Biography
Linson assisted Lou Adler, record producer of the Mamas and the Papas, with the management of several rock bands and the production of Robert Altman's "Brewster McCloud" (1970). On his own, he managed such rock acts as Spirit and Nils Lofgren before starting his own record company, Spin Dizzy Records. Linson's music industry background made him well-suited for work on teen-oriented movies ("Car Wash" 1976, "American Hot Wax" 1978, "The Wild …
Career Milestones
| Founded own record company, Dizzy Spin Records | ||
| Graduated from UCLA Law School but chose not to practice law | ||
| Worked for record producer Lou Adler, managing rock bands | ||
1975 | First film as producer, "Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins" | |
1978 | Wrote screenplay for "American Hot Wax" (also produced) | |
1980 | Film directing debut with "Where the Buffalo Roam"; first collaboration with Bill Murray | |
1982 | First collaboration with Sean Penn as producer of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" | |
1987 | First collaborations with David Mamet, Brian De Palma, and Robert De Niro as producer of "The Untouchables" | |
1990 | First credit as executive producer, "Dick Tracy" | |
1991 | Signed a three-year exclusive agreement with Warner Bros | |
1993 | First TV credit, executive producer of the syndicated TV revival of "The Untouchables" | |
1993 | Wrote first book, "A Pound of Flesh: Perilous Tales of How to Produce Movies in Hollywood" | |
1994 | Signed a three-year picture deal with Fox | |
1997 | Renewed three-picture deal with Fox 2000 | |