Personal Info
Birth date
1943-10-29 (81 Years)
Day of death
1996-01-19
Gender
Male
Known for
Production
Place of birth
Seattle, Washington, USA
Also known as
-Don Simpson
Biography
Donald Clarence "Don" Simpson (October 29, 1943 – January 19, 1996) was an American film producer, screenwriter, and actor. Simpson, along with his producing partner Jerry Bruckheimer, produced such hit films as Flashdance (1983), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Top Gun (1986), and The Rock (1996). Their films would go on to earn $3 billion. In 1985 and again in 1988, he and his producing partner, Jerry Bruckheimer, were named Producers of the Year by the National Association of Theatre Owners.
Filmography
Top Gun
7.063
Overview:
For Lieutenant Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell and his friend and co-pilot Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw, being accepted into an elite training school for fighter pilots is a dream come true. But a tragedy, as well as personal demons, will threaten Pete's dreams of becoming an ace pilot.Bad Boys
6.822
Overview:
Marcus Burnett is a henpecked family man. Mike Lowrey is a footloose and fancy free ladies' man. Both Miami policemen, they have 72 hours to reclaim a consignment of drugs stolen from under their station's nose. To complicate matters, in order to get the assistance of the sole witness to a murder, they have to pretend to be each other.The Rock
7.136
Overview:
When vengeful General Francis X. Hummel seizes control of Alcatraz Island and threatens to launch missiles loaded with deadly chemical weapons into San Francisco, only a young FBI chemical weapons expert and notorious Federal prisoner have the skills to penetrate the impregnable island fortress and take him down.Days of Thunder
6.375
Overview:
Talented but unproven stock car driver Cole Trickle gets a break and with the guidance of veteran Harry Hogge turns heads on the track. The young hotshot develops a rivalry with a fellow racer that threatens his career when the two smash their cars. But with the help of his doctor, Cole just might overcome his injuries-- and his fear.Beverly Hills Cop
7.204
Overview:
Fast-talking, quick-thinking Detroit street cop Axel Foley has bent more than a few rules and regs in his time, but when his best friend is murdered, he heads to sunny Beverly Hills to work the case like only he can.Beverly Hills Cop II
6.52
Overview:
Axel Foley returns to the land of sunshine and palm trees to investigate the near-fatal shooting of police Captain Andrew Bogomil. With the help of Sgt. Taggart and Det. Rosewood, they soon uncover that the shooting is associated with a series of "alphabet" robberies masterminded by a heartless weapons kingpin—and the chase is on.Flashdance
6.5
Overview:
Alex Owens, a young woman juggling between two odd jobs, aspires to become a successful ballet dancer. Nick, who is her boss and lover, supports and encourages her to fulfil her dream.Crimson Tide
7.179
Overview:
After the Cold War, a breakaway Russian republic with nuclear warheads becomes a possible worldwide threat. U.S. submarine Capt. Frank Ramsey signs on a relatively green but highly recommended Lt. Cmdr. Ron Hunter to the USS Alabama, which may be the only ship able to stop a possible Armageddon. When Ramsey insists that the Alabama must act aggressively, Hunter, fearing they will start rather than stop a disaster, leads a potential mutiny to stop him.Dangerous Minds
6.98
Overview:
Former Marine Louanne Johnson lands a gig teaching in a pilot program for bright but underachieving teens at a notorious inner-city high school. After having a terrible first day, she decides she must throw decorum to the wind. When Johnson returns to the classroom, she does so armed with a no-nonsense attitude informed by her military training and a fearless determination to better the lives of her students -- no matter what the cost.Thief of Hearts
5.3
Overview:
A woman trapped in a boring marriage begins an affair with a handsome man who seems able to read her mind. She doesn't know that he has broken into her house and read her diaries, where she has recorded her deepest thoughts and fantasies.Cannonball
5.5
Overview:
Coy "Cannonball" Buckman and his blazing red Pontiac enter the Trans-America Grand Prix, an underground road race spanning the continent in which there are no rules, no speed limits and no heed for the law. En route, Buckman jockeys with an international ensemble of racers for a $100,000 purse. But there are none more important than Cade Redman, his direct competition for a guaranteed spot on the elite Modern Motors racing team.The Ref
6.542
Overview:
A cat burglar is forced to take a bickering, dysfunctional family hostage on Christmas Eve.Aloha, Bobby and Rose
5.9
Overview:
Bobby and Rose, two youngsters who are in love, have to run away from home when they are falsely accused to have committed a robbery and an assassination.The Big Bang
4.2
Overview:
Filmmaker James Toback poses basic questions in philosophy, such as why we're here and where we're going, to various celebrities and ordinary people.The Making of 'Crimson Tide'
NYR
Overview:
This documentary provides viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this high-tension thriller about the decisions faced by a submarine crew who think the President may have ordered a missle launch. Includes interviews with stars Washington and Hackman, as well as other members of the cast and crew, who relate their experiences in working on the film.Acting
1995The Making of 'Crimson Tide' as Self
1990Days of Thunder as Aldo Bennedetti
1990The Big Bang as The Filmmaker
1976Cannonball as Assistant District Attorney
Production
1996The Rock ... Producer
1995Dangerous Minds ... Producer
1995Crimson Tide ... Producer
1995Bad Boys ... Producer
1994The Ref ... Executive Producer
1990Days of Thunder ... Producer
1987Beverly Hills Cop II ... Producer
1986Top Gun ... Producer
1984Beverly Hills Cop ... Producer
1984Thief of Hearts ... Producer
1983Flashdance ... Producer
Crew
1996The Rock ... In Memory Of