Rastar

Ray Stark
Born	(1915-10-03) 3 October 1915 Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Died	17 January 2004(2004-01-17) (aged 88) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Film producer, talent agent
Years active	1937–2004
Known for	Producing The World of Suzie Wong, West Side Story, Lolita, Funny Girl, The Goodbye Girl, Annie, Steel Magnolias; collaborations with Neil Simon and John Huston; Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award recipient

Raymond Otto Stark (October 3, 1915 – January 17, 2004) was a prominent American film producer and talent agent recognized for delivering commercially successful movies from the 1960s through the 1990s. His distinguished filmography features titles such as The World of Suzie Wong (1960), West Side Story (1961), Lolita (1962), Funny Girl (1968), The Goodbye Girl (1977), Annie (1982), and Steel Magnolias (1989).

Stark developed enduring collaborations with influential directors and screenwriters, working on eight films with Herbert Ross, five with John Huston, and three with Sydney Pollack. His long-standing creative alliance with playwright Neil Simon spanned 18 years, resulting in 11 films including The Goodbye Girl and The Sunshine Boys (1975). In acknowledgment of his outstanding contributions to cinema, Stark was honored with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1980.

Early life

Ray Stark was born in Manhattan to Sadie (née Gotlieb) and Maximilian Stark, where he was encouraged to excel academically from a young age. He demonstrated an early enthusiasm for writing while attending The Kohut School in Harrison, New York. At just 15 years old, he became the youngest individual ever admitted to Rutgers University. Initially focused on literature studies, Stark later shifted his academic path to law at New York University before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment sector.

Before entering the film industry, Stark held various jobs including working as a florist and serving as a writing assistant to ventriloquist Edgar Bergen. In 1937, he joined Warner Bros. Studios as a publicist. His professional development was further influenced by his military service in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Seven Arts Productions (with Eliot Hyman)

In 1957, Ray Stark partnered with Eliot Hyman to establish Seven Arts Productions, an independent production company that created films for other studios. Stark took charge of production duties such as acquiring film rights and supervising projects, while Hyman focused on financial management and negotiating deals. Among their early acquisitions were West Side Story, Anatomy of a Murder, By Love Possessed, The Nun’s Story, and Night of the Iguana. Stark opted to produce The World of Suzie Wong first, which marked the debut of Chinese actress Nancy Kwan after she replaced original lead France Nuyen due to difficulties on set. Kwan received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance.

Rastar Productions

After departing Seven Arts in 1966, Stark founded Rastar Productions. Its inaugural release was Funny Girl, featuring Barbra Streisand. Throughout the 1970s into the early 2000s, Rastar was responsible for producing significant films including The Owl and the Pussycat (1970), The Way We Were (1973), Murder By Death (1976), The Goodbye Girl (1977), Seems Like Old Times (1980), Annie (1982), Steel Magnolias (1989), and Harriet the Spy (1996).

In 1974, Columbia Pictures acquired Rastar along with its subsidiaries: Rastar Productions, Rastar Pictures, Rastar Features, and Rastar Television. Subsequently, Stark launched Rastar Films, which he sold to Columbia in 1980. The last project under the Rastar banner was the television movie Alley Cats Strike released in 2000; it was co-produced with Walt Disney Television and broadcast on the Disney Channel. Following Stark’s passing in 2004, Rastar ceased operations and its holdings were absorbed into Columbia Pictures.

Films Featuring Barbra Streisand

Although Anne Bancroft was initially considered for the lead role in Funny Girl, Stark ultimately chose the then-relatively unknown Barbra Streisand. Together with director Jerome Robbins, Stark cast Streisand, whose portrayal propelled her to fame and brought both critical acclaim and box office success to the project.

To fund the Funny Girl film adaptation, Stark established Rastar Productions after failing to reach agreements with Columbia and Paramount. He secured Streisand under a contract covering four more films over eleven years: The Owl and the Pussycat (1970), The Way We Were (1973) featuring Robert Redford and directed by Sydney Pollack, For Pete’s Sake (1974), and Funny Lady (1975). This partnership was instrumental in expanding Stark’s business ventures and solidifying his standing within the Hollywood industry.

Background

In 1940, Stark wed Frances Brice, daughter of Fanny Brice and Nick Arnstein. He produced both the Broadway musical and its cinematic adaptations based on Fanny Brice's life story, including the sequel Funny Lady, all starring Barbra Streisand.

Stark commissioned an authorized biography of Brice but was displeased with the manuscript titled The Fabulous Fanny, ultimately paying $50,000 to prevent its publication. Subsequently, he engaged Ben Hecht along with ten other writers to create a biopic screenplay; however, none fulfilled his standards. Finally, Isobel Lennart’s script My Man was approved by Stark and Columbia Pictures, who offered $400,000 plus a share of the gross earnings for the rights.

Mary Martin proposed transforming the screenplay into a stage musical. Producer David Merrick suggested Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim for composing the score. Sondheim opposed casting Martin, believing an actress with an ethnic background was necessary. Martin ultimately withdrew from the project.

Jerome Robbins handed the screenplay to Anne Bancroft, who consented to star only if she could oversee the score. Merrick brought in Dorothy Fields as lyricist, but she declined. Styne composed music in Palm Beach and collaborated with Bob Merrill on lyrics. Despite their efforts, Bancroft rejected the score due to personal disagreements with Merrill.

After Bancroft exited, Eydie Gormé was considered but insisted that her husband Steve Lawrence be cast as Nicky Arnstein; Stark and Robbins disagreed with this condition. Carol Burnett expressed interest but felt that a Jewish actress was essential for authenticity. Styne recommended Barbra Streisand, recalling her performance in I Can Get It for You Wholesale. Despite initial doubts from Stark’s wife Frances, Stark promptly hired Streisand.

Robbins clashed with Lennart over her adaptation of the book and resigned when Stark refused to replace her. Consequently, Funny Girl was temporarily shelved; Styne pursued other projects until Merrick introduced Bob Fosse as director. After Fosse departed, Merrick suggested Garson Kanin before withdrawing from production entirely, leaving Stark as sole producer.

Streisand opposed Kanin’s directorial approach and desired Robbins’ return. Kanin proposed removing "People" from the score; Merrill insisted on retaining it due to its importance for Streisand. The song became a standout number by the time of the Boston opening.

During rehearsals, the production encountered challenges with script and score; critics lauded Streisand’s performance but criticized the show’s length and libretto. Lennart continued revising, cutting an additional 30 minutes before improved reception in Philadelphia.

The New York premiere was postponed five times while further edits were made, including removing five songs and rewriting a solo into a duet. Robbins returned to supervise choreography by Carol Haney, addressing Streisand’s concerns satisfactorily.

Collaborations with John Huston

As both a close confidant and creative collaborator of John Huston, Stark produced four notable films alongside the director. Their partnership commenced during the making of Tennessee Williams' The Night of The Iguana (1964), which starred Richard Burton and Ava Gardner and was shot on location in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This collaboration extended to Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967), featuring Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor; the drama Fat City (1972); and the commercially successful 1982 musical adaptation Annie, which starred Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, and introduced Aileen Quinn.

Collaborations with Neil Simon

Over nearly two decades, Stark produced eleven screenplays penned by renowned playwright Neil Simon. Among these were acclaimed films such as The Sunshine Boys (1975), which earned George Burns an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor; the ensemble comedy Murder by Death (1976); The Goodbye Girl (1977), securing Richard Dreyfuss an Oscar for Best Actor; and California Suite (1978), which garnered Maggie Smith a Best Supporting Actress award. Additional projects included Seems Like Old Times (1980) starring Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase, Peter Falk’s The Cheap Detective, and Chapter Two, featuring James Caan and Marsha Mason.

Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award

In 1980, Stark was honored with the distinguished Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, acknowledging his lifetime contributions to film production. The award presentation was made by actor Kirk Douglas—whom Stark had represented at Famous Artists Agency—who introduced him as Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes "Oz." Known for shunning the spotlight and prioritizing talent over producers, Stark overcame stage fright to deliver an acceptance speech that was both insightful and witty. Later, in 1999, he received the David O. Selznick Lifetime Achievement Award from the Producers Guild of America, with guild President Thom Mount describing him as "one of Hollywood's most prolific film producers ... truly legendary."

Personal life

Upon relocating to Los Angeles from New York City, Ray met Frances Brice, daughter of famed comedic actress Fanny Brice and Nicky Arnstein. The couple married on September 26, 1940, and had two children: Peter and Wendy Stark Morrissey. Tragically, Peter died by suicide in 1970. Ray Stark passed away due to heart failure in Los Angeles on January 17, 2004, at the age of 88.

Alongside his demanding career, Stark nurtured a strong passion for equestrian pursuits. Together with Frances, he owned Rancho Corral de Quati, a 300-acre estate in Los Olivos, California dedicated to breeding Thoroughbred racehorses. His achievements in this field earned him the title California Thoroughbred Breeder of the Year twice.

A passionate art collector as well, Stark gathered outdoor sculptures by Henry Moore along with paintings by Monet, Picasso, and Kandinsky. His extensive sculpture collection was donated to the Getty Museum, leading to the establishment of the Fran and Ray Stark Sculpture Garden in 2007, which comprises approximately 75% of the museum’s sculpture holdings.

Philanthropy

In 1982, Fran and Ray Stark established The Fran and Ray Stark Foundation with the mission to support arts, culture, and medical initiatives within the community. The foundation provides funding to prominent Los Angeles organizations such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, USC School of Cinematic Arts, Motion Picture & Television Country House, LACMA, Homeboy Industries, as well as endowing academic positions at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine.

The Ray Stark Family Theatre at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts complex opened its doors in 2010 and is equipped for advanced 3D film presentations.

Films

Credited as producer unless indicated otherwise.

Film

Year	Title	Role	Remarks
1960	The World of Suzie Wong	Executive producer
1964	The Night of the Iguana	Producer
1966	This Property Is Condemned	Producer	Not credited
1966	Drop Dead Darling	Producer
1967	Oh Dad, Poor Dad...	Producer
1967	Reflections in a Golden Eye	Producer
1968	Funny Girl	Producer
1970	The Owl and the Pussycat	Producer
1972	To Find a Man	Executive producer	Not credited
1972	Fat City	Producer
1973	The Way We Were	Producer
1975	Funny Lady	Producer
1975	The Sunshine Boys	Producer
1975	The Black Bird	Executive producer
1976	Robin and Marian	Executive producer	Not credited
1976	Murder by Death	Producer
1977	The Goodbye Girl	Producer
1977	Smokey and the Bandit	Producer	Not credited
1978	Casey's Shadow	Producer
1978	The Cheap Detective	Producer
1978	California Suite	Producer
1979	Chapter Two	Producer
1979	The Electric Horseman	Producer
1980	Somewhere in Time	Producer	Not credited
1980	Seems Like Old Times	Producer
1982	Annie	Producer
1982	The Toy	Producer
1985	The Slugger's Wife	Producer
1986	Brighton Beach Memoirs	Producer
1988	Biloxi Blues	Producer
1989	Steel Magnolias	Producer
1993	Lost in Yonkers	Producer	Final production credit

Additional crew roles

Year	Title	Position	Remarks
1961	West Side Story	Production executive	Not credited
1966	This Property Is Condemned	Presenter

Television

Year	Program	Role	Remarks
1975	Funny Girl to Funny Lady	Producer/Executive producer?	Television special
1990	Steel Magnolias	Co-executive producer	Pilot episode for TV series
1993	Barbarians at the Gate	Producer/Executive producer?	TV movie
1999	Annie	Acknowledgment credit	Television film