Ronald L. Schwary

Ronald Louis Schwary[1] (May 23, 1944 – July 2, 2020) was an Academy Award winning American producer and director. Films that he was either producer or executive producer include Ordinary People for which he won an Academy Award for Best Picture,[2] Havana, Scent of a Woman, Sabrina, Meet Joe Black and Random Hearts.

He also worked as a producer alongside Sidney Pollack in Absence of Malice and worked with Pollack on Tootsie, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture in 1983. He received another Academy Award for Best Picture nomination for A Soldier's Story in 1985 as well.[3]

Schwary did not receive a Best Picture nomination for Scent of a Woman in 1992, which was both nominated for Oscars and Golden Globes for best picture, since he was the executive producer and the academy only recognized those credited solely as producers.[4]

Schwary was also the producer of the Rolling Stones documentary Lets Spend the Night Together in 1982. Schwary served as an executive producer on the Barbra Streisand directed film The Mirror Has Two Faces. From 2005-2011 he produced the Medium TV series.[4]

Personal life

Schwary was in The Dalles, Oregon, the son of Mitchell Schwary (1903- 1986) who was a real estate broker and Lorraine Ablan.[5] Schwary was of Lebanese descent and both his paternal and maternal grandparents were born in Lebanon.[6][7] He attended the University of Oregon but transferred to the University of Southern California where he graduated in 1967. At USC, Schwary became friends with actor John Wayne who was a USC alumni who got him a job as a stand-in for Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate. Schwary worked as an assistant director in the 1970s and later as a production manager.[4]

He was married to Emmy-nominated hairstylist Susan Carol Schwary from 1971 to 1994. Both of their sons, Brian and Neil Schwary, work in the film industry. Schwary was married to Karen Feldman from 2009 to 2014.[4]

Schwary died in July 2, 2020 from a rare neurological disease.[8]

Filmography

He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film
Year Film Credit Notes
1976Shadow of the HawkAssociate producer
1978California SuiteAssociate producer
1979The Electric HorsemanAssociate producer
1980Ordinary People
1981Absence of MaliceExecutive producer
1982Tootsie
Uncredited
1984A Soldier's Story
1987Batteries Not Included
1990HavanaExecutive producer
1992Scent of a WomanExecutive producer
1994Cops & Robbersons
1995SabrinaExecutive producer
1996The Mirror Has Two FacesCo-executive producer
1998Meet Joe BlackExecutive producer
1999Random HeartsExecutive producerFinal film as a producer
Second unit director or assistant director
Year Film Role
1973Save the TigerSecond assistant director
1974Dirty Mary, Crazy LarryAssistant director
1975Breakout
Breakheart PassFirst assistant director
1976Shadow of the HawkAssistant director
St. Ives
1978Casey's Shadow
Production manager
Year Film Role Notes
1977Close Encounters of the Third KindUnit production manager: Additional scenes - 1980 special version
Uncredited
1978The Cheap DetectiveUnit production manager
California SuiteProduction manager
1979The Electric Horseman
1980Ordinary PeopleUnit production manager
1981Absence of MaliceProduction manager
1995Sabrina
As an actor
Year Film Role
1974The Ultimate ThrillDanny
1978Casey's ShadowTicket Seller
The Cheap DetectiveCab Driver
1982TootsiePhil Weintraub
1987Batteries Not IncludedLouie
1994Cops & RobbersonsProducer
1995SabrinaSheik

Television
Year Title Credit Notes
1987−88Tour of Duty
1991The BrotherhoodExecutive producerTelevision film
1999−2000Now and AgainExecutive producer
2001FlingExecutive producer
2002JoExecutive producerTelevision film
2003Partners and CrimeExecutive producerTelevision film
2008The Meant to Be'sExecutive producerTelevision film
2005−11MediumExecutive producer
Second unit director or assistant director
Year Title Role Notes
1973Kung FuAssistant director
The Blue KnightTelevision film
1974The Stranger Who Looks Like Me
1975Barnaby Jones
Movin' On
The EntertainerFirst assistant directorTelevision film
1976Spencer's PilotsAssistant director
1977In the Glitter PalaceTelevision film
1987−88Tour of DutySecond unit director
As director
Year Title
1988Tour of Duty
1996Sisters
2000Now and Again
2005−09Medium
Production manager
Year Title Role Notes
1977In the Glitter PalaceUnit production managerTelevision film
1991The BrotherhoodProduction managerTelevision film

References
  1. https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schwary-ronald-l-1944-ron-schwary-ronald-schwary
  2. "The 53rd Academy Awards (1981) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  3. "Oscars Winners & Nominees 1985- Best Picture". Oscars.
  4. "Oscar winner Ronald Schwary, 'Ordinary People' and 'Tootsie' producer, dies at 76". Latimes.
  5. "Ronald Schwary". Encyclopedia.
  6. "Mickey J. Schwary- Memorial". Findagrave.
  7. Schwary's paternal grandmother Sophia Schwary Fliofel (1865-1955) was born in Zahle, Lebanon as can be seen in her death certificate in 1955 His paternal grandfather Louis M. Schwary was from Beirut, Lebanon and his uncle was born there as well. His maternal grandfather Abraham J Ablan was from Batroun, Lebanon and his maternal grandmother Nezzera Zlaket and granduncle Kalil Zlaket were from Zahle, Lebanon. Marriage certificate of Ronald Schwary's parents in 1940. Information from the National Archives, United States. Scans of oficial acts of Ronald L. Schwary paternal and maternal grandparents on familysearch.org.
  8. "Ronald Schwary, Oscar-Winning Producer of 'Ordinary People,' Dies at 76". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
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