Jerry Bruckheimer

Jerry Bruckheimer (born September 21, 1945) is the creative force behind some of Hollywood’s biggest hits. As a producer, he has a nose for a blockbuster that is almost unrivaled in the business, and has made names for some of Hollywood’s most recognized stars. His projects are typically marked by a certain style of dialogue and filming that hits the sweet spot of the audience. Pairing fast, cynical banter with bone-jarring action, his films also deliver moments of Steven Spielberg-style satisfaction, such as Nicholas Cage’s discovery of US state secrets at the end of The Rock, or of a lot of treasure in National Treasure.

The cinematography in Jerry Bruckheimer’s films and TV series is often state of the art—the CSI franchises sport some of TV’s most complicated special effects, showing things such as the entrance of a bullet into a body in a style modeled after Fight Club—a remarkable, groundbreaking feat for a weekly TV show. Additionally, he makes sure to sign big talent, securing such bankable actors as Gary Sinise and David Caruso for CSI (theme song courtesy of The Who). The gambit—and investment—has paid off, with the various CSI shows becoming some of the most popular shows in television.

Perhaps it’s because of his degree in psychology from Arizona State, but whatever the reason, Bruckheimer has an uncanny sense of what will draw in an audience and capture their imagination. He helped put such stars as Eddie Murphy and Tom Cruise on the map, and saw what many considered an unlikely action hero in Nicholas Cage. In fact, Nicholas Cage has gone on to star in many Jerry Bruckheimer movies, proving the critics wrong. Jerry Bruckheimer’s long partnership with Don Simpson came to a tragic end following Simpson’s death at age 53. Jerry Bruckheimer spends time with his wife Linda to a home in Kentucky when not busy working on films.