Biography
Youthful studio executive who worked his way up from the proverbially mail room to executive production positions at Warner Bros. in the 1980s where he played a central role in the greenlighting of such socially and racially relevant films as "New Jack City" (1991) and Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" (1992). Noted for his ability to make rapid decisions and his creative relationships with such Hollywood talent as Barbra Streisand, Richard Donner, Tim …
Career Milestones
| Began professional career as assistant to Mike Medavoy when he was president of production at UA (earning $117.80 per week) | ||
| Grew up in Bayside in Queens, New York; family also owned apartment in Manhattan and beach house in Westhampton, Long Island | ||
| Named executive vice president, worldwide motion picture production, Warner Bros. | ||
| Served as one of the producers of "Jack & Jill" (The WB) | ||
| Worked in Warner Bros. mail room while a student at UCLA | ||
1973 | Became assistant to director-producer Franklin Schaffner on "Papillon" | |
1978 | Joined MGM as vice president, motion picture development | |
1979 | Became executive vice president, Jon Peters Organization | |
1980 | Joined Warner Bros. as vice president of production | |
1983 | Appointed senior vice president of production, Warner Bros. | |
1985 | Promoted to president, worldwide theatrical production | |
1989 | Appointed vice president, worldwide motion picture production, Warner Bros. | |
1991 | Appointed chairman of Columbia Pictures replacing Frank Price (October 4) | |
1991 | Warner Bros. announced Canton would leave the company by mutual agreement (September) | |
1996 | Resigned as chairman of Columbia Pictures (September 13) | |
1997 | Formed The Canton Co., an independent production company | |
1997 | Signed exclusive three-year production deal with Warner Bros. | |
2002 | Joined Artists Production Group (APG) as a partner; also served as chair and CEO | |