Hank Moonjean (January 7, 1930 – October 7, 2012) was an American film producer, executive producer, and associate producer. His production credits included Dangerous Liaisons, Child's Play, and The Great Gatsby and several movies featuring Burt Reynolds. Moonjean and film producer Norma Heyman jointly received an Academy Award for Best Picture nomination for the 1988 dramatic film, Dangerous Liaisons.
Life and career Moonjean, who was Armenian American, was born in Evanston, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Southern California (USC). Soon after graduation from USC, he answered an employment ad for an interpreter at MGM Studios, and later became an uncredited assistant director for the 1954 film, Bhowani Junction, directed by George Cukor. He worked for MGM for eight years. He became a second director for numerous MGM films while at the studio: Blackboard Jungle, The Prodigal, It's Always Fair Weather, Love Me or Leave Me, The Tender Trap, I'll Cry Tomorrow, A Catered Affair, Kismet, Tea and Sympathy and Raintree County.
Moonjean collaborated to produce or co-produce many films starring Burt Reynolds, including The End in 1978, Hooper in 1978, Smokey and the Bandit II in 1980, Paternity in 1981, Sharky's Machine in 1981, and Stroker Ace in 1983. In 1975, Moonjean was announced as producer of The Bryna Company film Something Wicked This Way Comes, when it was set to be distributed through Paramount Pictures, but he eventually left the project.
In 2008, Moonjean released his memoir, Bring In The Peacocks: Memoirs Of A Hollywood Producer. He also donated an extensive collection of film advertisements to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Hank Moonjean died from pancreatic cancer at his Hollywood Hills residence on October 7, 2012, at the age of 82. He was survived by his partner of 51 years, Bradley Bennett.
Filmography Film Year Film Credit Notes 1966 The Singing Nun Associate producer Spinout Associate producer 1967 Welcome to Hard Times Associate producer 1968 The Secret Life of an American Wife Associate producer 1970 WUSA Associate producer 1972 Child's Play Associate producer 1974 The Great Gatsby Associate producer 1975 The Fortune Executive producer 1978 The End Executive producer Hooper Producer 1980 Smokey and the Bandit II Producer 1981 The Incredible Shrinking Woman Producer Paternity Producer Sharky's Machine Producer 1983 Stroker Ace Producer 1988 Stealing Home Producer Dangerous Liaisons Producer Final film as a producer
Assistant director
Year Film Role Notes 1955 Blackboard Jungle Assistant director Love Me or Leave Me Assistant director Kismet Assistant director 1956 Somebody Up There Likes Me Assistant director High Society Assistant director Lust for Life Second assistant director The Teahouse of the August Moon Assistant director 1957 Raintree County Assistant director Until They Sail Assistant director Jailhouse Rock Assistant director 1958 Gigi Assistant director: France Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Assistant director 1959 The Diary of Anne Frank Assistant director: Netherlands Never So Few Assistant director 1960 Tall Story Assistant director BUtterfield 8 Assistant director 1961 Fanny Assistant director 1962 Sweet Bird of Youth Assistant director 1963 Drums of Africa Assistant director The Prize Assistant director 1964 The Unsinkable Molly Brown Assistant director 1965 The Money Trap Assistant director A Patch of Blue Assistant director 1967 Cool Hand Luke Assistant director 1968 The Odd Couple Assistant director The Secret Life of an American Wife Assistant director 1969 The April Fools Assistant director 1970 Move Assistant director WUSA Assistant director 1972 Child's Play Assistant director
Miscellaneous crew
Year Film Notes 1970 Move Assistant to the producer 1972 Pocket Money Production representative
Production manager
Year Film Notes 1970 Move Unit production manager
Television Year Title Credit Notes 1966 The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones Associate producer Television film 1976 Beauty and the Beast Television film
As writer
Year Title 1959 The David Niven Show
References
External links