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Mace Neufeld

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Mace Neufeld
Born
Morris Alvin Neufeld[1]

(1928-07-13)July 13, 1928
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedJanuary 21, 2022(2022-01-21) (aged 93)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
EducationStuyvesant High School, Yale University, B.A.
Occupation(s)Film and television producer
Spouses
Helen Katz
​
​
(m. 1954; died 1995)​
ChildrenBradley David Neufeld
Glenn Jeremy Neufeld
Nancy Ann Neufeld
Parent(s)Margaret Ruth (née Braun)
Philip M. Neufeld

Morris "Mace" Alvin Neufeld (July 13, 1928 – January 21, 2022)[1] was an American film and television producer. Born in New York City, Neufeld began working in the entertainment industry as a songwriter and production assistant in the late 1940s and then as a talent agent, managing comics, actors, musicians and writers, including Don Adams, Don Knotts, Neil Diamond, and the Carpenters. He began producing for television in the 1970s and in 1981 was nominated for a primetime Emmy for the TV movie East of Eden.[1]

Described by the L.A. Times as "a prolific producer with old-school Hollywood charm and a Renaissance-man résumé",[2] Neufeld's first feature film production was the successful horror film The Omen in 1976, starring Gregory Peck and Lee Remick. Three successful sequels followed. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Neufeld produced several screen adaptations of works by author Tom Clancy, beginning with The Hunt for Red October starring Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin and continuing with Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger and The Sum of All Fears. Film productions in the 2000s included Sahara and Invictus, and in the 2010s, The Equalizer, The Equalizer 2 and the Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan series for Amazon.[2][1]

During his life, Neufeld was honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Israel Film Festival and the Palm Springs Film Festival, as well as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[3]

Early life

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Neufeld was born July 13, 1928, in New York City, New York, the son of Margaret Ruth (née Braun) and Philip M. Neufeld, a stockbroker.[4]

In 1944, during his senior year at New York's Stuyvesant High School, he snapped a photo of an American soldier on crutches emerging from a taxi to greet his parents upon returning from World War II. The New York Daily News bought the photo and devoted a full page to it. The photo became a finalist for that year's Pulitzer Prize. As a result, Neufeld was offered photography scholarships at the University of Ohio and at USC. He chose instead to enroll at Yale University,[5] where his classmates included George H. W. Bush.[1] After graduation, Neufeld went to work as a production assistant at the DuMont Television Network. He also composed music, writing songs for Sammy Davis Jr., the Ritz Brothers, and Rosemary Clooney.[1]

Career

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In the 1950s, Neufeld became a talent agent and managed Don Knotts, Don Adams, Randy Newman, Neil Diamond, Jim Croce and Jay Ward.[5] Neufeld entered television series production in the late 1970s. His productions of the time included the variety show The Captain and Tennille, which ran from 1976 to 1977 on ABC, The Kids from C.A.P.E.R., which ran from 1976 through 1977 on CBS, and Quark, which ran for one year in 1978 on NBC. He also became a film producer, beginning with The Omen in 1976,[5][1] along with its sequels. Neufeld next produced the TV movie Angel on My Shoulder on ABC in 1980, as well as the features The Frisco Kid (the first of several film projects with Harrison Ford) in 1979, The Funhouse in 1981, and Transylvania 6-5000 in 1985. Neufeld's small screen work continued, including a 1981 family drama American Dream and the fantasy of The Magic Planet (both on ABC), as well as White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd on NBC and the adventure of Lightning Force, a syndicated series, from 1991 to 1992.

His production company, with mogul Marvin Davis, was followed by one set up with Robert Rehme, which arranged an exclusive production deal with Paramount. Launching their partnership in the early 1990s, the team went on to shepherd Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger, based on the bestselling books of Tom Clancy.[5][1] They also produced 1991's Flight of the Intruder. Neufeld had earlier produced Clancy's The Hunt for Red October with Jerry Sherlock.[5] When Rehme exited the partnership to become President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Neufeld went on to produce yet another Tom Clancy adaptation starring Ben Affleck, The Sum of All Fears,[1] as well as Bless the Child, Lost in Space and Asylum.

Neufeld was a producer on Sahara, released in 2005, and on Invictus, directed by Clint Eastwood, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Neufeld produced Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, starring Chris Pine, and Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, starring John Krasinski,[1] as well as The Equalizer and The Equalizer 2, both starring Denzel Washington. Neufeld was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2014 Israel Film Festival.[6]

Personal life and death

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Mace Neufeld's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Neufeld married fashion designer Helen Katz in 1954, and had three children, Bradley, Glenn and Nancy.[7][8][1] The couple remained together until Helen's death in 1995. He continued working into his 90s, serving as executive producer on the Amazon series "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan." As he told a reporter in 2014, "I figure I'll continue doing movies as long as I can tie my own shoelaces."[2]

Neufeld died in Beverly Hills, California, on January 21, 2022, at the age of 93.[9][1]

Filmography

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He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

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Year Film Credit Notes
1976 The Omen Executive producer
1978 Damien - Omen II Executive producer
1979 The Frisco Kid
1981 The Funhouse Executive producer
1985 The Aviator
Transylvania 6-5000
1987 No Way Out Executive producer
1989 The Punisher Associate producer
Uncredited
1990 The Hunt for Red October
1991 Flight of the Intruder
Stone Cold
Uncredited
Necessary Roughness
1992 Patriot Games
1994 Beverly Hills Cop III
Clear and Present Danger
1997 The Saint
1998 Blind Faith Executive producer
Lost in Space Executive producer
Black Dog Executive producer
1999 The General's Daughter
2000 Bless the Child
2002 The Sum of All Fears
2003 Gods and Generals Executive producer
2005 Asylum
Sahara
2009 Invictus
2012 Zambezia Executive producer
2014 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
The Equalizer
2018 The Equalizer 2
As an actor
Year Film Role
2002 The Sum of All Fears WHCA Dinner Chairman
Thanks
Year Film Role
2015 Jasmine Special thanks
2017 Heart, Baby

Television

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Year Title Credit Notes
1975 The Owl and the Pussycat Television film
1977–78 Quark Co-executive producer
Executive producer
1980 Angel on My Shoulder Executive producer Television film
1981 East of Eden Executive producer
American Dream Executive producer
1985 A Death in California Executive producer
1991 White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd Co-executive producer Television film
Omen IV: The Awakening Executive producer Television film
1992 Lightning Force Executive producer
1996 Gridlock Executive producer Television film
Woman Undone Executive producer Television film
For the Future: The Irvine Fertility Scandal Executive producer Television film
1998 Escape: Human Cargo Executive producer Television film
2001 Love and Treason Executive producer Television film
2018–19 Jack Ryan Executive producer
TBA Outrider Executive producer
As writer
Year Title Notes
1960–61 Laugh Line Devised by
As an actor
Year Title Role
1968 Get Smart Herbert

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Title Result Ref.
1981 Emmy Outstanding Limited Series East of Eden (miniseries) Nominated [10]
1993 National Association of Theatre Owners/ShoWest Producer of the Year Awarded [1]
2003 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Career Achievement Award Awarded [11]
2009 Critic's Choice Award Best picture Invictus Nominated [12]
2014 Israel Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award Awarded [13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Barnes, Mike (January 21, 2022). "Mace Neufeld, Producer of Jack Ryan Blockbusters, Dies at 93: The former talent manager also was behind such films as 'The Omen,' 'No Way Out' and 'The Equalizer.'". Hollywood Reporter.
  2. ^ a b c Rottenberg, Josh (Jan 21, 2022). "Mace Neufeld, producer of 'The Omen' and the Jack Ryan spy franchise, dies". Los Angeles TImes. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  3. ^ Saperstein, Pat (21 January 2022). "Mace Neufeld, Producer of 'Patriot Games,' 'Beverly Hills Cop III,' Dies at 93". Variety. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Mace Neufeld Biography (1928-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  5. ^ a b c d e Gaydos, Steven (September 8, 1999). "'General's' rank benefits Neufeld". Daily Variety. p. A11.
  6. ^ Los Angeles Times: "Comedies, drama, even Mafia supplant conflict at Israel Film Festival" By Susan King October 24, 2014
  7. ^ Loomis, Nicky (June 30, 2010). "Mace Neufeld". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 14, 2018. Neufeld is married to designer Helen Katz and has three children.
  8. ^ "Neufeld, Mace 1928-". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  9. ^ Mace Neufeld, producer of 'The Omen' and the Jack Ryan spy franchise, dies
  10. ^ "John Steinbeck's East of Eden: Awards & Nominations". Emmys.com. Television Academy.
  11. ^ Tapp, Tom. "Mace Neufeld Dies: Producer Of Tom Clancy Thrillers & 'The Omen', 'Equalizer' Pics Was 93". Deadline.com. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  12. ^ "15th Critics' Choice Awards (2010)". Digital Hit. Digital Hit Entertainment. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  13. ^ Weinstein, Shelli (Oct 10, 2014). "Israel Film Festival to Honor Arnon Milchan, Mace Neufeld". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
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