View source for Joe Roth

{{short description|American film executive, producer, and director}}
{{about|the film executive|the American college football quarterback|Joe Roth (American football)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox person
|name         = Joe Roth
|caption      = Roth in December 2016
|image        = Joe Roth at Sounders Victory Rally, 2016.jpg
|birth_name   = Joseph Emanuel Roth
|birth_date   = {{birth date and age|mf=y|1948|6|13}}<ref name="DOB">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/joe_roth|title=Joe Roth|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=February 11, 2023}}</ref>
|birth_place  = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
|occupation   = {{hlist|Film producer|film director|studio executive}}
|years_active = 1974–present
|spouse       = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Donna Arkoff Roth|Donna Arkoff]]<br>|1980|2004|reason=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Irene Oh<br>|2006}}
}}
|children     = 3
}}

'''Joseph Emanuel Roth''' (born June 13, 1948)<ref name="BU Bridge">{{cite web |title=B.U. Bridge |url=https://www.bu.edu/bridge/archive/2003/10-23/bu_aa.html |date=October 27, 2003}}</ref><ref name="DOB"/> is an American [[Studio executive|film executive]], [[Film producer|producer]] and [[Film director|director]]. He co-founded [[Morgan Creek Entertainment]] in 1988 and was chairman of [[20th Century Fox]] (1989–1993), [[Caravan Pictures]] (1993–1994), and [[The Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]] (1994–2000) before founding [[Revolution Studios]] in 2000, then [[Roth/Kirschenbaum Films]] in 2007.

==Early life==
Roth was born on June 13, 1948<ref name="DOB"/> to Frances and Lawrence Roth.<ref>[http://www.nyclu.org/news/obituary-steven-engel-plaintiff-landmark-school-prayer-case New York Civil Liberties Union: "Obituary: Steven Engel, Plaintiff in Landmark School Prayer Case"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103114145/http://www.nyclu.org/news/obituary-steven-engel-plaintiff-landmark-school-prayer-case |date=November 3, 2016 }} February 6, 2008</ref> He has stated that his [[Jewish]] family faced various forms of harassment growing up in a heavily Catholic part of [[Long Island, New York]]. This involved incidents like "a cross being burned on the lawn and some of Roth's schoolmates crossed themselves before they would speak to him."<ref>{{cite web|last=Masters|first=Kim|title=Joe Roth's 'Third Act': From 'Gigli' to Billion-Dollar Producer and Pro Soccer Superstar|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/joe-roths-third-act-gigli-655374|date=November 14, 2013|access-date=February 6, 2021|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> In 1959, Roth's father volunteered his son to be a plaintiff in the [[American Civil Liberties Union|ACLU]]'s effort to abolish [[School prayer in the United States|mandatory prayer in public schools]]. The case, filed in New York, went through several appeals, finally reaching the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] in 1962. The Court ruled that such prayer was [[Constitutionality#Unconstitutional laws in the United States|unconstitutional]] under the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]], in the landmark case of ''[[Engel v. Vitale]]''.<ref>Hammer, Joshua. "The Sly Dog at Fox". ''[[Newsweek]]'', May 25, 1992.</ref>

Roth attended [[Boston University]], graduating in 1970 with a [[bachelor's degree]] in [[communication studies|communication]].<ref name="BU Bridge" />

==Career==
Over the course of his career, he has produced over 40 films, and has directed six to date, including 1990's ''[[Coupe de Ville (film)|Coupe de Ville]]'', 2001's ''[[America's Sweethearts]]'' and 2006's ''[[Freedomland (film)|Freedomland]]''.

In 1988 by Roth and [[James G. Robinson|James Robinson]] co-founded [[Morgan Creek Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/joe-roths-third-act-gigli-655374|title=Joe Roth's 'Third Act': From 'Gigli' to Billion-Dollar Producer and Pro Soccer Superstar|last=Masters|first=Kim|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=November 14, 2013|access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref> The name came from Roth's favorite film, ''[[The Miracle of Morgan's Creek]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/25/movies/producer-defies-rules-and-succeeds.html|title=Producer Defies Rules, and Succeeds|last=Harmetz|first=Aljean|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 25, 1989|access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref> The company had box-office hits including ''[[Young Guns (film)|Young Guns]]'' and ''[[Major League (film)|Major League]]''.

In 1989, Roth became chairman of 20th Century Fox, who were very successful under him, including hits ''[[Home Alone]]'', ''[[Die Hard 2]]'' and ''[[White Men Can't Jump]]''. His contract expired in July 1992 but he agreed to stay on as Fox Inc. chairman [[Barry Diller]] had quit earlier in the year. He later announced in November 1992 that he was leaving Fox to set up an independent production company at [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|The Walt Disney Studios]].<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Première (magazine)|Premiere]]|title=Who Needs This?|date=November 1992|page=22|last=Brown|first=Corie}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 3, 1992|page=C13|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/03/arts/joe-roth-leaving-fox-for-a-deal-with-disney.html|title=Joe Roth Leaving For a Deal With Disney|last=Weinraub|first=Bernard|access-date=May 19, 2023}}</ref>

In 1992, he co-founded [[Caravan Pictures]] with [[Roger Birnbaum]], which had a production deal with [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|The Walt Disney Studios]]. Roth moved on to be Disney studio chief on August 24, 1994.<ref name=os>{{cite news|title=Seasoned Performer Takes Lead Studio Role|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1994/08/28/seasoned-performer-takes-lead-studio-role/|access-date=February 19, 2013|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=August 28, 1994|agency=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Disney CEO [[Michael Eisner]] was so set on replacing [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] as Disney studio chief with Roth that he forgave the $15 million cost overrun debt for ''[[I Love Trouble (1994 film)|I Love Trouble]]'' and paid Roth $40 million of fees for 21 unproduced films under the deal.<ref name="thr">{{cite news|last=Masters|first=Kim|title=Joe Roth's 'Third Act': From 'Gigli' to Billion-Dollar Producer and Pro Soccer Superstar|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/joe-roths-third-act-gigli-655374|access-date=September 6, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 14, 2013|language=en}}</ref>

Roth, who was ranked 6th in ''[[Premiere Magazine]]''{{-'}}s 2003 Hollywood Power List, produced the 76th annual [[Academy Awards]]. Roth announced in October 2007 that, when Revolution's distribution deal with [[Sony Pictures]] ended, that he would depart from [[Revolution Studios]] to form his own production company, [[Roth Films]].

On November 13, 2007, Roth was introduced as the majority owner of a [[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]]–based [[Major League Soccer]] franchise along with [[Paul Allen]]. [[Seattle Sounders FC]]—which calls [[Lumen Field]] home—began regular season play in 2009. On November 12, 2015, Roth passed on majority ownership to [[Adrian Hanauer]].

==Personal life==
Roth was married to [[Donna Arkoff Roth|Donna Arkoff]] whose father was movie producer [[Samuel Z. Arkoff]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/19/arts/samuel-z-arkoff-maker-of-drive-in-thrillers-dies-at-83.html?pagewanted=all New York Times: "Samuel Z. Arkoff, Maker of Drive-In Thrillers, Dies at 83" By ALJEAN HARMETZ] September 19, 2001</ref> They have three children.

The family resided in the [[Dolores del Río House]], designed by architect [[Douglas Honnold]] for Irish production designer [[Cedric Gibbons]] and Mexican actress [[Dolores del Río]] in 1929 in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California.<ref name="archdigestamodernemasterpiecerevived">{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Patricia Leigh|title=A Moderne Masterpiece Revived|url=http://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/smith-slideshow-2008-03/all|access-date=January 14, 2017|work=Architectural Digest|date=February 29, 2008|archive-date=January 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116171901/http://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/smith-slideshow-2008-03/all|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2021, Roth paid $23 million for a {{convert|5514|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}, 1960s Midcentury home designed by [[Dan Dworsky]] and renovated by [[Waldo Fernandez]] in [[Beverly Hills]].<ref>Jack Flemming (October 12, 2021), [https://www.latimes.com/business/real-estate/story/2021-10-12/f9-producer-joe-roth-drops-23-million-for-a-beverly-hills-midcentury ‘F9’ producer Joe Roth drops $23 million for a Beverly Hills Midcentury] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
'''Producer'''
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
* ''[[Tunnel Vision (1976 film)|Tunnel Vision]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Our Winning Season]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Americathon]]'' (1979)
* ''[[Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains]]'' (1982)
* ''[[The Final Terror]]'' (1983)
* ''[[The Stone Boy (film)|The Stone Boy]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Moving Violations]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Where the River Runs Black]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Streets of Gold (film)|Streets of Gold]]'' (1986)
* ''[[P.K. and the Kid]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Young Guns (film)|Young Guns]]'' (1988)
* ''[[The Three Musketeers (1993 film)|The Three Musketeers]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Angels in the Outfield (1994 film)|Angels in the Outfield]]'' (1994)
* ''[[A Low Down Dirty Shame (film)|A Low Down Dirty Shame]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Houseguest]]'' (1995)
* ''[[The Jerky Boys: The Movie]]'' (1995)
* ''[[Heavyweights]]'' (1995)
* ''[[Tall Tale (film)|Tall Tale]]'' (1995)
* ''[[While You Were Sleeping (film)|While You Were Sleeping]]'' (1995)
* ''[[The Forgotten (2004 film)|The Forgotten]]'' (2004)
* ''[[The Great Debaters]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Alice in Wonderland (2010 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Snow White and the Huntsman]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Oz the Great and Powerful]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Heaven Is for Real (film)|Heaven Is for Real]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Million Dollar Arm]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Maleficent (film)|Maleficent]]'' (2014)
* ''[[In the Heart of the Sea (film)|In the Heart of the Sea]]'' (2015)
* ''[[Miracles from Heaven (film)|Miracles from Heaven]]'' (2016)
* ''[[The Huntsman: Winter's War]]'' (2016)
* ''[[Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016 film)|Alice Through the Looking Glass]]'' (2016)
* ''[[XXX: Return of Xander Cage]]'' (2017)
* ''[[Maleficent: Mistress of Evil]]'' (2019)
* ''[[Dolittle (film)|Dolittle]]'' (2020)
* ''[[The United States vs. Billie Holiday]]'' (2021)
* ''[[F9 (film)|F9]]'' (2021)
* ''[[Hustle (2022 film)|Hustle]]'' (2022)
* ''[[The Gray Man (2022 film)|The Gray Man]]'' (2022)
* ''[[The School for Good and Evil (film)|The School for Good and Evil]]'' (2022)
* ''[[Anyone but You]]'' (2023)
* ''[[Damsel (2024 film)|Damsel]]'' (2024)
* ''[[A Family Affair (2024 film)|A Family Affair]]'' (2024)
* ''[[Jackpot! (film)|Jackpot!]]'' (2024)
* ''[[Just Picture It]]'' (TBA)
{{colend}}
'''Executive producer'''
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
* ''[[Cracking Up (1977 film)|Cracking Up]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Bachelor Party (1984 film)|Bachelor Party]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Dead Ringers (film)|Dead Ringers]]'' (1988) (Uncredited)
* ''[[Skin Deep (1989 film)|Skin Deep]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Renegades (1989 film)|Renegades]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Enemies, A Love Story (film)|Enemies, A Love Story]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Young Guns II]]'' (1990)
* ''[[The Exorcist III]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Pacific Heights (film)|Pacific Heights]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Angie (1994 film)|Angie]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Before and After (film)|Before and After]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Tears of the Sun]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Daddy Day Care]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Hollywood Homicide]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Mona Lisa Smile]]'' (2003)
* ''[[An Unfinished Life]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Little Man (2006 film)|Little Man]]'' (2006) (Uncredited)
* ''[[Knight and Day]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Sabotage (2014 film)|Sabotage]]'' (2014)
* ''[[The Exorcist III#Director's cut|The Exorcist III: Legion]]'' (2016)
* ''[[The Dreaming Man]]'' (2017)
{{colend}}
'''Co-producer'''
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
* ''[[Off Beat (1986 film)|Off Beat]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Major League (film)|Major League]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Nightbreed]]'' (1990)
{{colend}}
'''Director'''
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
* ''[[Streets of Gold (film)|Streets of Gold]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Coupe de Ville (film)|Coupe de Ville]]'' (1990)
* ''[[America's Sweethearts]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Christmas with the Kranks]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Freedomland (film)|Freedomland]]'' (2006)
{{colend}}

;Miscellaneous crew
{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
|-
| 1974 || ''[[The Conversation (film)|The Conversation]]'' || Production assistant || {{center|<small>Uncredited</small>}}
|-
|rowspan=2| 1988 || ''[[Young Guns (film)|Young Guns]]'' ||rowspan=3| Presenter ||
|-
| ''[[Dead Ringers (film)|Dead Ringers]]'' ||
|-
| 1990 || ''[[The Exorcist III]]'' ||
|}

;As an actor
{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
|-
| 1976 || ''[[Tunnel Vision (1976 film)|Tunnel Vision]]'' || Player-Announcer ||
|-
| 1977 || ''Cracking Up'' || Man || {{center|<small>Uncredited</small>}}
|-
|}

;Production manager
{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
|-
| 1998 || ''[[Armageddon (1998 film)|Armageddon]]'' || Executive in charge of production || {{center|<small>Uncredited</small>}}
|}

;Thanks
{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Dead Presidents]]'' ||rowspan=3| Special thanks
|-
|rowspan=2| 2002 || ''[[Punch-Drunk Love]]''
|-
| ''[[Gangs of New York]]''
|-
| 2009 || ''[[Bandslam]]'' || Thanks
|}

===Television===
'''Producer'''
{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
|-
| 2004 || [[76th Academy Awards]] || Television special
|-
|}

'''Executive producer'''
{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
|-
| 2007 || ''Demons'' || TV movie
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Drew Carey's Improv-A-Ganza]]'' ||
|-
| 2010–12 || ''[[Are We There Yet? (TV series)|Are We There Yet?]]'' || 
|-
| 2012–14 || ''[[Anger Management (TV series)|Anger Management]]'' || 
|-
| 2019 || ''This Is Football'' || Documentary
|-
| 2020 || ''[[The Plot Against America (miniseries)|The Plot Against America]]'' ||
|-
| 2021  || ''[[Panic (TV series)|Panic]]'' || 
|}

;Thanks
{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
|-
| 1990 || ''[[American Masters]]'' ||rowspan=2| Special thanks ||rowspan=2| Documentary
|-
| 2020 || ''[[The Last Dance (miniseries)|The Last Dance]]''
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|5387}}

{{Joe Roth}}
{{Seattle Sounders FC}}
{{MLS owner navbox}}
{{Walt Disney Studios}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roth, Joe}}
[[Category:American soccer chairmen and investors]]
[[Category:American film studio executives]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer executives]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from New York City]]
[[Category:Film producers from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:American television producers]]
[[Category:American animated film producers]]
[[Category:20th Century Studios people]]
[[Category:Disney executives]]
[[Category:Sony Pictures Animation people]]
[[Category:Boston University College of Communication alumni]]
[[Category:Film directors from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Jewish American film people]]
[[Category:People from Long Island]]
[[Category:1948 births]]