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Darryl F. Zanuck

Darryl F. Zanuck

Known For Production
Birthday Sep 05, 1902
Died Dec 22, 1979 (77)
Birthplace Wahoo, Nebraska, USA
Popularity 0.4 (history)
Updated Nov 15, 2024
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

Darryl Francis Zanuck (September 5, 1902 – December 22, 1979) was an American film producer and studio executive; he earlier contributed stories for films starting in the silent era. He played a major part in the Hollywood studio system as one of its longest survivors (the length of his career was r ... ivaled only by that of Adolph Zukor). He produced three films that won the Academy Award for Best Picture during his tenure. Zanuck was born in Wahoo, Nebraska, the son of Sarah Louise (née Torpin), who later married Charles Norton, and Frank Harvey Zanuck, who owned and operated a hotel in Wahoo. He had an older brother, Donald (1893–1903), who died in an accident when he was only 9 years old. Zanuck was of partial Swiss descent, and raised a Protestant. At age six, Zanuck and his mother moved to Los Angeles, where the better climate could improve her poor health. At age eight, he found his first movie job as an extra, but his disapproving father recalled him to Nebraska. In 1917, despite being 15, he deceived a recruiter, joined the United States Army, and served in France with the Nebraska National Guard during World War I. Upon returning to the US, he worked in many part-time jobs while seeking work as a writer. He found work producing movie plots, and sold his first story in 1922 to William Russell and his second to Irving Thalberg. Screenwriter Frederica Sagor Maas, story editor at Universal Pictures' New York office, stated that one of the stories Zanuck sent out to movie studios around this time was completely plagiarized from another author's work. Zanuck then worked for Mack Sennett and FBO (where he wrote the serials The Telephone Girl and The Leather Pushers) and took that experience to Warner Bros., where he wrote stories for Rin Tin Tin and under a number of pseudonyms wrote over 40 scripts from 1924 to 1929, including Red Hot Tires (1925) and Old San Francisco (1927). He moved into management in 1929, and became head of production in 1931. In 1933, Zanuck left Warner Bros. over a salary dispute with studio head Jack L. Warner. A few days later, he partnered with Joseph Schenck to form 20th Century Pictures, Inc. with financial help from Joseph's brother Nicholas Schenck and Louis B. Mayer, president and studio head of Loew's, Inc and its subsidiary Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, along with William Goetz and Raymond Griffith. 20th Century released its material through United Artists. During that short time (1933–1935), 20th Century became the most successful independent movie studio of its time, breaking box-office records with 18 of its 19 films, all profitable, including Clive of India, Les Miserables, and The House of Rothschild. After a dispute with United Artists over stock ownership, Schenck and Zanuck negotiated and used their studio to bring the bankrupt Fox studios in 1935 to create Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation. Zanuck was Vice President of Production of this new studio and took a hands-on approach, closely involving himself in scripts, film editing, and producing. ... Source: Article "Darryl F. Zanuck" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Known For

Filmography

The Casting Couch

The Casting Couch

1995

as (archive footage)

Crack in the Mirror

Crack in the Mirror

1960

Writer

No Way Out

No Way Out

1950

Presenter

Leave Her to Heaven

Leave Her to Heaven

1945

Presenter

The Purple Heart

The Purple Heart

1944

Story

China Girl

China Girl

1942

Screenplay

Thunder Birds

Thunder Birds

1942

Story

The Gorilla

The Gorilla

1939

Executive In Charge Of Production

Love Is News

Love Is News

1937

Executive In Charge Of Production

This Is My Affair

This Is My Affair

1937

Production Manager

Lloyd's of London

Lloyd's of London

1936

Production Manager

Private Number

Private Number

1936

Production Manager

Ladies In Love

Ladies In Love

1936

Executive In Charge Of Production

'G' Men

'G' Men

1935

Novel

The Littlest Rebel

The Littlest Rebel

1935

Production Manager

Baby Face

Baby Face

1933

Story

Lady Killer

Lady Killer

1933

Story

The Dark Horse

The Dark Horse

1932

Story

Maybe It's Love

Maybe It's Love

1930

Story

The Life of the Party

The Life of the Party

1930

Writer

Hardboiled Rose

Hardboiled Rose

1929

Story

Madonna of Avenue A

Madonna of Avenue A

1929

Story

Noah's Ark

Noah's Ark

1928

Story

Tenderloin

Tenderloin

1928

Story

My Man

My Man

1928

Story

Lights of New York

Lights of New York

1928

Production Supervisor

The Midnight Taxi

The Midnight Taxi

1928

Story

State Street Sadie

State Street Sadie

1928

Story

Pay as You Enter

Pay as You Enter

1928

Story

Irish Hearts

Irish Hearts

1927

Story

Old San Francisco

Old San Francisco

1927

Writer

Simple Sis

Simple Sis

1927

Story

The First Auto

The First Auto

1927

Story

Jaws of Steel

Jaws of Steel

1927

Writer

The Missing Link

The Missing Link

1927

Scenario Writer

The Desired Woman

The Desired Woman

1927

Story

Footloose Widows

Footloose Widows

1926

Writer

The Better 'Ole

The Better 'Ole

1926

Screenplay

The Little Irish Girl

The Little Irish Girl

1926

Adaptation

The Cave Man

The Cave Man

1926

Writer

Across the Pacific

Across the Pacific

1926

Adaptation

Hogan's Alley

Hogan's Alley

1925

Writer

Eve's Lover

Eve's Lover

1925

Scenario Writer

Red Hot Tires

Red Hot Tires

1925

Story

A Broadway Butterfly

A Broadway Butterfly

1925

Writer

The Limited Mail

The Limited Mail

1925

Writer

Money to Burns

Money to Burns

1924

Co-Writer

Find Your Man

Find Your Man

1924

Writer

Fighting Blood

Fighting Blood

1923

Writer

Fighting Blood

Fighting Blood

1923

Writer

Fighting Blood

Fighting Blood

1923

Writer

Tora! Tora! Tora!

Tora! Tora! Tora!

1970

Executive Producer

The Agony and the Ecstasy

The Agony and the Ecstasy

1965

Executive Producer

The Visit

The Visit

1964

Producer

The Chapman Report

The Chapman Report

1962

Producer

The Longest Day

The Longest Day

1962

Producer

Sanctuary

Sanctuary

1961

Producer

The Big Gamble

The Big Gamble

1961

Producer

Crack in the Mirror

Crack in the Mirror

1960

Producer

The Roots of Heaven

The Roots of Heaven

1958

Producer

The Barbarian and the Geisha

The Barbarian and the Geisha

1958

Executive Producer

Island in the Sun

Island in the Sun

1957

Producer

The Sun Also Rises

The Sun Also Rises

1957

Producer

On the Threshold of Space

On the Threshold of Space

1956

Executive Producer

The King and I

The King and I

1956

Executive Producer

Seven Cities of Gold

Seven Cities of Gold

1955

Executive Producer

Good Morning, Miss Dove

Good Morning, Miss Dove

1955

Executive Producer

The View from Pompey's Head

The View from Pompey's Head

1955

Executive Producer

Broken Lance

Broken Lance

1954

Executive Producer

The Egyptian

The Egyptian

1954

Producer

Beneath the 12-Mile Reef

Beneath the 12-Mile Reef

1953

Executive Producer

With a Song in My Heart

With a Song in My Heart

1952

Executive Producer

Viva Zapata!

Viva Zapata!

1952

Producer

The Snows of Kilimanjaro

The Snows of Kilimanjaro

1952

Producer

People Will Talk

People Will Talk

1951

Producer

David and Bathsheba

David and Bathsheba

1951

Producer

Night and the City

Night and the City

1950

Executive Producer

A Ticket to Tomahawk

A Ticket to Tomahawk

1950

Executive Producer

Under My Skin

Under My Skin

1950

Executive Producer

All About Eve

All About Eve

1950

Producer

The Gunfighter

The Gunfighter

1950

Executive Producer

No Way Out

No Way Out

1950

Producer

Pinky

Pinky

1949

Producer

The Fan

The Fan

1949

Executive Producer

It Happens Every Spring

It Happens Every Spring

1949

Executive Producer

You're My Everything

You're My Everything

1949

Executive Producer

The Forbidden Street

The Forbidden Street

1949

Executive Producer

Sand

Sand

1949

Executive Producer

Father Was a Fullback

Father Was a Fullback

1949

Executive Producer

Everybody Does It

Everybody Does It

1949

Executive Producer

Twelve O'Clock High

Twelve O'Clock High

1949

Producer

Slattery's Hurricane

Slattery's Hurricane

1949

Executive Producer

Call Northside 777

Call Northside 777

1948

Executive Producer

The Snake Pit

The Snake Pit

1948

Executive Producer

Road House

Road House

1948

Executive Producer

Cry of the City

Cry of the City

1948

Executive Producer

Fury at Furnace Creek

Fury at Furnace Creek

1948

Executive Producer

Apartment for Peggy

Apartment for Peggy

1948

Executive Producer

That Wonderful Urge

That Wonderful Urge

1948

Executive Producer

The Walls of Jericho

The Walls of Jericho

1948

Executive Producer

Give My Regards to Broadway

Give My Regards to Broadway

1948

Executive Producer

Sitting Pretty

Sitting Pretty

1948

Executive Producer

Nightmare Alley

Nightmare Alley

1947

Executive Producer

Gentleman's Agreement

Gentleman's Agreement

1947

Producer

Captain from Castile

Captain from Castile

1947

Executive Producer

Moss Rose

Moss Rose

1947

Executive Producer

The Shocking Miss Pilgrim

The Shocking Miss Pilgrim

1947

Executive Producer

The Foxes of Harrow

The Foxes of Harrow

1947

Executive Producer

Carnival in Costa Rica

Carnival in Costa Rica

1947

Executive Producer

Boomerang!

Boomerang!

1947

Executive Producer

Forever Amber

Forever Amber

1947

Executive Producer

The Homestretch

The Homestretch

1947

Executive Producer

Somewhere in the Night

Somewhere in the Night

1946

Executive Producer

Centennial Summer

Centennial Summer

1946

Executive Producer

Strange Triangle

Strange Triangle

1946

Executive Producer

Claudia and David

Claudia and David

1946

Executive Producer

Dragonwyck

Dragonwyck

1946

Producer

The Razor's Edge

The Razor's Edge

1946

Producer

Leave Her to Heaven

Leave Her to Heaven

1945

Executive Producer

Lifeboat

Lifeboat

1944

Executive Producer

Wilson

Wilson

1944

Producer

Buffalo Bill

Buffalo Bill

1944

Executive Producer

Winged Victory

Winged Victory

1944

Producer

The Purple Heart

The Purple Heart

1944

Producer

Crash Dive

Crash Dive

1943

Executive Producer

Wintertime

Wintertime

1943

Executive Producer

This Above All

This Above All

1942

Producer

To the Shores of Tripoli

To the Shores of Tripoli

1942

Producer

China Girl

China Girl

1942

Producer

Thunder Birds

Thunder Birds

1942

Executive Producer

Sex Hygiene

Sex Hygiene

1942

Producer

The Pied Piper

The Pied Piper

1942

Executive Producer

Song of the Islands

Song of the Islands

1942

Executive Producer

The Black Swan

The Black Swan

1942

Executive Producer

Moontide

Moontide

1942

Executive Producer

Western Union

Western Union

1941

Executive Producer

How Green Was My Valley

How Green Was My Valley

1941

Producer

Blood and Sand

Blood and Sand

1941

Producer

Sun Valley Serenade

Sun Valley Serenade

1941

Executive Producer

A Yank in the R.A.F.

A Yank in the R.A.F.

1941

Producer

That Night in Rio

That Night in Rio

1941

Producer

Tall, Dark and Handsome

Tall, Dark and Handsome

1941

Executive Producer

Hudson's Bay

Hudson's Bay

1941

Producer

Wild Geese Calling

Wild Geese Calling

1941

Executive Producer

Moon Over Miami

Moon Over Miami

1941

Executive Producer

Know For Sure

Know For Sure

1941

Producer

Week-End in Havana

Week-End in Havana

1941

Executive Producer

Tobacco Road

Tobacco Road

1941

Producer

Man Hunt

Man Hunt

1941

Executive Producer

The Mark of Zorro

The Mark of Zorro

1940

Executive Producer

Brigham Young

Brigham Young

1940

Producer

Chad Hanna

Chad Hanna

1940

Producer

The Blue Bird

The Blue Bird

1940

Producer

Lillian Russell

Lillian Russell

1940

Producer

Down Argentine Way

Down Argentine Way

1940

Producer

Star Dust

Star Dust

1940

Producer

Maryland

Maryland

1940

Producer

Four Sons

Four Sons

1940

Producer

Public Deb No. 1

Public Deb No. 1

1940

Producer

The Man I Married

The Man I Married

1940

Producer

Little Old New York

Little Old New York

1940

Producer

The Great Profile

The Great Profile

1940

Producer

The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath

1940

Producer

The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Hound of the Baskervilles

1939

Executive Producer

Jesse James

Jesse James

1939

Producer

Hotel for Women

Hotel for Women

1939

Producer

Second Fiddle

Second Fiddle

1939

Executive Producer

The Rains Came

The Rains Came

1939

Producer

Hollywood Cavalcade

Hollywood Cavalcade

1939

Producer

Tail Spin

Tail Spin

1939

Producer

Swanee River

Swanee River

1939

Producer

Here I Am a Stranger

Here I Am a Stranger

1939

Producer

Wife, Husband and Friend

Wife, Husband and Friend

1939

Producer

Stanley and Livingstone

Stanley and Livingstone

1939

Producer

Too Busy to Work

Too Busy to Work

1939

Producer

Drums Along the Mohawk

Drums Along the Mohawk

1939

Producer

Young Mr. Lincoln

Young Mr. Lincoln

1939

Producer

Susannah of the Mounties

Susannah of the Mounties

1939

Executive Producer

In Old Chicago

In Old Chicago

1938

Producer

My Lucky Star

My Lucky Star

1938

Producer

Suez

Suez

1938

Producer

International Settlement

International Settlement

1938

Producer

Little Miss Broadway

Little Miss Broadway

1938

Producer

Kentucky

Kentucky

1938

Executive Producer

Gateway

Gateway

1938

Producer

Submarine Patrol

Submarine Patrol

1938

Producer

Always Goodbye

Always Goodbye

1938

Producer

Kentucky Moonshine

Kentucky Moonshine

1938

Producer

Josette

Josette

1938

Executive Producer

I'll Give a Million

I'll Give a Million

1938

Producer

Happy Landing

Happy Landing

1938

Producer

Three Blind Mice

Three Blind Mice

1938

Producer

Sally, Irene and Mary

Sally, Irene and Mary

1938

Executive Producer

Just Around the Corner

Just Around the Corner

1938

Producer

Wee Willie Winkie

Wee Willie Winkie

1937

Producer

Seventh Heaven

Seventh Heaven

1937

Producer

Slave Ship

Slave Ship

1937

Producer

Lancer Spy

Lancer Spy

1937

Executive Producer

Nancy Steele Is Missing!

Nancy Steele Is Missing!

1937

Producer

Wife, Doctor and Nurse

Wife, Doctor and Nurse

1937

Producer

Wake Up and Live

Wake Up and Live

1937

Producer

Love and Hisses

Love and Hisses

1937

Producer

Angel's Holiday

Angel's Holiday

1937

Producer

Heidi

Heidi

1937

Producer

On the Avenue

On the Avenue

1937

Producer

Thin Ice

Thin Ice

1937

Producer

Sing, Baby, Sing

Sing, Baby, Sing

1936

Producer

Half Angel

Half Angel

1936

Producer

Pigskin Parade

Pigskin Parade

1936

Producer

Ramona

Ramona

1936

Executive Producer

Reunion

Reunion

1936

Executive Producer

White Hunter

White Hunter

1936

Producer

White Fang

White Fang

1936

Producer

The Road to Glory

The Road to Glory

1936

Producer

To Mary - with Love

To Mary - with Love

1936

Producer

Under Two Flags

Under Two Flags

1936

Producer

Poor Little Rich Girl

Poor Little Rich Girl

1936

Producer

Banjo on My Knee

Banjo on My Knee

1936

Executive Producer

A Message to Garcia

A Message to Garcia

1936

Producer

It Had to Happen

It Had to Happen

1936

Producer

The Country Beyond

The Country Beyond

1936

Producer

Les Misérables

Les Misérables

1935

Producer

Clive of India

Clive of India

1935

Producer

Professional Soldier

Professional Soldier

1935

Producer

Cardinal Richelieu

Cardinal Richelieu

1935

Producer

Metropolitan

Metropolitan

1935

Producer

Show Them No Mercy!

Show Them No Mercy!

1935

Producer

Thanks a Million

Thanks a Million

1935

Producer

Call of the Wild

Call of the Wild

1935

Producer

The Affairs of Cellini

The Affairs of Cellini

1934

Producer

Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge

1934

Producer

Born to Be Bad

Born to Be Bad

1934

Producer

The Mighty Barnum

The Mighty Barnum

1934

Producer

Looking for Trouble

Looking for Trouble

1934

Producer

The Last Gentleman

The Last Gentleman

1934

Producer

The House of Rothschild

The House of Rothschild

1934

Producer

Parachute Jumper

Parachute Jumper

1933

Producer

Blood Money

Blood Money

1933

Producer

Ex-Lady

Ex-Lady

1933

Producer

The Bowery

The Bowery

1933

Producer

Gallant Lady

Gallant Lady

1933

Producer

The Working Man

The Working Man

1933

Producer

Advice to the Lovelorn

Advice to the Lovelorn

1933

Producer

Doctor X

Doctor X

1932

Executive Producer

Three on a Match

Three on a Match

1932

Producer

The Cabin in the Cotton

The Cabin in the Cotton

1932

Producer

The Man Who Played God

The Man Who Played God

1932

Producer

Life Begins

Life Begins

1932

Executive Producer

The Dark Horse

The Dark Horse

1932

Producer

The Public Enemy

The Public Enemy

1931

Producer

Blonde Crazy

Blonde Crazy

1931

Executive Producer

Illicit

Illicit

1931

Producer

Little Caesar

Little Caesar

1931

Producer

The Doorway to Hell

The Doorway to Hell

1930

Executive Producer

Three Faces East

Three Faces East

1930

Producer

Show of Shows

Show of Shows

1929

Producer

On With the Show!

On With the Show!

1929

Producer

Noah's Ark

Noah's Ark

1928

Associate Producer

The Terror

The Terror

1928

Producer

Tenderloin

Tenderloin

1928

Producer

The Singing Fool

The Singing Fool

1928

Producer

Old San Francisco

Old San Francisco

1927

Producer

The First Auto

The First Auto

1927

Producer

The Desired Woman

The Desired Woman

1927

Associate Producer

So This Is Paris

So This Is Paris

1926

Producer

Lady Windermere's Fan

Lady Windermere's Fan

1925

Producer

Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

No data available

Cinépanorama

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Feb 04, 1956

What's My Line?

as Self - Mystery Guest

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 02, 1950

The Dick Cavett Show

as Self - Guest

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 06, 1968

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 5 10 2
2024 7 6 10 3
2024 8 6 19 3
2024 9 4 9 1
2024 10 3 5 1
2024 11 2 6 1
2024 12 2 4 1
2025 1 2 3 1
2025 2 2 4 1
2025 3 1 2 1
2025 5 1 2 1
2025 6 1 1 1
2025 7 0 0 0
2025 8 1 5 0
2025 9 0 0 0
2025 10 0 0 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
No trending metrics available.

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