Irwin Winkler

Born: 25 May 1931
Where: New York

In partnership with Robert Chartoff from the late 1960s, Winkler produced an impressive array of films, beginning with their first effort, Lee Boorman's thriller Point Blank.

Adding Sydney Pollack to their production team for a one-shot-deal, they garnered critical acclaim for They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

Their next film, The Strawberry Statement, won the Jury Prize at Cannes but Chartoff and Winkler continued their great success with Rocky, which earned the Academy Award as Best Picture.

Subsequently, the producing duo picked up Best Picture Oscar nominations for Raging Bull and The Right Stuff, their last project together before Winkler launched his solo career with the disappointing Revolution.

Winkler produced features such as Bertrand Tavernier's 'Round Midnight, Betrayed and Music Box, before receiving another Best Picture Oscar nomination for Martin Scorsese's GoodFellas.

He returned to the franchise to oversee Rocky IV and Rocky V, continuing the association forged with Stallone on the first three Chartoff-Winkler productions.

Approaching the age of 60, Winkler moved into the director's chair, debuting with Guilty By Suspicion, a drama, which he also wrote, starring Robert De Niro.

His second feature was a remake of Night and the City, and also starred De Niro. Winkler had better luck at the box office as writer-director of the Sandra Bullock film The Net.

He directed and produced the drama Life as a House, as well as producing The Shipping News and the Jennifer Lopez flop Enough.