Ray Stark was born on October 3, 1914 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a producer, known for Steel Magnolias (1989), Annie (1982) and Funny Girl (1968). He was married to Frances Brice. He died on January 17, 2004 in West Hollywood, California, USA.
How could [David] Puttnam say the American dream is dead? He spent one year here and left with millions of dollars. Only in America!
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Fact
1
He graduated from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey with a Bachelors degree in 1935.
2
The production company he founded in the 1960s was appropriately named: Rastar - Ra(y)star(k).
3
Was nominated for two Tony Awards in 1964: as Best Producer (Musical) as a producer of Best Musical nominee "Funny Girl."
4
In 1977, when Cliff Robertson began an investigation into financial discrepancies regarding Columbia Pictures' dealings with him that revealed Columbia president David Begelman had forged checks made out to Robertson, Stark warned him that if he pressed ahead with his investigation, Begelman would commit suicide. Robertson said he would do "what a citizen should do in this situation." Begelman was sacked from Columbia but his eventual suicide many years later wasn't connected with the incident. Stark made sure Robertson was blacklisted. The story is detailed in David McClintick's book, "Indecent Exposure.".
5
While putting together "Funny Girl," its producer, David Merrick, took Stark and his wife to see an unknown singer perform at the Bon Soir in Greenwich Village. At first the Starks balked at using Barbra Streisand, but settled for her when they couldn't get Eydie Gormé or Carol Burnett and their initial choice, Anne Bancroft, pulled out. Known for his Machiavellian ways, Stark forced Streisand to sign a four-picture deal with his Rastar Productions to play Brice in Funny Girl (1968). They also collaborated on The Owl and the Pussycat (1970), The Way We Were (1973) and Funny Lady (1975). But there was obvious bitterness--after "Funny Lady" wrapped, Streisand sent Stark an antique mirror on which she had written in lipstick, "Paid in full.".
The producer of the original Broadway production of "Funny Girl" (1964), the film Funny Girl (1968) and its sequel, Funny Lady (1975). In real life, he is the son-in-law of Fanny Brice, the famous "Ziegfeld Follies" entertainer whose life is depicted in those three shows.
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Lost in Yonkers
1993
producer
Barbarians at the Gate
1993
TV Movie producer
Steel Magnolias
1990
TV Movie co-executive producer
Steel Magnolias
1989
producer
Biloxi Blues
1988
producer
Brighton Beach Memoirs
1986
producer
The Slugger's Wife
1985
producer
The Toy
1982
producer
Annie
1982
producer
Seems Like Old Times
1980
producer
Somewhere in Time
1980
producer - uncredited
The Electric Horseman
1979
producer
Chapter Two
1979
producer
California Suite
1978
producer
The Cheap Detective
1978
producer
Casey's Shadow
1978
producer
The Goodbye Girl
1977
producer
Murder by Death
1976
producer
Robin and Marian
1976
executive producer - uncredited
The Black Bird
1975
executive producer
The Sunshine Boys
1975/I
producer
Funny Lady
1975
producer
The Way We Were
1973
producer
Fat City
1972
producer
To Find a Man
1972
executive producer - uncredited
The Owl and the Pussycat
1970
producer
Funny Girl
1968
producer
Reflections in a Golden Eye
1967
producer
Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad
1967
producer
Arrivederci, Baby!
1966
producer
This Property Is Condemned
1966
producer
The Night of the Iguana
1964
producer
The World of Suzie Wong
1960
executive producer
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
West Side Story
1961
production executive - uncredited
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Wonderful World of Disney
1999
TV Series acknowledgment - 1 episode
The Way We Were: Looking Back
1999
Video documentary the producers wish to thank
John Huston: The Man, the Movies, the Maverick
1988
Documentary acknowledgment
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to John Huston
1983
TV Special
Himself
Lights, Camera, Annie!
1982
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Lion Roars Again
1975
Documentary short
Himself
The Owl and the Pussycat: On Location With - 'The Owl and the Pussycat'
$900,000
