Eric Pleskow

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Pleskow

Eric Pleskow (born Erich Pleskoff; April 24, 1924 – October 1, 2019) was an Austrian-born American film producer and executive. From 1973 through 1978, Pleskow was president of United Artists. Following a protest from Transamerica Corporation, Pleskow co-founded and later ran Orion Pictures in 1978 through 1991. In his later career, he served as president of the Vienna International Film Festival from 1998 until his death.

Contents Early life Born Erich Pleskoff in Vienna, he was the son of Jewish merchants.[1][2] After the Anschluss and the following Aryanization of their apartment, the family emigrated to the United States in 1938.[3]

In 1943, he was conscripted into the United States Army.[4] After World War II, Pleskow returned to Austria and guided five interrogations during denazifications.[5]

Career

Pleskow at the 2012 Viennale Due to his brief education in film editing, which he finished before joining the army, he became film officer for the United States War Department in 1945.[6] He was assigned to rebuild the Bavaria Film Studios in Munich, Germany.[7]

From 1951 he was working for United Artists and was responsible for the movie rental in Europe and South Africa until settling in Paris.[8] In 1962, Pleskow traveled back to New York City as vice president of international distribution for United Artists.[8] Eleven years later, he became president and CEO of United Artists.[8][5] Under his presidency at United Artists, the company won the Academy Award for Best Picture three years in a row: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Rocky (1976) and Annie Hall (1977).[5][9]

In 1978, Pleskow along with many executives from United Artists, formed Orion Pictures as a protest due to the constant interference from parent company Transamerica Corporation had in United Artists.[8] He was a key figure in establishing $100 million in financing for Orion, including distribution through Warner Bros..[8] He was named president and CEO, a post he held until 1991.[10] Their greatest successes under his management were Amadeus, Dances with Wolves and The Silence of the Lambs.[8]

In 1998, Pleskow became president of the Vienna International Film Festival.[10] In February 2007, he was awarded honorary citizenship of Vienna.[10]

During his career, Pleskow earned a total of fourteen Academy Awards.[11]

Death Pleskow died on October 1, 2019, in Westport, Connecticut at the age of 95.[12]

Bibliography Andrea Ernst: Eric Pleskow. Ein Leben für den Film. Picus Verlag, Wien 2008, ISBN 978-3-85452-632-2.