Marc Abraham is an American film producer, director, and former president of Strike Entertainment, a production company he launched in early 2002 with a multi-year,

first look arrangement A first-look deal is any contract containing a clause granting, usually for a fee or other consideration that covers a specified period of time, a pre-emption right, right of first refusal, or right of first offer (also called a right of first neg ...

with

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Americ ...

Career

Abraham began his career as a copywriter for Young & Rubicam in New York City after graduating from the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United States, with College admission ...

. He left advertising to pursue a full-time writing career and worked as a freelance sportswriter for several newspapers and magazines. He also wrote two books on the International Olympic Games for Universal Press. Abraham's entry into film began with the documentary, ''Playing to Win'', an inside look at the Cuban athletic system. He wrote several screenplays for studios and networks including

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film studio, film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm o ...

, Warner Bros. and CBS. He also wrote for the popular series '' 21 Jump Street'' and '' Moonlighting''. He was a founding partner, along with Armyan Bernstein, at Beacon Communications, a financing and production company founded in 1990. Abraham brought to the big screen '' Flash of Genius'', released by

in Fall 2008, which marked his directorial debut and stars Greg Kinnear and Lauren Graham. Based on a true story, the movie tells the story of a small-time inventor who takes on the Detroit automakers. Also for

, Abraham is producing ''Trouble is My Business'', an adaptation of

Raymond Chandler Raymond Thornton Chandler (July 23, 1888 – March 26, 1959) was an American-British novelist and screenwriter. In 1932, at the age of forty-four, Chandler became a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive durin ...

's detective-noir classic, starring Clive Owen. He produced the remake of '' The Thing'' for Strike Entertainment alongside Eric Newman. Even with the disestablishment of Strike Entertainment in 2013, Abraham and Newman still produced the 2014 film ''

RoboCop ''RoboCop'' is a 1987 American Science fiction film, science fiction action film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner. The film stars Peter Weller, Nancy Allen (actress), Nancy Allen, Dan O'Herlihy, Dan ...

'' under the Strike Entertainment name since it started production in 2012. Abraham directed, wrote and produced the 2015

Hank Williams Hank Williams (born Hiram Williams; September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, he reco ...

biopic '' I Saw the Light'', which starred Tom Hiddleston. It was based on Colin Escott's 1994 book ''Hank Williams: The Biography''.

Beacon Pictures

During its first few years, Beacon Communications produced award-winning films like '' The Commitments'' which was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy in 1992 and also went on to win four BAFTA awards; and Keith Gordon's '' A Midnight Clear'', starring

Ethan Hawke Ethan Green Hawke (born November 6, 1970) is an American actor and film director. He has been nominated for four Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award. Hawke has directed three feature films, three off-Broadway plays, and a doc ...

. In a co-venture with Turner Pictures, Abraham executive produced

David Mamet David Alan Mamet (; born November 30, 1947) is an American playwright, filmmaker, and author. He won a Pulitzer Prize and received Tony nominations for his plays ''Glengarry Glen Ross'' (1984) and '' Speed-the-Plow'' (1988). He first gained cri ...

's A Life in the Theatre. Beacon also produced '' Sugar Hill'', starring

Wesley Snipes Wesley Trent Snipes (born July 31, 1962) is an American actor, film producer, and martial artist. His prominent film roles include '' Major League'' (1989), '' New Jack City'' (1991), ''White Men Can't Jump'' (1992), '' Passenger 57'' (1992), '' ...

; ''

Princess Caraboo Mary Baker (née Willcocks; 11 November 1792 (alleged), Witheridge, Devonshire, England – 24 December 1864, Bristol, England) was an English impostor. Posing as the fictional Princess Caraboo, Baker pretended to come from a far-off island kin ...

'', starring Phoebe Cates and

Kevin Kline Kevin Delaney Kline (born October 24, 1947) is an American actor. He is the recipient of an Academy Award and three Tony Awards. In addition, he has received nominations for two British Academy Film Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and five ...

; '' The Road to Wellville'', directed by

Alan Parker Sir Alan William Parker (14 February 1944 – 31 July 2020) was an English filmmaker. His early career, beginning in his late teens, was spent as a copywriter and director of television advertisements. After about ten years of filming adverts ...

and starring

Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor, director, and producer. One of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins has received many accolad ...

; and '' The Baby-Sitters Club'', based on the best-selling series of books from Scholastic.

Strike Entertainment

Abraham and fellow producers Thomas Bliss and Eric Newman founded Strike Entertainment in 2002. They produced such films as '' Children of Men'', '' The Rundown'' (2003), ''

Slither Slither may refer to: * Slithering, a form of limbless terrestrial locomotion Film and television * ''Slither'' (1973 film), a comedy directed by Howard Zieff * ''Slither'' (2006 film), a comedy horror film directed by James Gunn * "Slither" ...

'' (2006), '' Flash of Genius'' (2008), '' The Thing'' (2011), and ''

'' (2014) under Strike's production name. In March 2013, Abraham, Bliss and Newman dissolved Strike Entertainment after 11 years as a Universal-based production company. The Universal first-look deal dissolved the company is Spring 2013, which marked the end of a 15-year tenure at the studio for Abraham, Bliss and Newman. Abraham and Newman said the partnership simply ran its course and that the parting is amicable. They will continue to work together on a projects they still have percolating under the Strike banner.

Awards and affiliations

Abraham is a member of the Writer's Guild, the Producer's Guild, and on the board of the Virginia Film Festival and the Violence Policy Center. He has been honored with the Spirit of Chrysalis Award, which recognized Abraham for his outstanding commitment to helping change lives through jobs, and helping thousands of disadvantaged and homeless individuals and families in Los Angeles.

Filmography

He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

;As writer ;As director ;As an actor ;Soundtrack

Television

;As writer

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Abraham, Marc American film producers Living people American film directors Year of birth missing (living people)