Sherry Lansing to Exit Paramount in 2005
Hollywood's top businesswoman, Sherry Lansing, will depart Paramount Pictures when her contract expires at the end of next year, the studio confirmed to Box Office Mojo. Earlier today, the Los Angeles Times, quoting an anonymous source, reported Lansing's decision. Lansing, who runs Paramount's motion picture division, has not divulged her career goals.
"In the meantime, Ms. Lansing will continue in her current role and assist the company in identifying a successor," Paramount said in a statement released to the press. In 1992, Lansing was named Chairman of the Paramount Motion Picture Group, which later became part of Viacom's entertainment division.
The Chicago native has produced some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters and, during her 12-year leadership, Paramount released Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Braveheart and the highest grossing movie of all time, Titanic. Previously, the Northwestern University graduate produced Paramount's Indecent Proposal and a number of influential movies with producer Stanley Jaffe, including Fatal Attraction, The Accused and Racing with the Moon. Miss Lansing, who is married to director William Friedkin (The French Connection), has also held executive positions at 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures. Sherry Lansing is the first woman studio head to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"I'm surprised and I will miss her a great deal," said director Robert Benton, who worked with Lansing on Nobody's Fool and Twilight, both starring Paul Newman. "I have had a productive and wonderful relationship with Sherry for twelve years—she's a great friend to filmmakers and to me."
In a prepared statement, Paramount's Tom Freston, who oversees operations of Paramount's movies, praised Lansing: "Few have had as long and as successful a career in running a movie studio as Sherry Lansing. She has led Paramount on a remarkable ride with an impressive string of successes. She has been a trailblazer and a great leader and I understand and respect her decision. It has been my privilege to work with her over the years and I plan to draw on her experience as we transition into the future at Paramount Pictures."
"I'll have been in this job for 12 years and have had the opportunity and the privilege to work with the very best the entertainment industry has to offer," Lansing said. "With the greatest team of filmmakers imaginable and the most supportive colleagues at Viacom, I have been able to accomplish more than I could have hoped for in the motion picture business. I move on with great memories, many friendships and few regrets. But now it is time for new challenges." Her decision follows the resignation of Viacom entertainment chief Jonathan Dolgen, Lansing's boss, earlier this year.
"I have the deepest professional admiration and personal affection for Sherry, who I have known for more than a decade," Viacom Chairman and CEO Sumner Redstone said in Paramount's statement. "Sherry has been the heart and soul of Paramount Pictures for 12 years and a major contributor to the motion picture industry for more than three decades. She leaves behind a legacy of great filmmaking, including three Oscar-winning films and some of the most popular and profitable movies in history."
Among the pictures released during her tenure at Paramount Pictures: Vanilla Sky, The Truman Show, In & Out, Primal Fear, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Mission: Impossible, The Stepford Wives (2004) and The Italian Job (2003).
"In the meantime, Ms. Lansing will continue in her current role and assist the company in identifying a successor," Paramount said in a statement released to the press. In 1992, Lansing was named Chairman of the Paramount Motion Picture Group, which later became part of Viacom's entertainment division.
The Chicago native has produced some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters and, during her 12-year leadership, Paramount released Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Braveheart and the highest grossing movie of all time, Titanic. Previously, the Northwestern University graduate produced Paramount's Indecent Proposal and a number of influential movies with producer Stanley Jaffe, including Fatal Attraction, The Accused and Racing with the Moon. Miss Lansing, who is married to director William Friedkin (The French Connection), has also held executive positions at 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures. Sherry Lansing is the first woman studio head to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"I'm surprised and I will miss her a great deal," said director Robert Benton, who worked with Lansing on Nobody's Fool and Twilight, both starring Paul Newman. "I have had a productive and wonderful relationship with Sherry for twelve years—she's a great friend to filmmakers and to me."
In a prepared statement, Paramount's Tom Freston, who oversees operations of Paramount's movies, praised Lansing: "Few have had as long and as successful a career in running a movie studio as Sherry Lansing. She has led Paramount on a remarkable ride with an impressive string of successes. She has been a trailblazer and a great leader and I understand and respect her decision. It has been my privilege to work with her over the years and I plan to draw on her experience as we transition into the future at Paramount Pictures."
"I'll have been in this job for 12 years and have had the opportunity and the privilege to work with the very best the entertainment industry has to offer," Lansing said. "With the greatest team of filmmakers imaginable and the most supportive colleagues at Viacom, I have been able to accomplish more than I could have hoped for in the motion picture business. I move on with great memories, many friendships and few regrets. But now it is time for new challenges." Her decision follows the resignation of Viacom entertainment chief Jonathan Dolgen, Lansing's boss, earlier this year.
"I have the deepest professional admiration and personal affection for Sherry, who I have known for more than a decade," Viacom Chairman and CEO Sumner Redstone said in Paramount's statement. "Sherry has been the heart and soul of Paramount Pictures for 12 years and a major contributor to the motion picture industry for more than three decades. She leaves behind a legacy of great filmmaking, including three Oscar-winning films and some of the most popular and profitable movies in history."
Among the pictures released during her tenure at Paramount Pictures: Vanilla Sky, The Truman Show, In & Out, Primal Fear, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Mission: Impossible, The Stepford Wives (2004) and The Italian Job (2003).
