Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; educated at Malvern Collegiate Institute, Toronto, and Victoria College, University of Toronto. Highly skilled technician with a knack for eliciting fine performances from his casts. After working in TV as an actor, writer and director, Jewison turned to features in the 1960s and made his name with THE CINCINNATI KID (1965) and IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967), which won five Academy awards. He scored a sizeable box-office success with MOONSTRUCK (1987), a deftly handled romantic comedy which won Oscars® for best actress (Cher), best supporting actress (Olympia Dukakis) and best screenplay (John Patrick Shanley). Other notable credits include: (As producer and director) THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR (1968), GAILY, GAILY (1969), JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (1973), ROLLERBALL (1975), F.I.S.T. (1978), ...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL (1979), BEST FRIENDS (1982), AGNES OF GOD (1985), IN COUNTRY (1989), OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY (1991), ONLY YOU (1994), BOGUS (1996), THE HURRICANE (1999) and THE STATEMENT (2003).  Nominated for Best Picture 1966: THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING! THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING! - Producer at Mirisch  Nominated for Directing 1967: IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT  Nominated for Best Picture 1971: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF - Producer at Mirisch-Cartier  Nominated for Directing 1971: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF  Nominated for Best Picture 1984: A SOLDIER'S STORY - Producer at Caldix (w. Ronald L. Schwary & Patrick Palmer)  Nominated for Best Picture of the Year 1987: MOONSTRUCK - Producer at Palmer & Jewison (w. Patrick Palmer)  Nominated for Achievement in Directing 1987: MOONSTRUCK  Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award 1998 7 nominations, 1 Honorary Award