Robert Tapert

Robert Tapert

Rob Tapert speaking at SPADA 2010
Born Robert Gerard Tapert
(1955-05-14) May 14, 1955
Massachusetts U.S.
Alma mater Michigan State University
Occupation Film and television producer
Spouse(s) Lucy Lawless (m. 1998)
Children 2

Robert Gerard "Rob" Tapert (born May 14, 1955) is an American film producer, best known as the co-founder of Renaissance Pictures and founder of Ghost House Pictures.

Biography

Tapert first became involved with filmmaking while attending Michigan State University. He intended to study economics, but was drawn into film courses by his roommate Sam Raimi, who had been making films of his own for many years, usually with his brothers Ivan and Ted, and Raimi's childhood friend Bruce Campbell.

Personal life

He has two sisters, Dorothy and Mary Beth Tapert. He also has a younger brother, Jeff Tapert. He has been married to actress Lucy Lawless since 28 March 1998; the couple have two sons.

Producing career

Tapert and Sam Raimi worked together to create the film The Happy Valley Kid, the story of a young man, played by Tapert, who goes to college only to be met with rejection at every turn. Near the end of the film he loses his mind, dresses up as a cowboy, and begins gunning down all those who wronged him. Despite its dramatic plot, the film is largely a comedy. The film was screened at Michigan State university several times and made a profit for Raimi and Tapert.

Tapert next made a feature film, a graphic horror film titled The Evil Dead, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Bruce Campbell. Thanks to a glowing review from horror author Stephen King, the film was a success with the crowd at the Cannes Film Festival in France, and although not a favorite of critics at the time, it was critically acclaimed as a horror classic in later years. The film was successful enough to spawn two sequels, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness.

Tapert has produced numerous other films, typically involving Raimi and/or Campbell in some capacity, such as Crimewave, Easy Wheels, Lunatics: A Love Story, Darkman, Timecop, The Gift, The Grudge (and its sequel, The Grudge 2) and 30 Days of Night.

During the 1990s Tapert produced several television series, most notably Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess and Young Hercules.

Tapert's more recent television project, Spartacus: Blood and Sand for Starz, premiered in 2010.[1] Tapert and his friend Sam Raimi founded Ghost House Pictures, which came upon the interest of a project named Panic Attack!,[2] directed by Uruguayan filmmaker Fede Alvarez.[3] Tapert produced alongside Sam Raimi the Ghost House Pictures film Dybbuk Box, which was renamed The Possession.[4]

Tapert, along with Raimi and Campbell, produced the remake of The Evil Dead through Ghost House Pictures.[5] The film was directed by Fede Alvarez (whom Tapert also collaborated with on the 2016 film Don't Breathe, who also wrote the screenplay with Rodo Sayagues and Diablo Cody, who "Americanized" the script.

Tapert returned to the Evil Dead franchise as an executive producer to the Starz series Ash vs. Evil Dead, which premiered in 2015.[6]

Tapert is currently developing a new drama series, Airborne, a Vietnam War drama that will capture the human story of war as it follows the lives of a young helicopter crew.[7]

Tapert is also working to develop a Xena reboot in conjunction with Sam Raimi and NBC.[8]

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ STARZ DECLARES - "WE ARE SPARTACUS! http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20081027starz01/
  2. ↑ Fleming, Michael (November 29, 2009). "'Panic' pushes Hollywood buttons". Variety.
  3. ↑ "Sam Raimi Helps Filmmaker Fede Alvarez Usher in an Alien Invasion". DreadCentral.
  4. ↑ "Lionsgate to Open Up Ghost House's Dibbuk Box". DreadCentral.
  5. ↑ McIntyre, Gina (July 13, 2011). "'Evil Dead' remake: Diablo Cody polishing script for first-time director". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ↑ "Starz Orders 'Evil Dead' TV Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  7. ↑ Starz to develop Vietnam War Series http://collider.com/airborne-starz-gideon-yago/
  8. ↑ "'Xena: Warrior Princess' Reboot in the Works at NBC (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-02-22.


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