This former story reader and talent agent has earned a reputation as a creative producer with a strong, commercial story sense and a sharp eye for emerging talent. Grazer has been credited with having launched or boosted the careers of Michael Keaton, Tom Hanks, Val Kilmer, Meg Ryan and John Candy. He started out in TV production in the late 1970s working for Edgar J. Scherick Associates, earning his first producer credits on the 1978 telefilms "Zuma Beach" and "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery". Grazer next struck out on his own, forming Kenneth Johnson/Brian Grazer Productions to make "Shadow Chasers" (ABC, 1985-86), a short-lived "Ghostbusters" knock-off.

Grazer found much greater success upon segueing to features, starting out by producing actor- turned-director Ron Howard's first two comedies, "Night Shift" (1982) and "Splash" (1984). The former introduced Michael Keaton to the world while latter gave the Disney Studio its biggest live-action hit since "Mary Poppins" (1964) and Grazer his first screen story credit (as well as an Oscar nod). He went on to expand his film comedy resume by producing "Real Genius" (1985), a Martha Coolidge-directed teen comedy starring a young Val Kilmer, and the larger scale Chevy Chase-Dan Aykroyd outing, "Spies Like Us" (also 1985), helmed by John Landis. Grazer subsequently joined forces with Ron Howard to form the successful independent production company Imagine Films Entertainment in the mid-80s.

As co-chair and CEO of Imagine, Grazer has specialized in high-profile comedies that often boast well-known stars and distinctive directors, including Joe Dante's wacky "The Burbs" (1989) with Hanks; Ivan Reitman's popular Schwarzenegger vehicle "Kindergarten Cop" (1990); John Waters' faux-1950s musical "Cry-Baby" (1990); the upscale Eddie Murphy vehicle "Boomerang"; and the comic pairing of Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn in "Housesitter" (both 1992). Grazer and/or Imagine has also been responsible for such notable dramas as Keaton's dramatic breakthrough, "Clean and Sober" (1988), Oliver Stone's bombastic biopic "The Doors" and the harrowing political psychodrama "Closet Land" (1991). Imagine Entertainment has also done various projects for TV with limited success.

Grazer has continued his collaboration with director Howard as they have diversified into family-oriented ensemble comedy ("Parenthood" 1989), urban action ("Backdraft" 1991) and period romantic adventure ("Far and Away" 1992). Grazer and Howard tried their hand at telling a true story from recent history with "Apollo 13" (1995). He remained captivated by space as one of the producers of the Emmy-winning HBO series "From the Earth to the Moon" (1998). On the small screen, Grazer served as executive producer to the ABC sictom "Sports Night" (1998-2000), as well as acting as the executive producer to "Felicity" (The WB, 1998-). He has also enjoyed continued success at the box office with such efforts as "EDtv" (1999), "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" and the live-action version of "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (both 2000), starring Jim Carrey.

Credit: entertainment.lycos.com