Among the blockbusters Gordon has produced are 48 HRS. (1982), DIE HARD (1988) and PREDATOR (1987), each of which spawned sequels that were also enormous hits. He also produced the Academy Award® nominee FIELD OF DREAMS (1989).
Born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Gordon graduated from Tulane University with a degree in business administration. He moved to Los Angeles in the early 1960s where he began work with Aaron Spelling at Four Star Television. During his tenure there, Gordon created and was the co-executive producer of the long-running series "Matt Houston." He continued his work in television in 1965 as head of West Coast talent development with ABC and joined Bob Banner Associates as a television and motion picture executive the following year. In 1968, he became vice president in charge of project development for American International Pictures.
After a stint as vice president of Screen Gems where he helped develop the acclaimed tele-feature "Brian's Song" as well as the first novel ever adapted for television, QB VII. Gordon returned to A.I.P. to become the first executive at the company to be put in charge of worldwide production. In that capacity, he also served as executive producer of DILLINGER (1973) and Ralph Bakshi's animated feature HEAVY TRAFFIC.
Gordon launched his own production company, Lawrence Gordon Productions, with the 1975 release HARD TIMES starring Charles Bronson and directed by Walter Hill. The producer and director collaborated five more times on THE DRIVER (1978), 48 HRS. (1982), BREWSTER'S MILLIONS (1985), STREETS OF FIRE (1984) and THE WARRIORS (1979) which pioneered the use of rock and roll soundtrack in motion pictures.
Gordon's other films as a producer include XANADU (1980), the Burt Reynolds comedies HOOPER and THE END (both 1978) and PATERNITY (1981), as well as the coming-of-age film LUCAS, the Sylvester Stallone drama LOCK UP (1989) and the comedies K-9 and FAMILY BUSINESS (both also 1989).
In 1984, Gordon became president and chief operating officer of 20th Century Fox, then went independent again forming Largo Entertainment in 1989 in a joint venture with JVC Entertainment, Inc. of Japan. Among his productions under the Largo banner were POINT BREAK, UNLAWFUL ENTRY, USED PEOPLE and the remake of the action thriller THE GETAWAY.
Gordon has also turned his talents to the stage, producing the Broadway musical Smile and the Drama Desk Award winner Entertaining Mr. Sloane. Gordon is also well known for his ability to discover exciting new talent. He was the first to give directing assignments to Penny Marshall, Walter Hill, David Seltzer, John Milius and Roger Spottiswoode.
Other productions include EVENT HORIZON (1997), directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Laurence Fishburne; BOOGIE NIGHTS (also 1997), a New Line Cinema film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson with an ensemble cast that featured Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore and John C. Reilly; and "Time Cop" (also 1997), the Universal/ABC Television series based on the hit motion picture. Mr. Gordon was the executive producer.
He produced THE ROCKETEER (1991), WATERWORLD (1995), THE DEVIL'S OWN (1997), MYSTERY MEN (1999), LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER and K-PAX (both 2001), LARA CROFT AND THE CRADLE OF LIFE: TOMB RAIDER and BAND CAMP (both 2003), HELLBOY (2004), HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY (scheduled for 2008), and WATCHMEN, BORN and MEG (all scheduled for 2009).
His brother is producer Charles Gordon.
Nominated for Best Picture of the Year 1989: FIELD OF DREAMS - Producer at Gordon Co. (w. Charles Gordon)
1 nomination