Don Simpson

All you want to know about Don Simpson

This page is about the Hollywood film producer. For the article about the comic book artist, see Don Simpson.

Donald Clarence Simpson (October 29, 1943 - January 19, 1996) was an American film producer. He is known for such hits as Flashdance, Beverly Hills Cop, Top Gun and The Rock. In 1985 and again in 1988, he and his producing partner, Jerry Bruckheimer, were named Producers of the Year by the National Association of Theater Owners.

Contents

Early life

Simpson was born in Seattle, Washington, grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and attended West Anchorage High School. He then went on to attend the University of Oregon, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Documented personal life

Simpson's unusual personal life has been documented in a number of sources. A chapter in the book You'll Never Make Love in This Town Again (which describes four prostitutes' stories about their sexual encounters with Hollywood celebrities) discusses his preferences for S & M and videotaping of their sessions. He is also known to have had several plastic surgeries, allegedly including a collagen injection to his penis. People magazine, in an article after his death, alleged that he was a fan of snuff films.

Death

Simpson was found dead in his home in Los Angeles. The cause of death was a cardiac arrest from Combined Drug Intoxication (CDI). According to High Concept, a Simpson biography by reporter Charles Fleming, Simpson had a $60,000 per month drug habit at the time of his death. His job as an executive at Paramount Pictures came to an end when he allegedly passed out in the middle of a meeting.

The Rock is dedicated to the memory of Don. This fact is mentioned at the end of the movie; the beginning identifies him as co-producer with Jerry Bruckheimer. The Sopranos references Simpson's death. In the episode "He Is Risen," at the funeral of Gigi Cestone (who dies of heart failure while on the toilet), Anthony Soprano states that it's "..how Elvis went." Silvio Dante mistakenly replies, "That guy in Hollywood, too. 'Don' something. Producer of The Simpsons."

Children

Excerpt from Fleming's book, High Concept:

Fewer still knew that, in New York, the mother of Simpson's only apparent blood heir was grieving all on her own.

Victoria Fulton Vicuna, a dark Chilean-born beauty, had been introduced to Simpson at Manhattan's trendy Canal Bar in 1988, at a dinner party attended by Simpson, Bruckheimer, a group of bright young socialites and the novelist Jay McInerney--whose best-seller, Bright Lights, Big City, Simpson and Bruckheimer wanted to turn into a movie. (The subsequent screen version was produced by Sydney Pollack and directed by James Bridges.) A twentysomething brunette with an appetite for high times and royalty--she was then involved with the Prince of Lichtenstein--Vicuna began dating Simpson, seeing him when she was in Los Angeles or when he was in New York. Vicuna became pregnant in 1992 and believed Simpson was the father. By then, however, she was involved with another man and was afraid to tell Simpson he had a daughter. When that relationship ended, she contacted Simpson, by telephone and by mail, and gave him the news. Simpson never responded, though he did blurt out to a friend who also knew Vicuna, "You think you've got troubles? Victoria had a baby, and I'm the dad!" Though Vicuna pressed her claim for several more years, Simpson never took or returned her calls, never admitted or denied that he was the father. After his death, and falling on hard times financially herself, Vicuna went to Simpson's brother, Lary, who with his parents grieved that night at Morton's. It would be two years before the family would respond to Vicuna's claims and offer her a financial settlement in the child's name.

Filmography

Quotes

  • "We have no obligation to make history. We have no obligation to make art. We have no obligation to make a statement. Our obligation is to make money."
  • "To make money, it may be important to win the Academy Award, for it might mean another ten million dollars at the box office."

References

  • High Concept: Don Simpson and the Hollywood Culture of Excess by Charles Fleming ISBN 0-385-48694-4

External links

v • d • e
Beverly Hills Cop series
Films
Beverly Hills Cop • II • III • IV 
Notable contributors
Characters
Music
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Simpson"

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