Joel Silver

Birthday: 14 July 1952, South Orange, New Jersey, USA

As flamboyant as any character in his movies, Joel Silver can be credited along with Jerry Bruckheimer as practically reinventing the action film genre in the 1980s. Born in New Jersey, he attended the New York University Film School. After college, he worked at Lawrence Gordon Pictures, earning his first onscreen credit as associate producer of The Warriors (1979). He eventually became president of the motion picture division of Gordon Pictures. Together with Gordon, Silver produced 48 Hrs. (1982) and Streets of Fire (1984). In 1985 he formed Silver Pictures and continued producing hit action films such as Commando (1985), the "Lethal Weapon" franchise, the first two films of the "Die Hard" franchise and the upcoming "Matrix" franchise of action films. Despite these successes, he has hit some rough spots and has been banned from working on several studio lots. He was unable to produce the "48 Hrs" sequel Another 48 Hrs. (1990) and the third "Die Hard" film, Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) because of past run-ins with studio executives. Because of his habit of wearing sport shirts and talking loudly and quickly, he has been parodied in several films, even spoofing himself in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) by playing the frustrated cartoon director in the film's opening sequence. In order to perform in that role, he had to use an alias to get onto the Walt Disney lot, and his onscreen credit was not revealed to Disney executives until the very last minute. Joel Silver pioneered the practice of shooting action movies in Australia with the "Matrix" films, and has been credited with either inventing or reinventing the careers of Eddie Murphy, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Steven Seagal. He was mentioned in Halle Berry's Academy Award acceptance speech. Other credits include non-action pictures, ranging from Xanadu (1980) and Weird Science (1985) to HBO's long-running TV series, Tales from the Crypt (1989). Hide

The core of the movie business remains intact and it's not descending in scope. Studios want movies Show more The core of the movie business remains intact and it's not descending in scope. Studios want movies that are bigger than ever. Hide

(On the film "Brewster's Millions) Fantasies about spending are irresistible, the best! Who wouldn't Show more (On the film "Brewster's Millions) Fantasies about spending are irresistible, the best! Who wouldn't want to indulge the luxury of squandering millions and millions of dollars? Hide

(On Lethal Weapon film) We blasted a toilet out of that window. Over there, we drove a car straight Show more (On Lethal Weapon film) We blasted a toilet out of that window. Over there, we drove a car straight into the living room. Hide

On his recent film: It's a little movie, but a big little movie. On his recent film: It's a little movie, but a big little movie.

[on Total Recall (1990)] Fantastic, fantastic. It's going to blow everyone away. [on Total Recall (1990)] Fantastic, fantastic. It's going to blow everyone away.

[on movies]: That's how fascinated I was with movies. I was fascinated with the lifestyle of these g Show more [on movies]: That's how fascinated I was with movies. I was fascinated with the lifestyle of these guys--how they lived, how they ran the show. They guys lived like Saudi princes. Hide

...My advice to young Producers... The only way to succeed is to get behind a screen-play you really Show more ...My advice to young Producers... The only way to succeed is to get behind a screen-play you really believe in. Hide

There aren't a lot of guys like me left. But I'm a war horse. I've been through it all. And you know Show more There aren't a lot of guys like me left. But I'm a war horse. I've been through it all. And you know something about war horses? Through the sleet, through the snow,they just keep going. Hide

I want an explosion the size of Cleveland. I want an explosion the size of Cleveland.

I'm not in the business to make art; I'm in it to make money to buy art. I'm not in the business to make art; I'm in it to make money to buy art.

[on his contract with Warner Studios]: Maybe I will continue with Warner and maybe I won't. I hope I Show more [on his contract with Warner Studios]: Maybe I will continue with Warner and maybe I won't. I hope I do. Hide

When California provides the same value as other locations, I'd gladly shoot all my pictures here. When California provides the same value as other locations, I'd gladly shoot all my pictures here.

(On money) I hunted with a credit card. (On money) I hunted with a credit card.

[After seeing the poor box office of Streets of Fire (1984).] "Tonight is what it means to be dead." [After seeing the poor box office of Streets of Fire (1984).] "Tonight is what it means to be dead."

Joel Silver's FILMOGRAPHY

All as Actor (20)

Entourage - Season 6

Tales From The Crypt - Season 6

Tales From The Crypt - Season 4

Entourage - Season 1

Entourage - Season 5

Entourage - Season 8

Tales From The Crypt - Season 1

Entourage - Season 2

Tales From The Crypt - Season 5

Punkd - Season 1 (2003)