A specialist in film comedy, Tisch has also produced the occasional dramatic feature. Maximizing the advantages of his family connections--his father Preston Tisch is president and co-chief executive of Loew's Corp. and his uncle Laurence Tisch is chairman and CEO of the board for CBS, Inc.--Tisch began his career early, working during college breaks for producers John Avildsen and Fred Weintraub. Upon graduation Peter Guber, then head of production at Columbia, signed him on as an executive assistant. Tisch produced his first feature "Outlaw Blues" (1977) at age 28 and has gone on to carve out an impressive if uneven catalogue of product. Before hitting the stratosphere with "Forrest Gump" (1994), his other unqualified hit was "Risky Business" (1983) which not only made Tom Cruise a star but introduced Rebecca DeMornay to the big screen.Tisch has also been active on the small screen, especially after forming Tisch-Avnet Productions with Jon Avnet. The company has produced several TV-movies since the mid-1970s including the Emmy Award-winning "The Burning Bed" (1984), which reinvented Farrah Fawcett's career, and "Calendar Girl Murders" (1984), which introduced a then unknown Sharon Stone. Tisch-Avnet are also responsible for the short-lived series "Call to Glory" (1984) and "Dirty Dancing" (1988).
Just after launching his own company Steve Tisch Productions in 1985, Tisch hired business executive Wendy Finerman as vice president for production and development. Finerman discovered the galleys for Winston Groom's satirical novel "Forrest Gump" and, recognizing the book's cinematic potential, convinced Tisch to option it. Nine years later, after numerous setbacks, "Forrest Gump" (1994) became one of the highest grossing films of all time and winner of six Academy Awards.
Profession(s):
producer
Sometimes Credited As:
Steven Elliot Tisch
Family
brother:Jonathan Tisch (born in December 1953)
daughter:Elizabeth Morgan Tisch (born on July 19, 1998 in L.A.; mother, Jamie Alexander)
daughter:Holden Victoria Tisch (born on April 29, 2000; twin of Zachary)
father:Preston Robert Tisch (president and co-chief executive of Loew's Corp; member of board, CBS, Inc. since 1988; former US postmaster-general)
son:Zachary Alexander Tisch (born on April 29, 2000; twin of Holden)
uncle:Laurence A Tisch (president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board, CBS, Inc. since 1986)
wife:Jamie Alexander (second wife; born c. 1968; married on October 19, 1996)
National Board of Review Best Picture "Forrest Gump" 1994
Oscar Best Picture "Forrest Gump" 1994
1986 Formed the Steve Tisch Company
1984 - 1985 Co-produced primetime drama series, "Call to Glory"
1977 Debut as a producer, "Outlaw Blues"
1977 In collaboration with Jon Avnet, launched Tisch/Avnet Productions Alliance with Phoenix Entertainment
1975 Debut as associate producer for TV-movie, "The Missing Are Deadly"
Worked during school breaks for John Avildsen and Fred Weintraub
Signed upon graduation as executive assistant to Peter Guber, then head of production at Columbia Pictures
Co-produced short-lived romantic drama series, "Dirty Dancing"