Don Simpson
Encyclopedia
Donald Clarence "Don" Simpson (October 29, 1943 – January 19, 1996) was an American film producer, screenwriter, and actor. He is known for producing such hits as Flashdance
, Beverly Hills Cop
, Top Gun
and The Rock
. In 1985 and again in 1988, he and his producing partner, Jerry Bruckheimer
, were named Producers of the Year by the National Association of Theatre Owners.
, grew up in Anchorage, Alaska
and attended West Anchorage High School
. He then went on to attend the University of Oregon
, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta
fraternity
.
(which describes four prostitutes' stories about their sexual encounters with Hollywood celebrities
) discusses his preferences for S & M
and videotaping
of their sessions. He is also known to have had several plastic surgery
operations.
. The cause of death was a cardiac arrest
from combined drug intoxication
(CDI).
According to High Concept, a Simpson biography by reporter Charles Fleming, Simpson's prescription drug expenses were over $60,000 a month at the time of his death. His job as an executive at Paramount Pictures
came to an end when he allegedly passed out in the middle of a meeting.
The Rock is dedicated to the memory of Simpson. This fact is mentioned at the end of the movie; the beginning identifies him as co-producer with Jerry Bruckheimer
. Enemy of the State also has Simpson given screen credit as an executive producer, although the final film was released two years after his death. This is presumably because both Bruckheimer and Simpson developed the story before his death.
Flashdance
Another song used in the film, "Maniac", was also nominated for an Academy Award. It was written by Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky, and was inspired by the 1980 horror film Maniac. The lyrics about a killer on the loose were rewritten so that it could be used in Flashdance...
, Beverly Hills Cop
Beverly Hills Cop
Beverly Hills Cop is a 1984 American comedy-action film directed by Martin Brest and starring Eddie Murphy, Lisa Eilbacher, John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, and Ronny Cox...
, Top Gun
Top Gun
Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
and The Rock
The Rock (film)
The Rock is a 1996 action film that primarily takes place on Alcatraz Island and in the San Francisco Bay area. It was directed by Michael Bay and stars Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris. It was produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and released through Hollywood Pictures. The film...
. In 1985 and again in 1988, he and his producing partner, Jerry Bruckheimer
Jerry Bruckheimer
Jerome Leon "Jerry" Bruckheimer is an American film and television producer. He has achieved great success in the genres of action, drama, and science fiction. His best known television series are CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Eleventh Hour, Without a Trace, Cold Case, The...
, were named Producers of the Year by the National Association of Theatre Owners.
Early life
Simpson was born in Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, grew up in Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
and attended West Anchorage High School
West Anchorage High School
West Anchorage High School is a public high school in Anchorage in the U.S. state of Alaska and part of the Anchorage School District.-History:The school was established as Anchorage High School in 1953, during a boom period in Anchorage...
. He then went on to attend the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
.
Personal life
Simpson's unusual personal life has been documented in a number of sources. A chapter in the book You'll Never Make Love in This Town AgainYou'll Never Make Love in This Town Again
You'll Never Make Love In This Town Again is a book published in January 1996 which describes the stories of three prostitutes and one actress about their sexual encounters with various Hollywood celebrities. The sisters Robin Greer and Liza Greer are contributors along with Alexandra D. Datig,...
(which describes four prostitutes' stories about their sexual encounters with Hollywood celebrities
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
) discusses his preferences for S & M
Sadism and masochism
Sadomasochism broadly refers to the receiving of pleasure—often sexual—from acts involving the infliction or reception of pain or humiliation. The name originates from two authors on the subject, Marquis de Sade and Leopold von Sacher-Masoch...
and videotaping
Videotape
A videotape is a recording of images and sounds on to magnetic tape as opposed to film stock or random access digital media. Videotapes are also used for storing scientific or medical data, such as the data produced by an electrocardiogram...
of their sessions. He is also known to have had several plastic surgery
Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand...
operations.
Death
On Friday, January 19, 1996, Simpson was found dead in his home in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. The cause of death was a cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
from combined drug intoxication
Combined drug intoxication
Combined drug intoxication , also known as multiple drug intake or lethal polydrug/polypharmacy intoxication, is an unnatural cause of human death...
(CDI).
According to High Concept, a Simpson biography by reporter Charles Fleming, Simpson's prescription drug expenses were over $60,000 a month at the time of his death. His job as an executive at Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
came to an end when he allegedly passed out in the middle of a meeting.
The Rock is dedicated to the memory of Simpson. This fact is mentioned at the end of the movie; the beginning identifies him as co-producer with Jerry Bruckheimer
Jerry Bruckheimer
Jerome Leon "Jerry" Bruckheimer is an American film and television producer. He has achieved great success in the genres of action, drama, and science fiction. His best known television series are CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Eleventh Hour, Without a Trace, Cold Case, The...
. Enemy of the State also has Simpson given screen credit as an executive producer, although the final film was released two years after his death. This is presumably because both Bruckheimer and Simpson developed the story before his death.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Aloha, Bobby and Rose Aloha, Bobby and Rose Aloha, Bobby and Rose is a 1975 American drama film written and directed by Floyd Mutrux, and starring Paul Le Mat and Dianne Hull, in addition to Robert Carradine in an early role.-Plot:... |
Writer, uncredited | |
| 1976 | Cannonball Cannonball (film) Cannonball, also known as Carquake, is a 1976 film starring David Carradine. The film is one of two released in 1976 that were based on a real illegal cross-continent road race that took place for a number of years in the United States... |
Assistant District Attorney | Writer Credited as Donald C. Simpson |
| 1983 | Flashdance Flashdance Another song used in the film, "Maniac", was also nominated for an Academy Award. It was written by Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky, and was inspired by the 1980 horror film Maniac. The lyrics about a killer on the loose were rewritten so that it could be used in Flashdance... |
Producer | |
| 1984 | Beverly Hills Cop Beverly Hills Cop Beverly Hills Cop is a 1984 American comedy-action film directed by Martin Brest and starring Eddie Murphy, Lisa Eilbacher, John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, and Ronny Cox... |
Producer | |
| Thief of Hearts Thief of Hearts Thief of Hearts is a 1984 film produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. It was written and directed by Douglas Day Stewart.-Plot:A burglar, Scott Muller , teams up with Buddy Calamara , a valet in a high society restaurant. While Buddy keeps an eye on a rich couple, Scott robs the couple's home... |
Producer | ||
| 1986 | Top Gun Top Gun Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie... |
Producer | |
| 1987 | Beverly Hills Cop II Beverly Hills Cop II Beverly Hills Cop II is a 1987 action-comedy film starring Eddie Murphy and directed by Tony Scott. It is the first sequel in the Beverly Hills Cop series. Murphy returns as Detroit police detective Axel Foley, who returns to Beverly Hills, California to track down a joint robbery/gun-running ring... |
Producer | |
| 1990 | Days of Thunder Days of Thunder Days of Thunder is a 1990 American auto racing film released by Paramount Pictures, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Tony Scott. The cast includes Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes and Michael Rooker. The film also features appearances... |
Aldo Bennedetti | Producer |
| 1994 | The Ref The Ref The Ref is a 1994 American black comedy film directed by Ted Demme and starring Denis Leary, Judy Davis, and Kevin Spacey.-Plot:... |
Executive producer | |
| 1995 | Bad Boys Bad Boys (1995 film) Bad Boys is a 1995 American action comedy film directed by Michael Bay in his directorial debut, and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer... |
Producer | |
| Crimson Tide Crimson Tide (film) The film has uncredited additional writing by Quentin Tarantino, much of it being the pop-culture reference-laden dialogue.The U.S. Navy objected to many of the elements in the script — particularly the aspect of mutiny on board a U.S. naval vessel — and as such, the film was produced... |
Producer | ||
| Dangerous Minds Dangerous Minds Dangerous Minds is an American drama film based on the autobiography My Posse Don't Do Homework by former U.S. Marine LouAnne Johnson, who took up a teaching position at Carlmont High School in Belmont, California, where most of her students were African-American and Hispanic teenagers from East... |
Producer | ||
| 1996 | The Rock The Rock (film) The Rock is a 1996 action film that primarily takes place on Alcatraz Island and in the San Francisco Bay area. It was directed by Michael Bay and stars Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris. It was produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and released through Hollywood Pictures. The film... |
Producer | |
Quotes
- "We have no obligation to make history. We have no obligation to make art. We have no obligation to make a statement. Our obligation is to make money."
- "To make money, it may be important to win the Academy Award, for it might mean another ten million dollars at the box office."
- "There's a life outside darkness. There's a life in redemption."