Lawrence Gordon (born March 25, 1936 in Yazoo City, Mississippi) is an American producer and motion picture executive. He specializes in producing action-oriented films. Some of his most popular productions include Predator (1987), Die Hard (1988) and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001).

Biography

Gordon grew up in Belzoni, Mississippi. He graduated from Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana. He has enjoyed a long career in film. After moving to Los Angeles he began his career working for Aaron Spelling. He quickly moved up the ranks and began co-producing for Spelling and in the early 1980s created the TV series Matt Houston.

In the 1970s he was a key executive at American International Pictures.

He served as President of 20th Century Fox from 1984 to 1986.

He subsequently formed Largo Entertainment with his brother and producer Charles Gordon, which was backed by the Japanese company JVC. This was revolutionary as it was the first time a Japanese company had seriously invested in a film enterprise. In 1989, he produced Field of Dreams, which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

Under the Largo Entertainment banner, Gordon produced Point Break, G.I. Jane, Mulholland Falls, and 23 other films.

Gordon also had an independent production deal with Universal Pictures under the shingle Lawrence Gordon Productions. Under Lawrence Gordon Productions, he produced such hits as Jumpin' Jack Flash, Boogie Nights, Mystery Men, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider franchise, Hellboy franchise and Watchmen.

Gordon has been credited with giving some of the most prolific producers their start in entertainment such as Joel Silver, Scott Rudin, Amy Pascal, and James L. Brooks.

He has three children including filmmaker and musician, George Joseph Gordon.

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