the largest first-time marathon in history.[14]

Filmography

Director

Film

Year Title Director Executive
Producer
1990 Arachnophobia Yes Yes
1993 Alive Yes
1995 Congo Yes Yes
2006 Eight Below Yes Yes

Documentary films

Year Title Director Executive
Producer
2020 The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart Yes Yes
2022 Carole King & James Taylor: Just Call Out My Name Yes Yes
Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story Yes Yes
2023 Rather Yes Yes

Television

Year Title Director Executive
Producer
2012 Right To Play Yes
2014 The Man vs. The Machine Yes
2022 Picabo Yes Yes

Producer credits

Producer

Associate producer

Line producer

Executive producer

Co-executive producer

Other credits

Location manager

Production management

2nd unit director

Acting roles

Year Title Role Notes
1968 Targets Ticket Boy
1971 The Last Picture Show Tommy Logan
1976 Nickelodeon Dinsdale's assistant
1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark Flying Wing Pilot
1984 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Tourist at Airport
2006 Hoot Golfer #2
2012 The Secret World of Arrietty Additional voices U.S. dub

Awards and nominations

Award Year Nominated work Category Result Ref.
Academy Awards 1982 Raiders of the Lost Ark Best Picture Nominated [19]
1986 The Color Purple Nominated [20]
2000 The Sixth Sense Nominated [21]
2004 Seabiscuit Nominated [22]
2009 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Nominated [23]
2019 Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award Won [2]
British Academy Film Awards 1982 Raiders of the Lost Ark Best Film Nominated [24]
2000 The Sixth Sense Nominated [25]
2008 The Bourne Ultimatum Outstanding British Film Nominated [26]
2009 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Best Film Nominated [27]
CinemaCon Awards 1982 Inkpot Award Won [28]
Grammy Awards 2023 Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story Best Music Film Won [29]
Primetime Emmy Awards 2010 The Special Relationship Outstanding Television Movie Nominated [30]
2015 Sinatra: All or Nothing at All Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special Nominated
2018 What Haunts Us Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking Nominated
2020 Laurel Canyon: A Place in Time Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special Nominated
2021 The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart Nominated
Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program Nominated
Producers Guild of America Awards 2004 Seabiscuit Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures Nominated [31]
2008 David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures Won [32]
2009 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures Nominated [33]
2021 Laurel Canyon: A Place in Time Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television Nominated [34]
Saturn Awards 1991 Arachnophobia Best Director Nominated [35]
1993 George Pal Memorial Award Won [36]
1996 Congo Best Director Nominated [37]
Sports Emmy Awards 2023 The Redeem Team Outstanding Long Documentary Won [38]
Tony Awards 2022 A Strange Loop Best Musical Won [39]

References

  1. ^ ""The Kennedy/Marshall Company – About"". The Kennedy/Marshall Company. April 25, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  3. ^ "Famous ATO's • Alpha Tau Omega • America's Leadership Development Fraternity".
  4. ^ "UCLA Bruins: Where are they now?" (PDF).
  5. ^ Ross, Alex (September 26, 2018). "How Orson Welles's "The Other Side of the Wind" Was Rescued from Oblivion". The New Yorker. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Frank Marshall". Mountainfilm. May 3, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  7. ^ National Student Film Institute/L.A: The Sixteenth Annual Los Angeles Student Film Festival. The Directors Guild Theatre. June 10, 1994. pp. 10–11.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. ^ Los Angeles Student Film Institute: 13th Annual Student Film Festival. The Directors Guild Theatre. June 7, 1991. p. 3.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ^ a b Zeitchik, Steven (June 10, 2009). "Spreading the good-sport word". The Hollywood Reporter. p. 5. Archived from the original on June 13, 2009. Retrieved September 6, 2009.
  10. ^ "Frank Marshall | Olympic Hall of Fame". United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum. July 28, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  11. ^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  12. ^ "Commencement". UCLA Asian American Studies. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  13. ^ Anderson, Ross (May 23, 2019). Pulling a Rabbit Out of a Hat: The Making of Roger Rabbit. Univ. Press of Mississippi. ISBN 978-1-4968-2230-7.
  14. ^ Rosenthal, Bert (April 11, 1999). "Chamberlain Goes Distance for the Rockin' Marathon". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  15. ^ Amidi, Amid (March 12, 2014). "GKIDS Acquires Takahata's 'The Tale of The Princess Kaguya' for U.S. Distribution". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  16. ^ Hopewell, John; Keslassy, Elsa (June 5, 2012). "GKIDS plants N. American flag on Poppy Hill". Variety. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  17. ^ "The Wind Rises: About Page". Tumblr. Archived from the original on January 7, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  18. ^ Allen, Kevin. "Documentary captures Czechs' thrilling gold-medal run at 1998 Nagano Olympics". USA TODAY. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  19. ^ "The 54th Academy Awards | 1982". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  20. ^ "The 58th Academy Awards | 1986". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  21. ^ "The 72nd Academy Awards | 2000". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  22. ^ "The 74th Academy Awards | 2004". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  23. ^ "The 81st Academy Awards | 2009". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  24. ^ "Best Film | 1982 BAFTA Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  25. ^ "Best Film | 2000 BAFTA Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  26. ^ "Outstanding British Film | 2008 BAFTA Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  27. ^ "Best Film | 2009 BAFTA Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  28. ^ "Inkpot Award". National Association of Theatre Owners. December 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  29. ^ "Frank Marshall | Grammy Awards". The Recording Academy. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  30. ^ "Frank Marshall | Emmy Awards". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  31. ^ Kay, Jeremy (January 6, 2014). "US Producers Guild nominate large-scale movies". ScreenDaily. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  32. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (February 2, 2008). "'No Country' tops PGA Awards". Variety. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  33. ^ McNary, Dave (January 5, 2009). "PGA unveils film nominations". Variety. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  34. ^ "Winners Announced for 32nd Annual Producers Guild of America Awards" (PDF). Producers Guild of America. March 24, 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  35. ^ "17th Saturn Awards | 1989–1990". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 17, 2006. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  36. ^ "19th Saturn Awards | 1992". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 17, 2006. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  37. ^ "22nd Saturn Awards | 1995". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 17, 2006. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  38. ^ Pedersen, Erik (May 22, 2023). "Sports Emmys: Winter Olympics & World Cup Coverage Lead Programs; ESPN, Fox Top Networks – Full List". Deadline. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  39. ^ Grein, Paul (June 12, 2022). "Here Are the 2022 Tony Awards Winners: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2023.

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