Ben-Hur (1959)

Born in New York City. He entered films at 16 as a cutter at Metro and after editing many silent MGM productions moved up in 1929 to the position of assistant to producer Hunt Stromberg. A producer from 1936, he gradually progressed from modest-budget pictures to major productions. Producer credits during this period include TARZAN ESCAPES! (1936), LONDON BY NIGHT (1937), LADY OF THE TROPICS (1939), BOOM TOWN (1940), TORTILLA FLAT (1942), THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO (1944), SIDE STREET and KING SOLOMON'S MINES (both 1950), QUO VADIS? and TOO YOUNG TO KISS (both 1951), MOGAMBO (1953), BEAU BRUMMELL (1954), TRIBUTE TO A BAD MAN and THE CATERED AFFAIR (both 1956) and I ACCUSE! (1958). Zimbalist died in 1958 from a heart attack on location of filming in Rome, Italy, for BEN-HUR, his most ambitious film.  Nominated for Best Picture 1950: KING SOLOMON'S MINES - Producer at MGM  Nominated for Best Picture 1951: QUO VADIS? - Producer at MGM  Best Picture 1959: BEN-HUR - Producer at MGM 3 nominations, 1 Award