Kenneth Utt

Kenneth Utt (July 13, 1921 – January 19, 1994), was an American film producer and unit production manager. He received the Academy Award for Best Picture for producing The Silence of the Lambs.

Life and career Utt was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on July 13, 1921. He graduated from Elon College (now Elon University) in Elon, N.C. in 1942. He received a scholarship to Juilliard School where he studied vocals in hopes of becoming an opera singer. Utt served in the Army Air Forces during World War II. He returned home and became a stage and radio actor, appearing in shows like Carousel.

Utt began working in production on stage performances of Peter Pan, the lesser known 1950 Broadway version with music by Leonard Bernstein. He then became a film line producer for films like Midnight Cowboy (1969), The French Connection (1971), The Seven-Ups (1973) and All That Jazz (1979). Utt was a producer and unit production manager on four Jonathan Demme films: Something Wild (1986), Married to the Mob (1988), The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Philadelphia (1993), with Lambs and Philadelphia earning awards at the Oscars. Utt was among the three producers who received Best Picture for Lambs, in which he also made a cameo appearance.

Death Utt died on January 19, 1994, at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan at the age of 72. The cause was bone cancer. He is survived by his wife Angie, son Tim Utt, and daughter Robin Utt Fajardo.

Filmography He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film Year Film Credit Award Notes 1968 The Subject Was Roses Associate producer 1969 Midnight Cowboy Associate producer 1970 The Boys in the Band Associate producer The People Next Door Associate producer 1971 The French Connection Associate producer 1973 Godspell Associate producer The Seven-Ups Executive producer 1979 All That Jazz Associate producer 1981 Eyewitness Associate producer 1982 Still of the Night Associate producer 1983 Star 80 1985 Heaven Help Us Associate producer 1986 Power Associate producer Something Wild 1988 Married to the Mob 1990 Miami Blues Co-producer 1991 The Silence of the Lambs Academy Award for Best Picture 1993 Philadelphia Executive producer Final film as a producer

Production manager

Year Film Role 1968 Bye Bye Braverman Production supervisor 1978 The Wiz Production manager 1979 All That Jazz 1981 Eyewitness Unit production manager 1982 Still of the Night Production manager 1983 Star 80 1985 Heaven Help Us 1986 Power Something Wild 1988 Married to the Mob Unit production manager 1990 Miami Blues 1991 The Silence of the Lambs 1992 Gladiator 1993 Philadelphia

As an actor

Year Film Role Notes 1944 Winged Victory Chorus Member Uncredited 1986 Something Wild Dad 1988 Married to the Mob Sourpuss F.B.I. Man 1990 Miami Blues Krishna Ramba, Head Krishna 1991 The Silence of the Lambs Dr. Akin Dogfight Thrift Shop Man 1993 Philadelphia The Jury 1994 The Ref Jeremiah Willard 2002 The Truth About Charlie The Late Monsieur Hyppolite 2004 The Manchurian Candidate Rosie's Cousin's Mentor

Miscellaneous crew

Year Film Role 1970 The Angel Levine Production executive

Location management

Year Film Role 1972 Fuzz Location supervisor: Boston

Thanks

Year Film Role 1998 Beloved Grateful acknowledgment

Television Year Title Credit Notes 1962−65 The Defenders Associate producer 1966 Hawk Associate producer 1967 N.Y.P.D. Associate producer Coronet Blue Associate producer 1973 The Connection Associate producer Television film Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside Associate producer Television pilot 1975−76 Movin' On Associate producer 1982 Baker's Dozen 1986 Intimate Strangers Television film

Production manager

Year Title Role Notes 1961−62 The Defenders Production manager 1972 Liza with a Z Production supervisor Television special 1974−75 Movin' On In charge of production 1975 Strike Force Executive in charge of production Television film

As an actor

Year Title Role 1954−56 Studio One Dave HornJoseph Blake

Miscellaneous crew

Year Title Role 1962 The Defenders Assistant to the producer The Nurses

Thanks

Year Title Role Notes 1997 Subway Stories Dedicated to Kenny Utt Television film