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Joseph M. Schenck

Joseph M. Schenck

Known For Production
Birthday Dec 25, 1876
Died Oct 22, 1961 (84)
Birthplace Yaroslav, Russian Empire
Popularity 0.5 (history)
Updated Aug 10, 2025 (Update)
Entry Date Aug 10, 2025
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Joseph Michael Schenck (/ˈskɛŋk/; December 25, 1876 – October 22, 1961) was a Russian-born American film studio executive. Schenck was born to a Jewish family in Rybinsk, Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia. He and his family – including younger brother Nicholas – emig ... rated to New York City in July 1892 under the name Ossip Schenker. Recognizing the potential, in 1909 the Schenck brothers purchased Palisades Amusement Park and afterward became participants in the fledgling motion picture industry in partnership with Marcus Loew, operating a chain of movie theaters. In 1916, through his involvement in the film business, Joseph Schenck met and married Norma Talmadge, a top young star with Vitagraph Studios. He would be the first of her three husbands, but she was his only wife. Schenck supervised, controlled and nurtured her career in alliance with her mother. In 1917 the couple formed the Norma Talmadge Film Corporation, which became a lucrative enterprise. They divorced in 1934; Schenck then built a home in Palm Springs, California. After parting ways with his brother, Joseph Schenck moved to the West Coast where the future of the film industry seemed to lie. Within a few years Schenck was made the second president of the new United Artists. In 1933 he partnered with Darryl F. Zanuck to create Twentieth Century Pictures that merged with Fox Film Corporation in 1935. As chairman of the new 20th Century Fox, he was one of the most powerful and influential people in the film business. Caught in a payoff scheme to buy peace with the militant unions, he was convicted of income tax evasion and spent time in prison before being granted a presidential pardon. Following his release, he returned to 20th Century Fox where he became infatuated with the unknown Marilyn Monroe, and played a key role in launching her career. One of the founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in 1952 he was given a special Academy Award in recognition of his contribution to the development of the film industry. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6757 Hollywood Blvd. Schenck retired in 1957 and shortly afterward suffered a stroke, from which he never fully recovered. He died in Los Angeles in 1961 at the age of 84, and was interred in Maimonides Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Known For

Filmography

No data available

The Affairs of Cellini

The Affairs of Cellini

1934

Presenter

Alibi

Alibi

1929

Presenter

Steamboat Bill, Jr.

Steamboat Bill, Jr.

1928

Presenter

College

College

1927

Presenter

Kiki

Kiki

1926

Presenter

Three Ages

Three Ages

1923

Presenter

The Goat

The Goat

1921

Presenter

The Scarecrow

The Scarecrow

1920

Presenter

Neighbors

Neighbors

1920

Presenter

One Week

One Week

1920

Presenter

No data available

As You Like It

As You Like It

1936

Producer

Folies Bergère

Folies Bergère

1935

Producer

Born to Be Bad

Born to Be Bad

1934

Executive Producer

The Last Gentleman

The Last Gentleman

1934

Producer

The Mad Doctor

The Mad Doctor

1933

Producer

Building a Building

Building a Building

1933

Producer

Mickey's Mellerdrammer

Mickey's Mellerdrammer

1933

Producer

Hallelujah, I'm a Bum

Hallelujah, I'm a Bum

1933

Executive Producer

Mickey's Pal Pluto

Mickey's Pal Pluto

1933

Producer

Ye Olden Days

Ye Olden Days

1933

Producer

Rain

Rain

1932

Executive Producer

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

1930

Producer

Be Yourself!

Be Yourself!

1930

Executive Producer

The Bat Whispers

The Bat Whispers

1930

Producer

One Romantic Night

One Romantic Night

1930

Producer

The Bad One

The Bad One

1930

Producer

Eternal Love

Eternal Love

1929

Producer

Lady of the Pavements

Lady of the Pavements

1929

Producer

New York Nights

New York Nights

1929

Producer

The Woman Disputed

The Woman Disputed

1928

Producer

Tempest

Tempest

1928

Executive Producer

Steamboat Bill, Jr.

Steamboat Bill, Jr.

1928

Executive Producer

Camille

Camille

1927

Producer

College

College

1927

Producer

The General

The General

1926

Producer

The Duchess of Buffalo

The Duchess of Buffalo

1926

Producer

Battling Butler

Battling Butler

1926

Executive Producer

Her Sister from Paris

Her Sister from Paris

1925

Producer

Seven Chances

Seven Chances

1925

Producer

Go West

Go West

1925

Producer

Sherlock Jr.

Sherlock Jr.

1924

Producer

The Navigator

The Navigator

1924

Executive Producer

The Balloonatic

The Balloonatic

1923

Producer

The Love Nest

The Love Nest

1923

Producer

Ashes of Vengeance

Ashes of Vengeance

1923

Producer

The Voice from the Minaret

The Voice from the Minaret

1923

Executive Producer

Our Hospitality

Our Hospitality

1923

Producer

Three Ages

Three Ages

1923

Producer

The Frozen North

The Frozen North

1922

Producer

My Wife's Relations

My Wife's Relations

1922

Producer

The Paleface

The Paleface

1922

Producer

The Blacksmith

The Blacksmith

1922

Producer

Smilin' Through

Smilin' Through

1922

Executive Producer

The Eternal Flame

The Eternal Flame

1922

Producer

Cops

Cops

1922

Producer

The Electric House

The Electric House

1922

Producer

Day Dreams

Day Dreams

1922

Producer

The Haunted House

The Haunted House

1921

Producer

The Play House

The Play House

1921

Producer

The Boat

The Boat

1921

Producer

The High Sign

The High Sign

1921

Producer

The Goat

The Goat

1921

Producer

One Week

One Week

1920

Producer

Convict 13

Convict 13

1920

Producer

The Garage

The Garage

1920

Producer

The Branded Woman

The Branded Woman

1920

Producer

The Woman Gives

The Woman Gives

1920

Producer

A Daughter of Two Worlds

A Daughter of Two Worlds

1920

Producer

She Loves and Lies

She Loves and Lies

1920

Producer

Neighbors

Neighbors

1920

Producer

Back Stage

Back Stage

1919

Producer

The Hayseed

The Hayseed

1919

Producer

The Heart of Wetona

The Heart of Wetona

1919

Producer

The New Moon

The New Moon

1919

Producer

The Isle of Conquest

The Isle of Conquest

1919

Producer

The Probation Wife

The Probation Wife

1919

Producer

Good Night, Nurse!

Good Night, Nurse!

1918

Producer

The Cook

The Cook

1918

Producer

Out West

Out West

1918

Producer

Moonshine

Moonshine

1918

Producer

The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City

1918

Producer

De Luxe Annie

De Luxe Annie

1918

Producer

The Ghosts of Yesterday

The Ghosts of Yesterday

1918

Producer

Her Only Way

Her Only Way

1918

Producer

The Bell Boy

The Bell Boy

1918

Producer

His Wedding Night

His Wedding Night

1917

Producer

Oh, Doctor!

Oh, Doctor!

1917

Producer

Coney Island

Coney Island

1917

Producer

Panthea

Panthea

1917

Producer

The Rough House

The Rough House

1917

Producer

The Moth

The Moth

1917

Producer

Poppy

Poppy

1917

Producer

A Reckless Romeo

A Reckless Romeo

1917

Producer

A Country Hero

A Country Hero

1917

Producer

The Law of Compensation

The Law of Compensation

1917

Producer

The Butcher Boy

The Butcher Boy

1917

Producer

Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

No data available

No data available

Popularity Metrics

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Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 3 5 1
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2024 8 2 3 1
2024 9 2 4 1
2024 10 2 5 1
2024 11 1 2 1
2024 12 1 2 1
2025 1 1 3 1
2025 2 1 2 1
2025 3 1 2 1
2025 7 0 0 0
2025 8 0 1 0

Trending Rank


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