Oren Koules

Oren Koules (born January 31, 1961) is an American entrepreneur and film producer. He is the co-founder of Evolution Entertainment and produced the Saw film series as well as the CBS television series Two and a Half Men. A former professional hockey player, Koules later purchased the Tampa Bay Lightning where he was also the team's Governor and Chief Executive Officer.

Koules later sold his rights the Saw franchise and its library in 2025. He also signed a multi-picture deal with Paramount Pictures. The first film under the deal, Trust, was released in August 2025.

Early life Koules was born and raised in La Grange Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. His final year he played for the Hampton Roads Gulls, Virginia Raiders, and Saginaw Gears. His best year was in 1980 with the Spokane Flyers when he scored 28 goals with 45 assists for a total of 73 points. After his hockey career, Koules became a commodities trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in 1983.

Film career and sports Upon arriving in Hollywood, Koules was introduced to former Los Angeles Times reporter, Dale Pollock, and the two formed Peak Productions soon after. Together, they produced films like Mrs. Winterbourne and Set It Off. The early success of Peak Productions led Koules to a job as the Senior Vice President of Production at Paramount Pictures.

In 2003, Koules and Mark Burg saw a seven-minute teaser of a film written by Australian screenwriters, Leigh Whannell and James Wan, and agreed to produce the film. The film would later become the original Saw film that was released in 2004. In 2008, he agreed to purchase the team through OK Hockey LLC, an investment group he controlled, for $206 million. The group sold the team to Jeffrey Vinik, a minority owner in the Boston Red Sox, for $160 million in 2010. During his time as co-owner of the Lightning, he was the team's Governor and Chief Executive Officer.

In June 2011, Koules sold his ownership in Evolution Entertainment, but continued to own and oversee the Saw franchise and Two and a Half Men. The Saw franchise has grossed more than from the box office as of 2021.

Koules produced the 2021 horror film Spiral: From the Book of Saw, a spin-off and the ninth installment of the Saw film series. He also produced the 2023 horror film Saw X which served as both a direct sequel to Saw (2004) and a prequel to Saw II (2005). Koules partnered with his son Miles Koules in 2022 to form the film production company Koulest Productions.

Koules signed a multi-picture deal with Paramount Pictures through Twisted Pictures in 2024. The first film, Trust, began production by both Oren and Miles in 2024. The film was released in August 2025. In 2025, Koules also sold his rights to the Saw franchise and its library to Blumhouse Productions.

Personal life

Koules married talent agent Risa Shapiro in 1994. Koules and Shapiro separated in 2005 and eventually divorced in 2007. In 2008, Koules married Shereen Arazm, a businesswoman and restaurateur. They met by happenstance on a flight from Toronto, where Arazm is originally from, to Los Angeles where Koules was filming Saw II. The pair have two daughters together, Sam and Neve.

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

Film Year Film Credit Notes 1996 Mrs. Winterbourne Set It Off 1999 Black and White Executive producer 2000 Lockdown 2001 Good Advice Diary of a Sex Addict Direct-to-video 2002 Run Ronnie Run! John Q. Malevolent Executive producer 2003 Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd Love Don't Cost a Thing Executive producer 2004 Saw 2005 Saw II 2006 Saw III 2007 Dead Silence Catacombs Saw IV 2008 Repo! The Genetic Opera Saw V Vlog Executive producer 2009 Saw VI 2010 Lottery Ticket The Tortured Saw 3D 2013 Jake Squared Executive producer 2017 Jigsaw 2021 Spiral: From the Book of Saw 2023 Saw X 2025 Trust

As an actor

Year Film Role Notes 2004 Saw Dead Cellmate Uncredited 2007 Saw IV The Man

Thanks

Year Film Role He Helped Me: A Fan Film from the Book of Saw Special thanks

Television Year Title Credit Notes 2003 The Three Amigos Documentary 2004 The Casino 2005−06 Love, Inc. Executive producer 2008 Vlog Executive producer 2003−12 Two and a Half Men Executive producer

Awards and recognition

Koules has been nominated and won numerous awards. He received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his work on Two and a Half Men and won both a TV Land Award for his work on the same and a ShoWest Award for his work on the Saw film series.

Primetime Emmy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.2006 Outstanding Comedy Series Two and a Half Men 2007 2008

TV Land Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.2009 TV Land Future Classic AwardTwo and a Half Men

ShowWest Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.2007 ShoWest Award of Excellence in ProducingSaw film series