If you have ever seen the iconic movies of Driving Miss Daisy, Dances With Wolves, or Ghandi, you have seen the work of one of Hollywood’s most well-known producers, Jake Eberts, who died this past Thursday, September 6th, 2012.
Jake Eberts, born as “John Eberts,” got involved with the film industry in 1977 within the financial sector and helped found “Goldcrest Films” (with David Putnam), an independent movie company which produced the movies of: Watership Down, Zulu Dawn, and The Howling. More well-known films that were made under “Goldcrest Films” were Chariots of Fire and Ghandi.
In 1987, Eberts fully resigned from “Goldcrest Films,” and founded “Allied Filmmakers,” where he became Executive Producer and helped produce oscar-winning movies, such as: Driving Miss Daisy and Dances With Wolves. Under “Allied Filmmakers,” Eberts also produced A River Runs Through It, Tim Burton’s adaptation of James and the Giant Peach, and served as Co-Executive Producer on Chicken Run.
Jake Eberts recently became the Chairman of National Geographic Feature Films and created the story telling documentary of March of the Pengiuns, which won an Oscar award for “Best Documentary.”
On September 6th of 2012, Jake Eberts passed away after suffering a brief illness at the age of 71.