Sam Zimbalist

Sam Zimbalist entered the film industry in 1920, as a 16-year-old film cutter at the old Metro Studios. Zimbalist remained at Metro when it merged with the Goldwyn Company in 1924 and metamorphosed into MGM. In 1929, he was promoted to assistant producer under the aegis of MGM executive Hunt Stromberg. He became a full producer in 1936, beginning with modestly budgeted programmers and graduating to such super-productions as King Solomon's Mines (1950) and Quo Vadis (1951). Sam Zimbalist was deep into the production of MGM's biggest-ever effort, the 1959 remake of Ben-Hur, when he died suddenly at the age of 54. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

• Born:
  March 31, 1904 in New York, New York
• Died:
  November 4, 1958.
• Job Titles:
  Producer, Editor, Cutter, Producer's assistant

Significant Others

• Companion: Alla Nazimova. involved in 1920s when he worked as an assistant editor
• Wife: . survived him

Milestones

• 1929 Assistant to producer Hunt Stromberg
• 1956 Film producing debut
• Began career aged sixteen as MGM film cutter
• Died before completion of his film "Ben Hur"