Debra Hill

Producer and occasional screenwriter Debra Hill worked on many popular and highly regarded films, most notably as the producer of Terry Gilliam's acclaimed The Fisher King (1991), which received five Oscar nominations and one Best Supporting actress award for co-star Mercedes Ruehl. The classic slasher movie Halloween, which Hill produced and co-wrote with director John Carpenter, also remains a high point in her career. In addition to her extensive work in feature films, she was heavily involved in productions for such premium cable television networks as HBO and Showtime. As producer of the Showtime movie series Rebel Highway, she won nominations for eight Cable ACE awards. Her television credits include the HBO movies El Diablo and a remake of Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, as well as the NBC special The Disneyland 35th Anniversary Special. In 1985, Hill teamed up with friend and colleague Lynda Obst and founded Hill/Obst Productions, which was responsible for Fisher King and other films, including Adventures in Babysitting (1987). Debra Hill died after a long fight with cancer on March 7, 2005. Her final film as a producer, Oliver Stone's 9/11 drama World Trade Center, was scheduled to arrive onscreen less than sixth months after the prolific producer's untimely death.

~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide