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Edward Saxon

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Edward Saxon
Born
Edward Bradley Saxon

(1956-11-17) November 17, 1956 (age 67)
OccupationFilm producer

Edward Bradley Saxon (born November 17, 1956) is an American film producer and endowed Chair of the Peter Stark Producing Program at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.[1] Saxon is arguably best known for producing the film The Silence of the Lambs, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and is, to date, the third and last film to sweep the five main categories of Academy Award for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture. (The others are It Happened One Night and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.)[2]

Early life

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Saxon was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and educated at Kirkwood High School from 1972 to 1976.

He studied at McGill University from 1976 to 1980. While at McGill, he founded the Tuesday Night Cafe Theatre with Veronica Brady and Peter Grossman, and the company is still running today. Saxon acted in many plays at the Players' Theatre, McGill's famous Red and White Review. He also founded a radio comedy troupe called The Circle Jerks.

He then studied at the Peter Stark Producing Program at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Career

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Saxon is arguably best known for producing the film The Silence of the Lambs. Formerly Jonathan Demme's producing partner, his films include Beloved, Ulee's Gold, That Thing You Do!, The Truth About Charlie, Married to the Mob, Miami Blues and Philadelphia.

After parting ways with Demme, Saxon produced Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze's Adaptation.. He produced Richard Linklater's Fast Food Nation in 2006. More recent projects include Away We Go, directed by Sam Mendes, and Our Family Wedding, starring Forest Whitaker and America Ferrera.

Originally an actor, Saxon was one of VH1's first VJ's in New York City. He has made several cameos in the films he has produced, most notably as a head in a jar in Silence of the Lambs.

In 2021, Saxon was named Chair of Peter Stark Producing Program at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. In his appointment, Saxon noted that the Stark program “changed my life.” He added: “Making great stories requires a complex skillset in this transformative time. Building on the legacy of Ray Stark, Art Murphy, and Larry Turman, I'm looking forward to working with our world-class teaching professionals to give students the knowledge and attitudes they need to succeed in marrying commerce and art.”[1]

Filmography

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He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

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Year Film Credit
1986 Something Wild Executive producer
1988 Married to the Mob
1990 Miami Blues Executive producer
1991 The Silence of the Lambs
1993 Philadelphia
1995 Devil in a Blue Dress Executive producer
1996 That Thing You Do!
1997 Ulee's Gold Executive producer
1998 Beloved
1999 The Opportunists Executive producer
2002 The Truth About Charlie
Adaptation
2006 Fast Food Nation Executive producer
2009 Away We Go
2010 Our Family Wedding
2014 Elsa & Fred
As an actor
Year Film Role Notes
1986 Something Wild Kevin Stroup
1990 Miami Blues Krishna Ravindra at Miami Airport
1991 The Silence of the Lambs Benjamin Raspail (Head in a Jar)
Uncredited
1994 The Ref Reporter
1998 Beloved Man with Rubbery Face
Uncredited
Thanks
Year Film Role
1993 Household Saints Thanks
1996 Some Mother's Son Special thanks
2005 Me and You and Everyone We Know
2009 Where the Wild Things Are
2021 Music The producers wish to thank

Television

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Year Title Credit Notes
1988 Haiti Dreams of Democracy Executive producer Documentary
1991 Women & Men 2 Co-producer Television film
1997 Subway Stories Executive producer Television film
2011 Enlightened Co-executive producer
2016−19 Ray Donovan Co-executive producer
As an actor
Year Title Role Notes
1991 Women & Men 2 Ad Man Television film

References

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  1. ^ a b Galuppo, Mia (2021-07-15). "USC Film School Names Ed Saxon Chair of Peter Stark Producing Program". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  2. ^ Phipps, Keith (2022-03-23). "The Night 'The Silence of the Lambs' Devoured the Oscars". The Ringer. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
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