Director of Spider-Man

Background:

“I love the Spider-Man character. And that's what's at the heart of it. That's why I really love it. But there's another fun thing that I never had before where you make your movie and a lot of people see it and they seem to like it. So it's like oh my god, I've always been the nerd, lame ass guy on the side, but I made something that a lot of people like. I know that won't last for long, and I'm obviously riding the Spider-Man thing. He's a popular character for 40 years. So anyone who makes a Spider-Man movie gets to make a popular movie. But it's fun to be popular, even if it's a brief, lame thing, and even though I know it's not important. I can't help it. It's really fun and I know how quickly things turn in Hollywood.” Sam Raimi

American film director, producer, writer and occasional actor Sam Raimi is famous as the director of the first three of the highly successful “Spider-Man” film series, which starred Tobey Maguire as the titular role. He added a writing credit for “Spider-Man: 3” (2007), sharing with real life brother Ivan Raimi and Alvin Sergent. Both Raimi and Maguire have decided not to return for “Spider-Man 4” because of creative differences. Raimi is also known for helming the cult horror films “Evil Dead” series, “Darkman” (1990), “A Simple Plan” (1998, won a Cognac Festival du Film Policier Award), and “Drag Me to Hell” (2009). He has produced several movies like “Hard Targer” (1993), “Timecop” (1994), “The Grudge” (2004) and its sequel, “The Grudge 2” (2006), and “Armored” (2009). On the small screen, he is responsible for the success of the syndicated series “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” (1995-1999) and “Xena: Warrior Princess” (1995-2001). Other TV series he has executive produced include “M.A.N.T.I.S.” (1994-1995, 1997; also a writer), “Jack of All Trades” (2000-2001), “Cleopatra 2525” (2000-2001) and “Legend of the Seeker” (2008-?).

Raimi won Time-Machine Honorary Award at the 1992 Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival. He later picked up the George Pal Memorial Award at the 2001 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA. Raimi has been voted Premiere's “Power 50” four times. He was ranked No. 37 in 2003, No. 48 in 2004, No. 3 in 2005 and No. 23 in 2006.

Raimi and his wife, actress Gillian Greene, have five children together. He previously was romantically linked to Lisa Henson, president of Columbia Pictures. Raimi is a passionate collector of comic books, and mentions “Spider-Man” his favorite. He is a big fan of the American vaudeville and comedy act Three Stooges. He is the friend of director John Landis and close friends with actor and long time partner Bruce Campbell.

Sammy

Childhood and Family:

Born Samuel Marshall Raimi on October 23, 1959, in Royal Oak, Michigan, Sam Raimi grew up in a Conservative Judaism household in Birmingham, Michigan. His father, Leonard Ronald Raimi, was a home furnishing store owner, and his mother, Celia Barbara Raimi, owned lingerie shops. The forth of five children, Sammy's eldest brother, Sander Raimi (born in 1953), was killed in a swimming accident at age 15 while on a scholarship trip to Israel. His elder brother, Ivan Raimi (born in 1956), is a doctor of osteopathic medicine and screenwriter who has collaborated with him in several writing projects, including “Army of Darkness” (1992), “Spider-Man 3” (2007) and “Drag Me to Hell” (2009). Sammy also has a younger brother, Ted Raimi, (born on December 14, 1965), who is an actor, and a sister, Andrea Raimi, a stenographer.

Sammy earned a 8mm movie camera from his father when he was a child. He subsequently started making amateur short films. About the same time, he made friends with future actor and collaborator Bruce Campbell. Besides Campbell, he also developed close relationships with Scott Spiegel and John Cameron in junior high school. Sammy graduated from Birmingham Groves High School in Birmingham, Michigan in 1977 and then enrolled at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, where he was an English major. He quit college after three semester to pursue a filmmaking career.

In 1993, Sammy was married to actress Gillian Greene (born on January 6, 1968), daughter of actor Lorne Greene of The TV shows “Bonanza” (1959) and “Battlestar Galactica” (1978) fame. They are the father of five: Lorne Raimi, Henry Raimi, Emma Raimi, Dashiell William and Schooley Raimi.

The Evil Dead Series

Career:

Sam Raimi made his first short film, “It's Murder!,” a great of funny comedy that starred old high school friends Bruce Campbell, John Cameron and Scott Spiegel, in 1977. While in college, he founded the Michigan State University Society for Creative Filmmaking with his brother Ivan and Ivan's roommate, producer Robert Tapert, and also served as president of the film society. Instead of renting films to show, Raimi and his friends, however, made their own feature length movies on Super 8 and exhibited them to the campus audiences. Raimi reunited with Campbell and Spiegel for his next short, “Within the Woods” (1978), a 32 minute horror produced by Tapert. After dropping out of college, he joined forced with Tapert and Campbell to establish the production company Renaissance Motion Pictures in 1979, with Campbell serving as president and Raimi himself vice president.

Raimi made his feature film directing and writing debut with “The Evil Dead,” starring Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Betsy Baker, Hal Delrich and Theresa Tilly. Made through Renaissance in 1979, the film, a story of five collegians who vacation in an isolated cabin in a wooded area and find their vacation macabre after they unwittingly release evil spirits, drew highly controversy over its graphic terror, hostility and bloodshed and initially had difficulties to find distributors until 1981 when a European company eventually purchased it in the Cannes Film Festival marketplace. Released in theaters in the US on April 15, 1983, the film enjoyed an average success upon its release with a total of over $2.4 million in the US box office gross against its $375,000 budget. Raimi picked up the Prize of the International Critics' Jury at the 1982 Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival for his work on the film. “The Evil Dead” received mixed reviews from critics upon its release, but has since become a cult hit. As of 2006, it has grossed over $29.4 million.

In 1985, Raimi returned to the director's chair to helm Campbell, Reed Birney, Paul L. Smith, Louise Lasser, Brion James and Sheree J. Wilson in the comedy/crime/horror movie “Crimewave,” which he also co wrote with the Coen Brothers Joel and Ethan. It was also in 1985 that Raimi, who had acted in several short films, was cast in two feature films: “Stryker's War,” a ward film helmed and written by Josh Becker, and “Spies like Us,” a hilarious comedy from John Landis. Two years later, he helmed, co wrote (with Spiegel) and executive produced the sequel “Evil Dead II” (1987), where Campbell reprised his role of Ash J. Williams. The film was nominated for three Saturns, including Best Horror Film, and earned Raimi nominations for Best Film at the 1987 Sitges - Catalonian the International Film Festival and International Fantasy Film for Best Film at the 1988 Fantasporto. It was well received by critics and viewers alike. Raimi closed out the decade with a memorable supporting role of Randy in the Spiegel directed horror/thriller “Intruder” (1989) as well as by serving as an executive producer on the independent movie “Easy Wheels” (1989), released direct to video in the US in October 1990. He also co write (under the pseudonym Celia Abrams) the script for the latter movie with his brother Ivan and the director David O'Malley.

Raimi finally ventured into mainstream filmmaking with “Darkman” (1990), with a screenplay written by Raimi and brother Ivan, not to mention three other writing collaborators, based on a short story written by Raimi for Universal Studios' horror films of the 1930s. Starring Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Larry Drake and Colin Friels, the superhero/action film mostly gained positive reviews from critics and did well at the box office. With a budget of $ 16 million, the film grossed nearly $49 million worldwide. For his efforts, Raimi was handed the Best Director Award at the 1990 Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival, where he also earned an additional nomination for Best Film, and a 1991 Saturn nomination for Best Director. “Darkman” spawned two straight to video installments, “Darkman II: The Return of Durant” (1995) and “Darkman III: Die, Darkman, Die” (1996), both of which executive produced by Raimi. In 1990, Raimi also had small roles in the Coen brother drama film “Miller's Crossing” and the installment “Maniac Cop 2,” for director William Lustig and writer Larry Cohen.

After executive produced Josh Becker's “Lunatics: A Love Story” (1991), starring his brother Ted Raimi and Campbell, Raimi co wrote the screenplay of Adam Rifkin's comedy “The Nutt House” and landed a bit part in Landis' “Innocent Blood” before directing and co writing with Ivan the third and last installment in the “Evil Dead” movie series, “Army of Darkness” (all 1992). The film has grossed over $21.5 million against its $ 11 million budget, and like its predecessor, it has also achieved a cult status. Raimi picked up the Golden Raven at the 1993 Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film, the Critics' Award Award and an International Fantasy Film Award nomination for Best Film at the 1993 Fantasporto, the Grand Prize nomination at the 1993 Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival and a Best Film nomination at the 1992 Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival for his work on the film.

Next up for Raimi, he executive produced “Hard Targer” (1993), helmed by John Woo and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, portrayed Stick Coder in Mike Binder's drama, “Indian Summer” (1993), opposite Alan Arkin, Matt Craven and Diane Lane, made his TV acting debut in in the NBC movie “Journey to the Center of the Earth” (1993), helmed by William Dear. In 1994, he created the science fiction TV series “M.A.N.T.I.S.,” which aired on Fox from August 1994 to March 1995. Two unaired episodes were later broadcast on the Sci Fi Channel in September 1997. He supported Tim Robbins, Paul Newman, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Charles Durning in the Coen Brothers comedy “The Hudsucker Proxy” (1994), in which he also shared the writing credit with the Coens, played Bobby Terry in the ABC miniseries “Stephen King's 'The Stand'” (1994) and was cast as Hudsucker Brainstormer in Brian Levant's “The Flintstones” (1994). He served as producer on the Van Damme next vehicle “Timecop” (1994), for director Peter Hyams.

Still in 1994, Raimi executive produced the syndicated TV film “Hercules and the Amazon Women,” starring Kevin Sorbo as Hercules, and would go on to reprise his duty for the follow up TV films “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys - Hercules and the Lost Kingdom,” “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys - Hercules and the Circle of Fire,” “Hercules in the Underworld” and “Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur” (all also 1994). It was not long before Raimi found international prominence as the executive producer of the fantasy series “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” (January 1995 to November 1999). The show became one of the most successful syndicated shows in the history of television. He enjoyed further TV victory with the spin off show “Xena: Warrior Princess,” which he executive produced with long time partner and the creator Robert Tapert. Starring Lucy Lawless as the titular role, the show ran in syndicated for six seasons from September 1995 to May 2001. He also executive produced the horror/thriller series “American Gothic” (1995-1996), the action/adventure series “Spy Game” (1997), which he co created with Ivan Raimi, John McNamara, among others, and “Young Hercules” (1998-1999), the adventures of Hercules as a boy, starring Ryan Gosling.

Raimi returned to the director's chair when he helmed Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio in the action/western movie “The Quick and the Dead” (1995), written by Simon Moore. The film earned mixed reception from critics and was a dismal at the box office. Three years later, he directed Bill Paxton, Bridget Fonda and Billy Bob Thornton in the drama/thriller film “A Simple Plan” (1998), adapted from the novel of the same name by Scott Smith, who also penned the screenplay of the movie. Despite its flop at the box office, the film was praised by several critics and earned Oscar nominations for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Scott Smith) and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Thornton). The film brought the director the Special Jury Prize at the 1999 Cognac Festival du Film Policier. Raimi then helmed Kevin Costner, Kelly Preston, John C. Reilly, Jena Malone and Brian Cox in the big screen adaptation of Michael Shaara's “For Love of the Game” (1999), with a screenplay by Dana Stevens.

Entering the new millennium, Raimi directed Cate Blanchett, Giovanni Ribisi, Keanu Reeves, Katie Holmes, Greg Kinnear, Hilary Swank and Michael Jeter in the supernatural thriller movie “The Gift” (2000), penned by Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson, based on the so-called psychic experiences of Thornton's mother. The same year, he also began his executive producing stint on the spy TV series “Jack of All Trades” (syndicated, 2000-2001), starring Campbell as Jack Stiles, and the sci fi series “Cleopatra 2525” (syndicated, 2000-2001), starring Jennifer Sky as the titular role.

A zealous fan of “Spider-Man” comic books, Raimi scored a bug breakthrough in 2002 when he was hired to direct the big screen version of the fictional Marvel comics character. Released on May 3, 2002, by Columbia Pictures, “Spider-Man” starred Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man / Peter Parker, Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson, Willem Dafoe as Green Goblin / Norman Osborn and James Franco as Harry Osborn, with a screenplay by David Koepp. The film won critical acclaim and was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound, not to mentions another 11 wins and 40 nominations. It was also a major commercial success. With its $140 million budget, the film was able to collect $403,706,375 in the United States and Canada and $399,200,000 in foreign countries for a total worldwide gross of $821,708,551. “Spider-Man” became the third highest-grossing film of 2002 and remains at No. 21 on the highest grossing film of all time list. Raimi earned a Saturn nomination for Best Director and an Empire nomination in the same category for “Spider-Man.”

Raimi resurfaced in 2004 to helm the sequel “Spider-Man 2,” with Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and James Franco reprising their previous roles. The film earned rave reviews from critics and won an Oscar for Best Achievement in Visual Effects, not to mention two additional nominations for Best Achievement in Sound Mixing and Best Achievement in Sound Editing. At the box office front, the film grossed over $783 million worldwide and is 11th highest grossing film of all time in the US.

For his effort, Raimi took home a Saturn and an Empire for Best Director. He again helmed Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and James Franco in the third installment of “Spider-Man 3” (2007), which he scripted with brother Ivan and Alvin Sargent. With worldwide gross of nearly $891 million, the film emerged as the most successful film in the series worldwide despite getting mixed reception from critics. It also becomes Marvel's most successful film, Sony Pictures Entertainment's highest grossing film to date, and the second highest grossing superhero film after “The Dark Knight” (2008). Raimi commented, “'The Dark Knight' (2008) was brilliant, and the audience seemed to love it, and I think it rightfully raises expectations for the other superhero pictures, which is a great thing for everybody, for the filmmakers, for the audience.”

Outside “Spider-Man” movie series, Raimi worked extensively as producer on movies such as the American remake “The Grudge” (2004), helmed by Takashi Shimizu and starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jason Behr, Stephen T. Kay helmed horror “Boogeyman” (2005) and the sequel “The Grudge 2” (2006), again helmed by Shimizu. In 2007, he produced The Pang Brothers' “The Messengers,” Sebastian Gutierrez's “Rise: Blood Hunter” and David Slade's “30 Days of Night.”

In 2009, Raimi directed, co written (with brotehr Ivan) and produced the horror film “Drag Me to Hell.” Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2009, the film received immense critical acclaim upon its release and was a success at the box office. It has grossed over $86 million worldwide against its $30 million budget. The cast include Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver, Dileep Rao, Adriana Barraza, David Paymer and Reggie Lee. He also produced Nimród Antal's “Armored” (2009), starring Matt Dillon, Jean Reno and Laurence Fishburne. Also in 2009, Raimi executive produced the short lived horror/Reality TV series “13: Fear Is Real,” which debuted on CW Television Network on January 7, 2009.

Currently, Raimi is an executive producer on the syndicated adventure/fantasy “Legend of the Seeker,” based on “The Sword of Truth” novels by Terry Goodkind. The show premiered on November 1, 2008 and won an Emmy for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series in 2009. Raimi has signed on as producer on the forthcoming films “Priest” (2010) and “Dibbuk Box” (2010). He will return to the director's chair for the feature film adaptation of the well known video game series, “Warcraft” (2011), scripted by Robert Rodat. He also serves as producer on the film.

“I look at myself as an entertainer, more than anything else. I wanted to make the movie a little more different than the previous films. ... That was less about me growing as a craftsman. That was more about me trying to provide an element to the audience that I thought they might need something different, that came from a different place.” Sam Raimi

Awards:

• Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films: Saturn Award, Best Director, “Spider-Man 2,” 2005

• Empire: Best Director, Spider-Man 2,” 2005

• Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films: George Pal Memorial Award, 2001

• Cognac Festival du Film Policier: Special Jury Prize, “A Simple Plan,” 1999

• Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film: Golden Raven, “Army of Darkness,” 1993

• Fantasporto: Critics' Award, “Army of Darkness,” 1993

• Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival: Time-Machine Honorary Award, 1992

• Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival:Best Director, “Darkman,” 1990

• Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival: Prize of the International Critics' Jury, “The Evil Dead,” 1982