Born in New York City; educated at Union College and Columbia School of Law. Formed Chartoff-Winkler Productions with Irwin Winkler in the mid-1960s and subsequently turned out both commercial blockbusters (the first four ROCKY films beginning in 1976) as well as intelligent, critical successes (THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY?, 1969, RAGING BULL, 1980, THE RIGHT STUFF, 1983). The partnership dissolved in 1985. Other notable producing credits include THE STRAWBERRY STATEMENT (1970), THE GANG THAT COULDN'T SHOOT STRAIGHT (1971), THE NEW CENTURIONS and THE MECHANIC (both 1972), THE GAMBLER (1974), NICKELODEON (1976), NEW YORK, NEW YORK and VALENTINO (both 1977), COMES A HORSEMAN (1978, exec. producer), BEER (1985) and STRAIGHT TALK (1992), COUNTRY OF MY SKULL (2004), TWITCHING (2007), and ENDER'S GAME and THE MECHANIC (announced for 2008). Chartoff also produced the two later "Rocky" movies (ROCKY V, 1990, and ROCKY BALBOA, 2006).  Best Picture 1976: ROCKY - Producer (w. Irwin Winkler)  Nominated for Best Picture 1980: RAGING BULL - Producer (w. Irwin Winkler)  Nominated for Best Picture 1983: THE RIGHT STUFF - Producer (w. Irwin Winkler) 3 nominations, 1 Award