Robert Shaye

Robert Kenneth Shaye is an American businessman, actor, and filmmaker. Shaye is the founder of New Line Cinema, a film production studio that was most successful for distributing The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, based on the classic fantasy novel of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. He stepped down from New Line in 2008 after the studio was restructured as a unit of Warner Bros. Pictures.

Biography Early life Shaye was born to a Jewish family in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Dorothy and Max Mendle Shaye, a supermarket owner and artist. In 1996, Turner Broadcasting System became part of Time Warner.

In 1998, when New Zealand director Peter Jackson brought his 36-minute pitch reel for a big screen adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy classic The Lord of the Rings to New Line, hoping to turn the three volumes into two films, Shaye suggested that Jackson should make three films instead. Shaye subsequently greenlit a simultaneous production for all three installments. he is an active investor in companies like Brat TV.

Unique Features In February 2008, Shaye and New Line co-chairman Michael Lynne were dismissed from the company as part of a significant restructuring ordered by then-Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes.

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

Film Year Film Credit 1977 Stunts Executive producer 1981 Polyester 1982 Alone in the Dark Xtro Executive producer 1983 The First Time 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street 1985 A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge 1986 Critters Executive producer Quiet Cool 1987 A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors My Demon Lover The Hidden Stranded Executive producer 1988 Hairspray Critters 2: The Main Course The Prince of Pennsylvania A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master 1989 A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child 1990 Heart Condition Associate producer 1991 Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare 1993 Blink Executive producer 1994 Wes Craven's New Nightmare 2000 Frequency 2001 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 2003 Freddy vs. Jason The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 2007 The Last Mimzy Hairspray The Golden Compass 2010 A Nightmare on Elm Street 2013 The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones 2016 When the Bough Breaks 2018 Haunting on Fraternity Row Executive producer 2019 Ambition 2021 Night Teeth Executive producer 2023 Space Oddity Executive producer 2027 High in the Clouds

As an actor Year Film Role Notes 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street Newsreader / KRGR Radio Announcer Voice role 1985 A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge Bartender 1986 Quiet Cool Franklin 1987 The Hidden Man in Silver Mercedes Picking Up a Gorgeous Girl 1988 A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master Lecturer 1991 Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare Ticket Seller 1993 Loaded Weapon 1 Interrogation Room Person Man's Best Friend Mobile Mechanic 1994 Wes Craven's New Nightmare Himself 2001 Festival in Cannes Bert Shuster 2003 Freddy vs. Jason Principal Shaye 2004 Cellular Detective Looking Guy 2013 Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th Himself Documentary film

As director Year Film Notes 1963 Image Short film 1965 On Fighting Witches Short film 1973 The Best of the New York Erotic Film Festival 1990 Book of Love 2007 The Last Mimzy 2019 Ambition

As writer Year Film 1977 Stunts 1982 Alone in the Dark

As cinematographer Year Film Notes 1965 On Fighting Witches Short film

Second unit director or assistant director Year Film Role Notes 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street Director: melting staircase sequence

Thanks Year Film Role 1997 Spawn Thanks Boogie Nights Special thanks 1998 Dark City Thanks 1999 Magnolia Special thanks 2006 Kill Your Darlings Thanks 2007 Run Fatboy Run 2008 The Women Special appreciation 2019 Motherless Brooklyn The director wishes to thank Girl Blood Sport Special thanks

Television Year Title Credit Notes 1988 The Freddy Krueger Special Television special 1988−90 Freddy's Nightmares Executive producer 2016−19 Shadowhunters Executive producer 2020 The Liberator Executive producer

As an actor Year Title Role 1988 Freddy's Nightmares The Minister

Production manager Year Title Role 2011 SpongeBob SquarePants Executive in charge of production