Walter Mirisch

Walter Mortimer Mirisch (born November 8, 1921) is an American film producer. He is President and Executive Head of Production of The Mirisch Corporation, an independent filmmaking organization, which he formed in 1957 with his brothers, Marvin and Harold. He won the Best Picture as producer of In the Heat of the Night (1967).

Biography

Early years

Born to a Jewish family in New York, Mirisch graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School and entered the movie business as a summer vacation usher in Jersey City's State Theater, soon moving up to higher positions at other theaters. In 1942, he received a BA degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the following year graduated from Harvard's Graduate School of Business Administration. He produced his first film, Fall Guy (1947) for Monogram Pictures.

Career

At the age of 29, Mirisch became production head at Allied Artists Studio with some 30 films to oversee. During his tenure, he found time to personally produce Flat Top, Wichita, which received a Golden Globe from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association as Best Outdoor Drama of 1955, The First Texan, and An Annapolis Story. He supervised the productions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Friendly Persuasion, and Love in the Afternoon, among many others.

Mirisch

Mirisch is a Jewish surname. Notable people with the surname include:

See also