Don Simpson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Donald Clarence Simpson October 29, 1943 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | January 19, 1996 (aged 52) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Education | West Anchorage High School |
| Alma mater | University of Oregon (BS) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1975–1996 |
| Notable work | Flashdance Beverly Hills Cop Top Gun The Rock |
Donald Clarence Simpson (October 29, 1943 – January 19, 1996) was an American film producer, screenwriter, and actor, known for his work in blockbuster films of the 1980s and '90s. Simpson entered the film industry in the 1970s and worked at Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures. He eventually began a professional partnership with Jerry Bruckheimer, and together, they produced hit films such as Flashdance (1983), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Top Gun (1986), and The Rock (1996). As his stature in Hollywood grew, Simpson became notorious for his debauched lifestyle, which included severe and longstanding substance abuse, and he ultimately died from heart failure caused by an overdose of cocaine and prescription drugs. By the time of his death, his and Bruckheimer's films had grossed over $3 billion worldwide.[1]