The annals of Hollywood are full of tales of fast rises and equally rapid falls. While some succumb to the cliche, others, like the career of writer-producer and executive Michael De Luca, buck the trend. In some ways, his story combines a fairy tale quality of the blessed one mixed with the rough-and-tumble.
Raised in Canarsie, De Luca was exposed to motion pictures by his father, who would sneak the youngster into movie theaters. Although he has been characterized as "neither athletic nor academic," he was bright enough to skip the eighth grade and enrolled at NYU in film studies at age 17. An internship with the independent producer-distributor New Line led to an offer of full-time work, so just a few credits shy of graduation De Luca abandoned academia for a career in showbiz in 1986. Originally tapped to work as a story editor, he rose fairly quickly through the ranks, thanks in part to his mentor, chair and founder Robert Shaye. In 1988, De Luca made his debut as an associate producer on "Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III".
- Also Credited As:
Mike DeLuca
- Born:
August 13, 1965 in Brooklyn, New York
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Job Titles:
Executive, Producer, Screenwriter, Story consultant, Story editor
Education
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New York University, New York, New York, film and TV production
Milestones
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1984 Began working as an intern at New Line Cinema at age 19 while completing his undergraduate degree at NYU
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1986 Formally joined New Line
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1988 Associate produced the feature, "Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III"
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1988 Co-wrote the premiere episode of the syndicated TV series, "Freddy's Nightmares"; has also served as an executive story consultant for the series
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1989 Appointed vice president for creative development at New Line
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1991 Executive produced and wrote the screenplay for the feature film, "Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare"
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1991 Wrote for and served as an executive story consultant on the CBS series, "Dark Justice"
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1992 In October, promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer of New Line's productions unit
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1992 Named senior vice president of production at New Line Cinema in April
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1993 Named president of production at New Line
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1994 Executive produced "The Mask", starring Jim Carrey
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1995 Penned the screenplay for and executive produced "In the Mouth of Madness"
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1997 Began affiliation with Paul Thomas Anderson on "Boogie Nights"
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1997 Served as executive producer of the satirical comedy "Wag the Dog"
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1998 At a party held at the home of William Morris Agency president Arnold Rifkin, reportedly engaged in a consensual sexual act with a female while guest looked on; according to the Los Angeles Times, was escorted from the property by security guards
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1998 Greenlit "Town & Country", a romantic comedy starring Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn and Warren Beatty; the film's troubled production dragged on for almost two years before it was completed; released theatrically in 2001
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1998 Was co-executive producer of the controversial "American History X"
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1999 Executive produced the box-office hit sequel "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me"
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1999 Reteamed with P.T. Anderson on "Magnolia"
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2000 Served as an executive producer on the historical drama "Thirteen Days"
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2001 Executive produced "Blow", a biopic of cocaine dealer George Jung starring Johnny Depp
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2001 Joined DreamWorks as production president and COO (June)
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2001 Left New Line (February)
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Raised in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn, New York
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Worked as a senior story editor and later director of development at New Line