Gale Anne Hurd

Instrumental in creating the contemporary concept of the "event" motion picture, a movie so vast in scope and appeal that it takes on a life of its own in the world audience's imagination, producer Gale Anne Hurd began her career as Roger Corman's assistant at New World Pictures, moving through the ranks to the company's head of marketing and later as a production executive. She ventured out on her own as producer (and co-writer) of future husband James Cameron's innovative "The Terminator" (1984). Although Orion had serious doubts anyone would be interested in a sci-fi thriller with a female protagonist, the film's overwhelming box-office success conditioned Hollywood to the then-novel idea of a female producer. Hurd solidified her reputation in the action-adventure genre, producing the Cameron-helmed "Aliens" (1986), a superior sequel to Ridley Scott's 1979 classic "Alien," featuring a buff Sigourney Weaver, and "The Abyss" (1989), with a central story about a marital breakup that reportedly mirrored the real-life one between her and Cameron. Both films were also noted for employing cutting edge special effects but allowing their casts to shine as well. Despite their divorce, Hurd and Cameron reteamed for the blockbuster sequel "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" (1991), which once again pushed the limits of FX technology.