Paul Maslansky
{{Short description|American film producer and writer (1933–2024)}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| birth_name = Paul Marc Maslansky
| caption = Maslansky in 1999
| image = Paul_Maslansky_1999.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date|1933|11|23|mf=y}}
| birth_place = New York City, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|12|2|1933|11|23}}
| death_place = Los Robles, California, U.S.
| occupation = Producer, writer
| yearsactive = 1964–2024
}}
Paul Marc Maslansky (November 23, 1933 – December 2, 2024) was an American film producer and writer best known for the Police Academy franchise.
Early life
Maslansky was born in Harlem, New York, on November 23, 1933. He played jazz for a living while briefly attending law school in New York. He graduated from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, in 1954.{{cite web|url=https://www.wlu.edu/lenfest-center/past-seasons/paul-maslansky-%E2%80%9954|title=Paul Maslansky '54|website=Washington and Lee University|accessdate=21 June 2018}}
Career
Maslansky had 41 film credits as producer or executive producer. His first production credit was for 1964's Castle of the Living Dead, which starred Christopher Lee. Initially, Maslansky used his middle initial in his credits, though this was later dropped. Maslansky worked throughout the 1960s and 1970s as producer, notable credits include Race with the Devil, Damnation Alley, The Villain, and Love Child.
Maslansky was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for the 1978 series King.
Maslansky had a breakthrough hit with Police Academy in 1984. From a budget of $4.1 million, the film grossed $155 million and spawned a film franchise and television series Police Academy: The Series, which Maslansky wrote.{{Mojo title|policeacademy}}
He frequently made cameo appearances in the Police Academy movies.
Maslansky's notable credits following Police Academy include 1985's Return to Oz, 1990's The Russia House and Fluke in 1995.
The Lenfest Center for the Art's 'Maslansky Rehearsal Hall' in Lexington is named after him.
Death
Maslansky died in Los Robles, California, on December 2, 2024, at the age of 91.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/12/paul-maslansky-dies-91-police-academy-producer-1236196924/|title=Paul Maslansky Dies: 'Police Academy' Producer Was 91|website=Deadline|date=December 6, 2024|access-date=December 7, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/paul-maslansky-dead-producer-police-academy-1236080353/|title=Paul Maslansky, 'Police Academy' and 'Return to Oz' Producer, Dies at 91|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 6, 2024|access-date=December 7, 2024}}
Filmography
Maslansky was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.
= Film =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Credit ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes | |||
| 1964 | Castle of the Living Dead | ||
| 1966 | The She Beast | ||
| 1970 | Eyewitness | ||
| 1972 | Death Line | ||
| 1974 | Sugar Hill | ||
| 1974 | Miracles Still Happen | Associate producer | style="text-align:center;"|Uncredited |
| rowspan=2| 1975 | Race with the Devil | Executive producer | |
| Hard Times | Executive producer | ||
| 1976 | The Blue Bird | ||
| 1977 | Damnation Alley | ||
| 1978 | Circle of Iron | ||
| rowspan=4| 1979 | When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder? | Co-producer | |
| Hot Stuff | Executive producer | ||
| The Villain | Executive producer | ||
| Scavenger Hunt | Co-producer | ||
| 1980 | Ruckus | ||
| 1981 | The Salamander | ||
| 1982 | Love Child | ||
| rowspan=2| 1984 | Police Academy | ||
| Big Truck and Sister Clare | Executive producer | ||
| rowspan=2| 1985 | Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment | ||
| Return to Oz | |||
| 1986 | Police Academy 3: Back in Training | ||
| 1987 | Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol | ||
| 1988 | Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach | ||
| rowspan=2| 1989 | Police Academy 6: City Under Siege | ||
| Honeymoon Academy | Direct-to-video | ||
| rowspan=2| 1990 | Ski Patrol | Executive producer | |
| The Russia House | |||
| 1993 | Cop and a Half | ||
| 1994 | Police Academy: Mission to Moscow | ||
| 1995 | Fluke | ||
| 2017 | Death of the Sheik | Executive producer | |
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" | {{TableTBA}} | Coming Through Slaughter | ||
| Police Academy | |||
| The First Force | Executive producer |
; As writer
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes | ||
| 1964 | Castle of the Living Dead | |
| 1984 | Police Academy | style="text-align:center;"| Uncredited |
; As an actor
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes | |||
| 1975 | Race with the Devil | Road Worker in Cowboy Hat | rowspan=6 style="text-align:center;" | Uncredited |
| 1978 | Circle of Iron | Student at Temple | |
| 1986 | Police Academy 3: Back in Training | Man #4 in Police Line-up | |
| 1987 | Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol | Retirement Home Warden | |
| 1988 | Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach | Homeless Man at Museum | |
| 1989 | Police Academy 6: City Under Siege | Man at Precinct Payphone | |
| 2021 | Silent Life | Adolph Zukor |
; Production manager
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role | ||
| 1963 | Jason and the Argonauts | Unit manager |
| 1969 | The Red Tent | Executive in charge of production |
; As director
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film | |
| 1974 | Sugar Hill |
; Second unit director or assistant director
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes | |||
| 1975 | Race with the Devil | Second unit director | style="text-align:center;"|Uncredited |
; Miscellaneous crew
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role | ||
| 1964 | The Long Ships | Assistant to producer |
= Television =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Credit ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes | |||
| 1974 | The Gun and the Pulpit | Television film | |
| 1978 | King | ||
| 1987 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Executive producer | |
| 1988 | Police Academy | Executive producer | |
| 1997–98 | Police Academy: The Series | Executive producer |
; As writer
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title | |
| 1997–98 | Police Academy: The Series |
; As an actor
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes | |||
| 1997–98 | Police Academy: The Series | Grumpy Man at Table Grumpy Man in Convertible | style="text-align:center;"| Uncredited |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=0556487|name=Paul Maslansky}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maslansky, Paul}}
Category:20th-century American businesspeople
Category:21st-century American businesspeople
Category:20th-century American screenwriters
Category:American television writers
Category:Film producers from New York (state)
Category:Screenwriters from New York (state)