Michael Deeley

The creative force behind dozens of critical and commercial movie successes, British producer Michael Deeley has served as managing director of several independent and studio-based production companies since the late '50s. Deeley, a London native, began his film career as an assistant editor for directors such as Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Jacques Tati. After producing British-made comedies and B-films, in the late '60s Deeley began doing contract work for a number of giant Hollywood studios. His first major box office successes were the Paramount-distributed 1969 caper film "The Italian Job" and the 1971 Peter O'Toole war drama "Murphy's War." During the '70s, Deeley served as managing director of British Lion Films, working with visionary director Nicolas Roeg on his 1976 sci-fi feature "The Man Who Fell to Earth." Deeley went on to share a Best Picture Oscar for his work on the 1978 post-Vietnam War drama "The Deer Hunter" and earned cult adoration for his work on the Ridley Scott-directed 1982 sci-fi noir "Blade Runner." In the early '90s, Deeley found success on TV as head of Consolidated Entertainment, serving as executive producer on the 1991 made-for-TV biopic "Young Catherine."