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Neal Israel

Highest Rated: 82% Finding Neverland (2004)

Lowest Rated: 23% Surf Ninjas (1993)

Birthday: Jul 27, 1945

Birthplace: New York, New York, USA

Neal Israel has sustained an enduring career in Hollywood as a writer, director, producer, and even an occasional actor, though he is best known for writing a few hit comedies of the 1980s, including "Police Academy" and "Bachelor Party." He broke into the business as a writer on the animated series "Yogi's Gang" in the early '70s before following with his first feature, sharing both writing and directing credit on "Tunnel Vision," an unsuccessful string of sketches about an uncensored TV station. Other writing, directing, and minor acting gigs followed, leading up to the wildly popular "Police Academy," which he co-wrote with frequent collaborator Pat Proft. That same year, Israel directed the Tom Hanks comedy "Bachelor Party," again sharing writing credit with Proft. Though his follow-up directorial effort, "Moving Violations," received little praise, his next script, for the goofy science fiction campus comedy "Real Genius," helped create a cult favorite and boosted star Val Kilmer's career. Israel worked on less notable projects after that, co-writing the "Talking" baby sequel, "Look Who's Talking Too," and teaming with then-wife Amy Heckerling (they divorced in 1984). While mostly directing and producing for TV movies and series since then, Israel also served as executive producer on the Oscar-nominated fantasy "Finding Neverland."

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Highest rated movies

82% 87% Finding Neverland
Watchlist
77% 83% Real Genius Watchlist
58% 64% Police Academy
Watchlist
54% 56% Bachelor Party
Watchlist
50% 16% It's Alive III: Island of the Alive
Watchlist
23% 68% Surf Ninjas
Watchlist
33% Bachelor Party 2: The Last Temptation
Watchlist
58% Breaking the Rules
Watchlist
17% The Brady Bunch in the White House
Watchlist
43% Hounded
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 70% Jinxed Screenwriter - 2013
No Score Yet 33% Bachelor Party 2: The Last Temptation Executive Producer - 2008
82% 87% Finding Neverland Executive Producer $51.7M 2004
No Score Yet 30% National Lampoon's Thanksgiving Reunion Director - 2003
No Score Yet 17% The Brady Bunch in the White House Director - 2002
No Score Yet 27% The Poof Point Director - 2001
No Score Yet 43% Hounded Director - 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights Screenwriter - 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Runner Executive Producer - 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Chocolate for Breakfast Executive Producer - 1998
No Score Yet 38% National Lampoon's Dad's Week Off Director,
Writer
- 1997
No Score Yet 70% Kidz in the Wood Director - 1996
No Score Yet 40% Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare Director,
Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1995
23% 68% Surf Ninjas Director $4.9M 1993
No Score Yet 58% Breaking the Rules Director $23.2K 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Cover Girl and the Cop Director - 1989
50% 16% It's Alive III: Island of the Alive Dr. Brewster (Character) - 1987
No Score Yet 41% Combat High Director - 1986
No Score Yet 52% Moving Violations Director - 1985
77% 83% Real Genius Writer,
Screenwriter
$130.8K 1985
58% 64% Police Academy Screenwriter - 1984
54% 56% Bachelor Party Director,
Screenwriter
- 1984
No Score Yet 36% Americathon Director,
Screenwriter
- 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cracking Up Al (Character) - 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet Tunnelvision Rabbi Rabinowitz/Hippie 2 (Character),
Director
- 1976

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Zeke and Luther Director 2012
96% 73% Joan of Arcadia Director 2005
No Score Yet No Score Yet Family Affair Director 2002-2003
59% No Score Yet Do Over Director 2002
No Score Yet No Score Yet Shasta Director 1999-2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet Clueless Director 1997-1999
14% No Score Yet Love Boat: The Next Wave Director 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Nash Bridges Director 1997
No Score Yet 88% The Wonder Years Director 1991
No Score Yet No Score Yet Baby Boom Leo (Guest Star) 1988