Producer Frank Yablans first worked in motion picture sales and marketing before working his way up the corporate ladder to become president of Paramount Pictures. During his four-year tenure, the studio released a slew of highly successful and acclaimed pictures, including "The Godfather" (1972), "Serpico" and "Paper Moon" (both 1973), and "The Godfather II", "Chinatown" and "Murder on the Orient Express" (all 1974). He then worked as an independent producer, counting among his credits movies like "Silver Streak" (1976), "The Fury" (1977, in which he also played a small role), "North Dallas Forty" (1979) and "Mommie Dearest" (1981), co-authoring the screenplays for the latter two. Tapped as chief operating officer at MGM/United Artists in 1983, Yablans instituted a massive reorganization at the ailing studio before being relieved of his duties at the Kirk Kerkorian-topped company. After nearly a decade's absence, he resurfaced as the executive producer of "Congo" (1995) and later produced "A Dog of Flanders" (lensed 1998).
- Born:
August 27, 1935 in New York City, New York, USA
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Job Titles:
Producer, Executive, Screenwriter, Actor
Family
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Brother: Irwin Yablans. older
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Daughter: Sharon Yablans. mother, Ruth Edelstein
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Father: Morris Yablans.
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Mother: Annette Yablans.
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Nephew: Mickey Yablans. worked at Paramount; son of Irwin Yablans
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Son: Edward Yablans. works at ICM; mother, Ruth Edelstein
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Son: Robert Steven Yablans. born on September 16, 1959; mother, Ruth Edelstein
Milestones
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1954 Served in US Army
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1966 Served as Midwest sales manager for Sigma III
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1975 Founded Frank Yablans Presentations Inc.
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1976 First producing credit (executive producer), Silver Streak
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1978 Acted role of a goon on the radio in The Fury ; also produced
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1979 With Ted Kotcheff and Peter Gent collaborated on the screenplay for North Dallas Forty , based on Gent s novel; also produced
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1981 With director Frank Perry, Tracy Hotchner and Robert Getchell, credited with the screenplay for the Joan Crawford biolic Mommie Dearest ; also produced
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1993 Took up residence in East Hampton, New York
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1995 Appointed co-chair of Adventuress Productions, co-founded by actress Sybil Danning (date approximate)
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1995 Returned to feature films as executive producer of Congo , based on the Michael Crichton novel
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1999 Produced A Dog of Flanders , starring Jon Voight and Jack Warden
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Appointed vice-president of sales, Paramount Pictures; promoted to vice president of marketing then executive vice-president
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Disappeared from Hollywood, retreating to Tuscany, Italy
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Employed as booking manager for Walt Disney Productions in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Served as president, Paramount Pictures
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Was COO and vice chairman of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists
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Was vice-president of Filmways Productions
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Worked as a salesman for Warner Bros. in New York, Boston, Milwaukee and Chicago