Jeff Pollack

Jeffrey Ian Pollack (November 15, 1959 – December 23, 2013) was an American film director, screenwriter, television producer and writer. He was known as the co-creator, writer, and producer of the '90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

For the American music and media consultant, see Jeff Pollack (music executive).
Jeff Pollack
Born
Jeffrey Ian Pollack

(1959-11-15)November 15, 1959
Los Angeles, California
DiedDecember 23, 2013(2013-12-23) (aged 54)
Hermosa Beach, California
OccupationFilm director, screenwriter, television producer, writer, entrepreneur
Years active1990–2013
Spouse(s)Solange White Pollack (divorced)
ChildrenLael Pollack (daughter, 25),
Logan Pollack (son, 20)

As a film director he directed the films Above the Rim (1994),[1] Booty Call (1997) and Lost & Found (1999).

Pollack served as executive consultant on The Tyra Banks Show. He was a frequent collaborator with Benny Medina.[2] He was an alum of University of Southern California film school.[2]

Career

Following graduation from University of Southern California Film School in the early 1980s, Jeff Pollack traveled through Asia both as a tourist and documentarian. After three years on the road—and in the rice fields and jungle—Pollack returned to the U.S., dabbling in real estate development before devoting himself to an entertainment career.

Pollack co-created the NBC TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel Air with friend and business partner Benny Medina, who was the inspiration for the show's title character played by then-rapper Will Smith. He wrote, produced and directed for the show until its end. Pollack and Medina also launched and ran a management/production company together, Medina/Pollack Entertainment (later becoming Handprint), with clients that included Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey and Tyra Banks. Pollack produced two Billboard Music Awards ceremonies in 1992 and 1993, produced the TV documentary Jennifer Lopez in Concert, and worked with Banks on her talk show.

In 1994, under the banner of Medina/Pollack Entertainment, Pollack wrote, produced and directed the urban feature film Above the Rim starring Tupac Shakur, Leon, Duane Martin and Marlon Wayans.[1]

In 1995, Pollack and Medina renamed their company Handprint Entertainment, which has grown into one of Hollywood's most successful full-service management and production companies. Since that time Pollack took a production role on the Fox sitcom Getting Personal and remained behind the camera as director of the 1997 film Booty Call, starring Jamie Foxx, Tommy Davidson, Vivica A. Fox and Tamala Jones.

His spec screenplay Gifted[3] was one of Spec Scout's top 2013 submitted scripts, scoring above 90% of the scripts circulating by A-list agents and managers.

Death

Pollack was found dead after jogging on the Greenbelt in Hermosa Beach, California on December 23, 2013.[4][5]

References
  1. Maslin, Janet (March 23, 1994). "Above the Rim (1994) Review/Film; A Young Man Torn by Good and Bad". The New York Times.
  2. "Jeff Pollack at FilmBug". FilmBug. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  3. Specscout.com
  4. 'Booty Call' Director Jeffrey Pollack Dies at 54
  5. "Local Identified as Deceased Man Found on Greenbelt in Hermosa Beach - Police & Fire - Manhattan Beach, CA Patch". Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2013-12-26.


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