Ray Stark

One of Hollywood’s most successful producers, as well as a respected philanthropist, Ray Stark’s classic films include Funny Girl and Funny Lady—both of which are based on the life of his mother-in-law Fanny Brice—The Goodbye Girl, The Way We Were, The Sunshine Boys, and Steel Magnolias. His career as a literary agent flourished after World War II. He then began work as a talent agent, representing Marilyn Monroe, Richard Burton, and Kirk Douglas. He discovered Barbra Streisand at a New York nightclub and cast her in her Oscar-winning role in Funny Girl. He formed Rastar Productions and Rastar Films in 1960, setting the stage for his long and illustrious filmmaking career. In 1980, he received the Irving G. Thalberg Award, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ highest honor. That year, he also sold his film companies to Columbia Pictures and controlled the film giant for the next decade. He led Ray Stark Productions and the Fran and Ray Stark Foundation until his death in 2004. The foundation has distributed millions of dollars for medical care, research programs, and higher education.