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Ronald Meyer

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Ronald Meyer
Born(1944-09-25)September 25, 1944(age 80)
Los Angeles, California,U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
  • Agent
  • executive
Years active1964–present
Employer(s)Paul Kohner Agency(1964–1970)
William Morris Agency(1970–1975)
Universal Studios(1995–2013)
Vivendi Universal Entertainment(2002-2004)
NBCUniversal(2013-2020)
Wild Bunch(2021–present)
Known forFoundingCreative Artists Agency,and helmingUniversal Studiosfor 25 years
Spouse(s)Ellen Meyer
Kelly Chapman Meyer
Children4, includingJennifer

Ronald Meyer(born September 25, 1944) is an American entertainment executive and formertalent agent.He co-foundedCreative Artists Agencyin 1975, and served as the President and Chief Operating Officer atUniversal Studiosfrom 1995-2013 and the President and Chief Operating Officer ofVivendi Universal Entertainmentfrom 2002-2004. He was then promoted to Vice Chairman ofNBCUniversalatComcast Corp.and held that position until his resignation in 2020. He is currently the CEO ofWild Bunch,and an advisor to theDoha Film Institute.

Early life

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Ron Meyer was born in Los Angeles in 1944, toJewishimmigrant parents who escapedNazi Germanyin 1939.[1][2]His father worked as a travelling dress salesman.[3]His family's love for film influenced him at an early age. At 15 Meyer dropped out of high school, and at 17 he joined theUnited States Marine Corps,where he served until he was 19. While in the Marine Corps, his mother sent himThe Flesh Peddlers,a novel about the talent industry byStephen Longstreet.The book inspired him to pursue a career as a talent agent after his service ended in 1963.[4]He worked as an agent for thePaul KohnerAgency inLos Angelesfrom 1964 to 1970, and from 1970 to 1975 for theWilliam Morris Agency.[5]

Career

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Creative Artists Agency (1974–1995)

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At a lunch in 1974, Meyer and some friends came up with the idea of starting an agency to represent talent in Los Angeles. They openedCreative Artists Agencyin a rented office with card tables, folding chairs, and their wives as the secretaries. It later expanded its range of services to include consulting with corporations.[6]

Over the years, the company developed into the preeminent talent agency, representing many of the industry’s most influential talent, and later expanding its range of services to include consulting with leading American and international corporations.[6]Meyer later reflected that "There wasn’t one day where it exploded, it just grew and grew and grew."[7]Meyer was president of CAA for 20 years, before heading to NBCUniversal.[6]

NBCUniversal (1995–2020)

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[My] proudest achievement is that we didn’t fall apart. It is a testament to the people here. Not only did we stay together, the company, in the past two years, has enjoyed the greatest successes we have ever had. I am proud to be a part of that.
— Interview with the National Museum of American History[3]

Meyer served as the President & COO ofUniversal Studios(formerlyMCA) from August 1995 until September 2013.[8]As President and Chief Operating Officer, he oversaw the worldwide operations for film, theme parks and the physical studio which had 15,000 employees.[5]He was succeeded as president byJeff Shell.[9]In September 2013, Meyer was promoted to Vice Chairman of Universal Studios' parent company,NBCUniversal.[5]

Meyer had the longest studio reign in the history ofHollywood,and was the longest-serving chief of a major motion picture company.[5]During his 25 years at Universal, the company underwent six ownership changes.[10]The studio experienced a high level of success during his tenure, releasing an average of 17 films a year, of which over 40 achieved worldwide box-office success by grossing over $200 million,[11]includingErin Brockovich(2000),Meet the Parents(2000),The Fast and the Furious(2001),8 Mile(2002),Despicable Me(2010) andTed(2012). Nine Universal films were nominated for the best picture Oscar during his tenure, with three winners includingShakespeare in Love(1998),Gladiator(2000), andA Beautiful Mind(2001).[12]In a 2020, Meyer stated that the three NBCUniversal films he was most proud of wereBrokeback Mountain(2005),United 93(2006), andApollo 13(1995), because of their historical and social impact.[13]

Throughout his career, Meyer built strong relationships with actors and filmmakers such asJimmy Fallon,Dwayne Johnson,Jason Blum,Chris Meledandri,Angelina Jolie,Kevin HartandJulia Roberts,and bringing them to Universal for both roles and overall production deals. His relationships with filmmakers such as Meledandri,Steven Spielberg,Peter Jackson,andMichael Bay,brought several large IPs toUniversal Theme Parks.Meyer convinced Warner Bros. to license the Harry Potter franchise for Universal theme parks.The Wizarding World of Harry Potterhas since become Universal theme park's biggest attraction.[12]

In August 2020, he stepped down from his role as Vice Chairman after he admitted to an affair with an unnamed woman and claimed he was being extorted.[14][15]The woman was revealed to beCharlotte Kirk.[16][17]

Wild Bunch

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On November 15, 2021, it was announced that Ron Meyer along with Sophie Jordan are CEO and co-CEO ofWild Bunch AG,a pan-European independent film distribution and production services company.[18]Meyer also serves as an advisor to theDoha Film Institute(DFI) as Qatar continues to grow in the film business.[19][20]

Awards and honours

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Meyer has been recognized for his contributions to the American film and television industry. In 2000, he was awarded the Motion Picture Showmanship Award from the Publicists Guild of America.[21]He received theProducers Guild of America Milestone Awardin 2007.[22]In 2018,National Museum of American Historyinterviewed Meyer about his life and career as part of its "The American Scene" project, about the history of American entertainment.[3]

Personal life

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Meyer lives in Malibu, California.[23]

References

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  1. ^Brook, Vincent.From Shtetl to Stardom: Jews and Hollywood: Chapter 1: Still an Empire of Their Own: How Jews Remain Atop a Reinvented Hollywood.Purdue University Press. p. 10.
  2. ^"U.S. Marine to Hollywood honcho: Ron Meyer discusses life growing up in West L.A. and becoming a Hollywood executive".Annenberg Media.18 May 2020.Retrieved2022-07-01.
  3. ^abc"Ron Meyer".National Museum of American History.2018-04-10.Retrieved2022-07-01.
  4. ^Rensin, David (2007-12-18).The Mailroom: Hollywood History from the Bottom Up.Random House Publishing Group. p. 102.ISBN978-0-307-41722-0.
  5. ^abcd"Ron Meyer: Variety".Variety.13 February 2018.
  6. ^abcPowerhouse: The Untold Story of Hollywood's Creative Artists Agencyby James Andrew Miller
  7. ^"TheGrill: Ron Meyer on 'Why You Don't Have to Be an Asshole to Survive' in Hollywood (Video)".2014-10-07.Retrieved2022-07-01.
  8. ^Hall, Gina (May 2, 2013)."Universal Pictures taps new president".L.A. Biz.RetrievedAugust 18,2020.
  9. ^Masters, Kim (2013-09-09)."Jeff Shell Moving to Universal Studios Job; Adam Fogelson Out".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2022-07-14.
  10. ^Tartaglione, Nancy (2022-05-26)."Ron Meyer, Sophie Jordan Leading A Wave Of Change At French Indie Powerhouse Wild Bunch — Deadline Disruptors".Deadline.Retrieved2022-07-14.
  11. ^Block,AP, Alex Ben; Block, Alex Ben; AP (2008-07-29)."2008 Leadership Award: Ron Meyer".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2022-07-14.
  12. ^abZeman, Ned (September 28, 2016)."Ron Meyer, Hollywood's Mr. Nice Guy".The Wall Street Journal.RetrievedJuly 1,2017.
  13. ^"U.S. Marine to Hollywood honcho: Ron Meyer discusses life growing up in West L.A. and becoming a Hollywood executive".Annenberg Media.18 May 2020.Retrieved2022-07-14.
  14. ^Andreeva, Nellie (August 18, 2020)."Ron Meyer Exits As NBCUniversal Vice Chairman After Disclosing Affair & Extortion Attempt".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedAugust 18,2020.
  15. ^Goldberg, Lesley (August 18, 2020)."Ron Meyer Out as NBCUniversal Vice Chairman".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedAugust 18,2020.
  16. ^Siegel, Tatiana (August 18, 2020)."Woman at Center of Ron Meyer's NBCU Exit Is Actress Charlotte Kirk (Exclusive)".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedAugust 22,2020.
  17. ^"Charlotte Kirk, Kevin Tsujihara and a Nonconsensual Sex Allegation That Sparked a Secret Legal Saga".The Hollywood Reporter.24 September 2020.
  18. ^Weprin, Alex (2021-11-15)."Former NBCUniversal Vice Chairman and CAA Co-Founder Ron Meyer Named CEO of Wild Bunch".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2022-07-01.
  19. ^Masters, Kim (2021-08-05)."Ron Meyer Inks Rich Deal to Rep Qatar as It Eyes Hollywood Investments".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2022-07-01.
  20. ^Haithman, Diane (2021-08-05)."Ron Meyer Is Adviser to Qatar Royal Family After Universal Exit".Retrieved2022-07-01.
  21. ^McNary, Dave (2000-01-19)."PR Guild to fete Meyer".Variety.Retrieved2022-07-01.
  22. ^DiOrio,AP, Carl; DiOrio, Carl; AP (2006-11-09)."PGA award a Milestone for Uni's Meyer".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2022-07-01.
  23. ^Zeman, Ned (September 28, 2016)."Ron Meyer, Hollywood's Mr. Nice Guy".The Wall Street Journal.RetrievedJuly 1,2017.
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Preceded by Universal Studios Presidents
1995–2013 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ronald_Meyer&oldid=1240968806"