Raymond Otto Stark was an American film producer and talent agent.
30 Facts About Ray Stark
2.
Ray Stark made eight films with Herbert Ross, five with John Huston, and three with Sydney Pollack.
3.
Raymond Otto Stark was born on October 3,1915, in Manhattan, the second child of Sadie and Maximilian Stark.
4.
Ray Stark attended grade school in Manhattan, skipping two grades, before attending The Kohut School, a boarding school for boys in Harrison, New York.
5.
In 1931, at 15 years of age, Ray Stark was the youngest student ever admitted to Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
6.
At Rutgers, Ray Stark continued to take strong interest in literature but he did not know how to pursue it occupationally.
7.
In 1935, Ray Stark returned to Manhattan to attend NYU Law, although he did not graduate.
8.
Ray Stark was head of production, in charge of buying film properties and supervising production, while Hyman was instrumental in forming deals and handling finances.
9.
However, Ray Stark chose to produce The World of Suzie Wong first, a lesser-known play outside of Seven Arts.
10.
Interpersonal complications with France Nuyen interfered with shooting, and Ray Stark replaced her with newcomer Nancy Kwan, who was later nominated for a Golden Globe Best Actress in the role.
11.
In 1966, Ray Stark left Seven Arts to found his own production company, Rastar Productions.
12.
Ray Stark went on to produce many notable films from the 1970s to the early 2000s, including The Owl and the Pussycat, The Way We Were, Murder By Death, The Goodbye Girl, Seems Like Old Times, Annie, and Steel Magnolias.
13.
Ray Stark then founded Rastar Films, later selling that to Columbia Pictures as well in 1980.
14.
Rastar was closed when Ray Stark himself died in 2004 and was folded into Columbia Pictures.
15.
Ray Stark had the smash hit he'd hoped for, and Streisand emerged as a full-fledged star.
16.
Ray Stark married Fanny Brice's and Nicky Arnstein's daughter Frances Brice in 1940.
17.
In telling Fanny's story, Ray Stark would produce the Broadway musical, film version and film sequel Funny Lady.
18.
Ray Stark had commissioned an authorized biography of Brice, based on taped recollections she had dictated, but was unhappy with the result.
19.
Ray Stark then turned to Ben Hecht to write the screenplay for a biopic, but neither Hecht nor the 10 writers who succeeded him were able to produce a version that satisfied Ray Stark.
20.
Ray Stark discussed the possibility with producer David Merrick, who suggested Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim compose the score.
21.
Ray Stark agreed to play Brice if she could handle the score.
22.
Ray Stark went to Palm Beach, Florida for a month and composed music he thought Bancroft would be able to sing.
23.
Ray Stark was performing at the Bon Soir in Greenwich Village, and Styne urged Robbins to see her.
24.
Robbins had an argument with Lennart and told Ray Stark he wanted her replaced because he thought she was not capable of adapting her screenplay into a viable book for a stage musical.
25.
Ray Stark humbly received the award, fighting impulses of stage fright to deliver a thoughtful yet funny speech.
26.
Ray Stark was known for his distaste for public appearances and belief that talent, not producers, should receive all public attention.
27.
Peter Ray Stark died by suicide in New York City.
28.
Ray Stark died of heart failure in his Los Angeles home on January 17,2004, aged 88.
29.
Ray Stark amassed a broad collection of outdoor sculptures by artist and close friend Henry Moore, and his walls were adorned with pieces by Monet, Picasso, and Kandinsky.
30.
In 1982, Fran and Ray Stark established The Fran and Ray Stark Foundation, which is committed to the growth of community art, culture and medicine.