Edge Rewrite
everything Source code View original
// HTMLRewriter · presentation

This page was redesigned at the edge.

Cloudflare fetched the original article and streamed it through HTMLRewriter to apply an entirely new visual system without rebuilding the source page.

// request.cf · coarse context

A page that knows where it met you.

Only coarse request metadata is shown. This demo does not display or persist visitor IP addresses.

Country
US
Cloudflare location
CMH
Connection
HTTP/2
Language
Not provided

Ray ID: a231c4c0bed3d96e

Jump to content

// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Mark Canton a good producer? Canton believe he is.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mark Canton
Canton at the 2011 WonderCon
Born (1949-06-19) June 19, 1949 (age 77)[1][2]
Queens, New York City, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of California
OccupationFilm producer
Years active1974–present
SpousesAlexandra Renee Scott Wendy Finerman
Children3
RelativesNeil Canton (brother), Karen Finerman (former-sister-in-law)

Mark Canton (born June 19, 1949) is an American film producer and executive.

Early life and education

[edit]

Canton was born to a Jewish family[3] in Queens, New York City, the son of Shirley and Arthur Canton, who worked in the film industry on marketing and publicity - including such films as Lawrence of Arabia. As a young adult, he met well-known movie personalities like Alfred Hitchcock, David Lean, and Doris Day when they visited the family's apartment.[4]

After working in the mail room of Warner Bros. while studying at the University of California, Los Angeles,[5] Canton started working for 20th Century Fox and later had jobs with film director Franklin Schaffner, with producer Jon Peters, and in the 1970s as executive assistant to Mike Medavoy at United Artists.[4]

Career

[edit]

Canton worked as executive vice president at Warner Bros. from 1980 onwards. Successes he was involved in at the time include 1983's National Lampoon's Vacation, Purple Rain, and the Batman and Lethal Weapon film series,[6] but also notorious box office failures like The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990),[7] a picture he described as "the best movie I ever saw" at its first screening.[8]

In 1991, Canton quit Warner Bros. where he was executive vice president of the Worldwide Motion Picture Production unit.[9] Warner Bros. let him out of his contract fifteen months early with studio head Bob Daly saying "from our standpoint this was a job that was going to be eliminated."[10] He then became chairman of Sony's Columbia Pictures (later Columbia-TriStar Pictures), where he was involved with some failures like Geronimo: An American Legend, but also with blockbusters such as Men in Black, Air Force One, and My Best Friend's Wedding.[6]

Canton in March 2010

Canton was fired by Sony in 1996, after a series of relative flops including Last Action Hero (a film Canton described as "probably the best action movie of all time"[11]) and The Cable Guy, before his final string of movies could become blockbusters.[12] Described at the time as both "known for enthusiasm, rapid-fire talk, a sleek Italian wardrobe and a youthful style"[5] and "a braggart who was lucky to have become chairman of a studio in the first place",[13] Canton was in those years "one of the most powerful executives in Hollywood".[4]

In 1998, Canton became an independent film producer, with Jack Frost starring Michael Keaton as his first major production.[14] Backed by the German company Senator Entertainment from August 2000 onwards, he struck a first-look deal with Warner Bros. By the end of 2001, the shares of Senator had dropped substantially and Canton had to close down his production company.[15]

In 2002, he was the chief executive of Artists Production Group, the movie branch of Artist Management Group.[6] After leaving APG in November 2003, he created Atmosphere Entertainment together with Mark Kimsey, an investment manager. The aims were to produce films and television programming.[16] With this company, he produced blockbusters such as 300, Immortals, and The Spiderwick Chronicles.

In 2014, Canton co-created the show Power alongside Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson and Courtney Kemp, which earned numerous NAACP Image Awards, including multiple Outstanding Drama Series awards, National Film & Television Awards, People's Choice Awards and BET Awards. This series was the number-one show on premium cable for its six-year run from 2014-2020.

In 2026, Canton joined forces with Peter Guber at Mandalay Entertainment as a managing partner for a new wave of feature films while continuing to develop television independently.

In his roles as executive, chairman, and producer, Canton has been involved in over 300 major Hollywood productions.[17]

Other activities and roles

[edit]

As of 2023 Canton is a vice-president on the board of the Ischia Global Film & Music Festival, an international film festival held on the Italian island of Ischia.[18]

Personal life

[edit]

Canton was married to Oscar-winning producer Wendy Finerman, with whom he has three children.[4]

His brother is the film producer Neil Canton.[4] They co-produced the 2000 film Get Carter.

Filmography

[edit]

He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

[edit]
Year Film Credit Award Box Office
1980Die Laughing$4 million[19]
1998Jack Frost$34.6 million[20]
2000Get Carter$19.4 million[21]
Red Planet$33.5 million[22]
2001Angel Eyes$29.7 million[23]
2002TrappedExecutive producer$13.4 million[24]
2004Taking Lives$65.5 million[25]
GodsendExecutive producer$30.1 million[26]
2005Land of the DeadNominated - Saturn Award for Best Horror Film
Nominated - Empire Award for Best Horror
Nominated - Fangoria - Best Wide Release Film
Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer Movie		$47.8 million[27]
2006300Saturn Award for Best Action or Adventure Film
Nominated - Empire Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Nominated - MTV Movie Award for Best Movie
Nominated - MTV Russia Movie Award for Best International Movie
Nominated - National Movie Award for Best Action/Adventure
Nominated - People's Choice Award for Favorite Action Movie
Nominated - Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature
Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie – Action		$456.1 million[28]
2007Full of It$500.000[29]
2008The Spiderwick ChroniclesNominated - Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film$162.8 million[30]
2009A Perfect Getaway$22.9 million[31]
Fame$80.2 million[32]
2010Letters to JulietNominated - Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie – Romance$82.1 million[33]
Piranha 3DNominated - Dorian Award for Campy Film of the Year
Nominated - Scream Award for Best Horror Movie		$83.7 million[34]
RemovalExecutive producer
2011ImmortalsNominated - Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film$226.9 million[35]
2012Rites of Passage
The Cold Light of DayExecutive producer$25.4 million[36]
Black NovemberExecutive producer$35.000[37]
Piranha 3DDNominated - Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Horror$8.5 million[38]
FreelancersExecutive producer$370,000[39]
2013Escape Plan$137.3 million[40]
2014300: Rise of an Empire$337.6 million[41]
Cake$2.9 million[42]
OutcastExecutive producer$4.8 million[43]
The Pyramid$16.9 million[44]
2015The Last Witch Hunter$140.4 million[45]
2016Mr. Church
Burn Your Maps
The Comedian
2017The Yellow Birds
Phoenix Forgotten
2018Den of Thieves
Escape Plan 2: Hades
Nightmare Cinema
Final ScoreExecutive producer
2019After
Escape Plan: The Extractors
2020After We Collided
2021After We Fell
2022After Ever Happy
2023After Everything
2024Arthur the King
The Strangers: Chapter 1
2025Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
The Strangers – Chapter 2
Red Sonja
2026The Strangers – Chapter 3
TBAA.D.
Black Belle
Robot: Colony 25
Production manager
Year Film Role Box Office
1980CaddyshackExecutive in charge of production$39.8 million[46]
Miscellaneous crew
Year Film Role
1974The Taking of Pelham One Two ThreeProduction aide
Thanks
Year Film Role
2000Preston TylkThanks
2013GetawaySpecial thanks

Television

[edit]
Year Title Credit Award
1999−2001Jack & JillExecutive producer
2014–20PowerExecutive producerNominated - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series
2020The Freak BrothersExecutive producer
2020−21Power Book II: GhostExecutive producer
2021Power Book III: Raising KananExecutive producer
2022Power Book IV: ForceExecutive producer
2024The Spiderwick ChroniclesExecutive producer

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Birthday 🎂 🎂week to remember. Preserve your memories. Thank you to my awesome family and friends for everything. Love each and every one of you. Grateful. Beyond words. Always. All ways. Onward we journey. Together we go forward. Just Love. Ob la di Ob la da life goes on la la la la life goes on @the Beatles". instagram.com.
  2. ↑ "today is my birthday. the most important part of my life are my three children. unconditionally. always. for always. all ways. forever. they are the gift. As were all of us. as are all of ours. need no other presents. none of us do #friends#family#health#life FREE THESE CHILDREN. THAT'S OUR JOB. AMERICA PUT THE CLOWN 🤡 IN. NOW ITS TIME TO CHANGE. Let's band together and stand up for the real America. Land of the free home of the brave. United States. The rest is unacceptable. Fight the Flight. We do not surrender to American dictators. Not on our watch. Not in our lifetime. Happy birthday that 🎂". instagram.com.
  3. ↑ Brady, Celia (April 1990). "Vain Man: Why Guber-Peters May Bomb in Tokyo". Spy Magazine. p. 42. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Weinraub, Bernard (February 8, 1994). "Film Boss Rules the Stars With His Awe". The New York Times. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
  5. 1 2 Weinraub, Bernard (October 4, 1991). "From Errand Boy to Studio Chief". New York Times. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
  6. 1 2 3 Lyman, Rick (February 20, 2002). "It's a Rare Scene: Movie Executive With 9 Lives; From Warner Brothers to Columbia, and, Now, Paired With Ovitz". The New York Times. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
  7. ↑ Andersen, Kurt (July 5, 1993). "How To Run a Movie Studio". Time. Archived from the original on December 15, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
  8. ↑ Griffin, Nancy; Masters, Kim (1996). Hit & Run: How Jon Peters and Peter Guber took Sony for a Ride in Hollywood. Simon & Schuster. p. 367.
  9. ↑ Fabrikant, Geraldine (September 6, 1991). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Vice President Is Leaving Warner Brothers". The New York Times. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
  10. ↑ Griffin & Masters. p. 318
  11. ↑ Griffin & Masters. p. 368
  12. ↑ Busch, Anita M. (July 10, 1997). "Canton's Sony Roundabout". Variety. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
  13. ↑ Masters, Kim (September 23, 1996). "Water Torture". Time. Archived from the original on November 6, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
  14. ↑ "Inside Moves". Variety. March 17, 1998. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
  15. ↑ Harris, Dana; Dunkley, Cathy (October 21, 2001). "Canton fires staff, Senator backing out". Variety. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
  16. ↑ "Mark Canton Forms Atmosphere Entertainment MM LLC". BusinessWire. December 10, 2003. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
  17. ↑ Mitchell, Peter (August 5, 2005). "Simon the Star". The Age. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
  18. ↑ "About Us". Ischia Global Fest. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Die Laughing (1980) - Financial Information". The-numbers.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Jack Frost (1998) - Financial Information". The-numbers.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Get Carter (2000) - Financial Information". The-numbers.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Red Planet (2000)". Box Office Mojo. August 28, 2002. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Angel Eyes (2001)". Box Office Mojo. August 28, 2002. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Trapped (2002)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Taking Lives (2004)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Godsend (2004)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  27. ↑ "George A. Romero's Land of the Dead (2005) - Financial Information". The-numbers.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  28. ↑ "300 (2007)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Full of It (2007)". Box Office Mojo. March 8, 2007. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  30. ↑ "The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)". Box Office Mojo. May 8, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  31. ↑ "A Perfect Getaway (2009)". Box Office Mojo. September 17, 2009. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Fame (2009) - Financial Information". The-numbers.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Letters to Juliet (2010) - Financial Information". The-numbers.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Piranha 3D (2010) - Financial Information". The-numbers.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Immortals (2011)". Box Office Mojo. February 23, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  36. ↑ "The Cold Light of Day (2012) - Financial Information". The-numbers.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Black November (2015) - Financial Information". The-numbers.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Piranha 3DD (2012)". Box Office Mojo. June 21, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Freelancers (2012) - Financial Information". The-numbers.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Escape Plan (2013)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  41. ↑ "300: Rise of An Empire (2014)". Box Office Mojo. May 29, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Cake (2015)". Box Office Mojo. February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  43. ↑ "Outcast (2014)". Boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  44. ↑ "The Pyramid (2014)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  45. ↑ "The Last Witch Hunter (2015)". Box Office Mojo. December 31, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  46. ↑ "Caddyshack (1980)". Box Office Mojo. January 1, 1982. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mark_Canton&oldid=1352569707"