Joe Roth

Joseph E. "Joe" Roth[1] (born 1948) is an American film executive, producer and director. He co-founded Morgan Creek Productions in 1988 and was chairman of 20th Century Fox (1989–93), Caravan Pictures (1993–94), and Walt Disney Studios (1994–2000) before founding Revolution Studios in 2000, then Roth Films.
== Early life ==
Roth was born in New York City, the son of Lawrence Roth, a foreman at a plastics plant,[2] and Frances Roth.[3] Roth is of Jewish heritage.[4] In 1959, Roth's father volunteered his son to be a plaintiff in the ACLU's effort to abolish mandatory prayer in public schools. The case, filed in New York, wound its way through the system, finally reaching the U.S. Supreme Court in 1962. The Court ruled that such prayer was unconstitutional under the First Amendment, in the landmark case of Engel v. Vitale.[5]
Roth attended Boston University, graduating in 1970 with a bachelor's degree in communication.[1]
== Career ==
Over the course of his career, he has produced over 40 films, and has directed six to date, including 1990's Coupe de Ville, 2001's America's Sweethearts and 2006's Freedomland.
Roth, who was ranked 6th in Premiere Magazine's 2003 Hollywood Power List, produced the 76th annual Academy Awards. Roth announced that in October 2007, when Revolution's distribution deal with Sony Pictures ends, Revolution Studios will close and he will join Sony as a producer.
On November 13, 2007, Roth was introduced as the majority owner of a Seattle, Washington–based Major League Soccer franchise along with Paul Allen. Seattle Sounders FC—which calls CenturyLink Field home—began regular season play in 2009. On November 12, 2015, Roth passed on majority ownership to Adrian Hanauer.
== Personal life ==
He was married to Donna Arkoff whose father was movie producer Samuel Z. Arkoff.[6] They have three children. They resided in a mansion designed by architect Douglas Honnold for Irish production designer Cedric Gibbons and Mexican actress Dolores Del Rio in 1929 in Los Angeles, California.[7]
== Filmography ==
=== As Producer ===
Year	Title
1976	Tunnel Vision
1978	Our Winning Season
1979	Americathon
1982	Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains
1983	The Final Terror
1984	The Stone Boy
1985	Moving Violations
1986	Off Beat
1986	Where the River Runs Black
1986	Streets of Gold
1987	P.K. and the Kid
1988	Young Guns
1989	Major League
1990	Nightbreed
1994	Angels in the Outfield
1994	A Low Down Dirty Shame
1995	Houseguest
1995	The Jerky Boys: The Movie
1995	Heavyweights
1995	Tall Tale
1995	While You Were Sleeping
1996	Before and After
2004	The Forgotten
2007	The Great Debaters
2010	Alice in Wonderland
2012	Snow White and the Huntsman
2013	Oz the Great and Powerful
2014	Heaven Is for Real
2014	Million Dollar Arm
2014	Maleficent
2015	In the Heart of the Sea
2016	Miracles from Heaven
2016	The Huntsman: Winter's War
2016	Alice Through the Looking Glass
2017	XXX: Return of Xander Cage
=== As Executive Producer ===
Year	Title
1977	Cracking Up
1984	Bachelor Party
1987	Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise
1988	Dead Ringers (uncredited)
1989	Skin Deep
1989	Renegades
1989	Enemies, a Love Story
1990	Young Guns II
1990	The Exorcist III
1990	Pacific Heights
1993	The Three Musketeers
1994	Angie
2003	Tears of the Sun
2003	Daddy Day Care
2003	Hollywood Homicide
2003	Mona Lisa Smile
2005	An Unfinished Life
2010	Knight and Day
2014	Sabotage
=== As Director ===
Year	Title
1986	Streets of Gold
1987	Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise
1990	Coupe de Ville
2001	America's Sweethearts
2004	Christmas with the Kranks
2006	Freedomland
=== As Actor ===
Year	Title 	Role
1976	Tunnel Vision	Player-Announcer
1977	Cracking Up 	Man (uncredited)
=== Others ===
Year	Title 	Notes
1974	The Conversation	production assistant (uncredited)
1995	Dead Presidents 	special thanks