Richard D. Zanuck Biography

Fast Facts

• Earned a degree from Stanford University while working in 20th Century Fox's story department
• Met Lili Fini on a blind date in 1978 and married her four months later, and they were still married at his death in 2012
• Quote: "I'm not a nostalgia guy․ These last few years, working with Tim Burton, it's been the best time I've ever had․"
• Quote: "I've been on both sides of the desk․ I've been a producer, as I am now; I've been a suit, in the days when the suits actually wore suits․"
• Found his greatest success as head of his own production company after being fired from 20th Century Fox in 1970 by his father, studio head Darryl F․ Zanuck
• Was the subject of TCM's documentary tribute "Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking," which he got to see three days before his death at age 77
• Was on the set every day as his movies were being shot