Charles H. Joffe (July 16, 1929 – July 9, 2008) was an American film producer and comedy talent manager.[1] He is best known as, in partnership with Jack Rollins, the producer or executive producer of most of Woody Allen's films. Joffe won the 1977 Academy Award for Best Picture as producer of Allen's Annie Hall.

Charles H. Joffe
Born(1929-07-16)July 16, 1929
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedJuly 9, 2008(2008-07-09) (aged 78)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesCharles Joffe
OccupationFilm producer
Years active1969–2008
Spouse
(m. 1968)
Children1
RelativesNicole Holofcener (stepdaughter)

Annie Hall was listed as "A Jack Rollins and Charles H. Joffe Production", though only Joffe took producer credit and received the Academy Award for Best Picture. Both were Allen's longtime managers and had that credit on all his films from 1969 to 1993. Joffe focused more on Allen, with Rollins focusing on others.[1] Their clients also included Robert Klein and David Letterman.[2]

Biography

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Joffe was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Esther (Gordon) and Sid Joffe, a pharmacist.[3][4] He worked as a booking agent for bands at local nightclubs while studying journalism at Syracuse University.[3] He then worked under Rollins as a junior agent at Music Corporation of America.[3] In 1953, he and Rollins left MCA and formed their own agency in Manhattan.[3]

Personal life

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Joffe was married to set decorator Carol Joffe[5] (former wife of sculptor Lawrence Holofcener) with whom he has an adopted son, Cory Joffe, and two stepdaughters, Suzanne Holofcener and director Nicole Holofcener.[6] He died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, a week before his 79th birthday, after a long illness.[1]

Filmography

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Producer

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Year Title Notes
1969 The Woody Allen Special Comedy Special
Don't Drink the Water
Take the Money and Run
1969-1971 The Dick Cavett Show 8 episodes
1971 Bananas
1972 Men of Crisis: The Harvey Wallinger Story Short
Play It Again, Sam
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)
1973 Sleeper
1975 Love and Death
1976 The Front
1977 Annie Hall Oscar : 1977 Best Picture
1978 Interiors
1979 Manhattan
1980 Stardust Memories
Arthur
Good Time Harry Episode: Harry Part 1
1982 A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy
The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell Television documentary
Star of the Family Episode: Pilot
1983 Zelig
1984 Broadway Danny Rose
1985 The Purple Rose of Cairo
1986 Hannah and Her Sisters
1987 Radio Days
September
1988 Another Woman
1988 Late Night with David Letterman: 6th Anniversary Special Television Special
1989 Late Night with David Letterman: 7th Anniversary Special Television Special
1989 New York Stories (segment: Oedipus Wrecks)
Crimes and Misdemeanors
1990 Alice
1991 Shadows and Fog
1992 Husbands and Wives
1993 Manhattan Murder Mystery
1993 Rick Reynolds: Only the Truth Is Funny Television Special
1994 Bullets over Broadway
1995 Mighty Aphrodite
1996 Everyone Says I Love You
1997 Deconstructing Harry
1998 Celebrity
1999 Sweet and Lowdown
2000 Small Time Crooks
2001 The Curse of the Jade Scorpion
2002 Hollywood Ending
2003 Anything Else
2004 Melinda and Melinda
2005 Match Point
2006 Scoop
2007 Cassandra's Dream
2008 Vicky Cristina Barcelona
2009 Whatever Works

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
1977 Academy Award Academy Award for Best Picture Annie Hall Won [7]
1994 CableAce Award Best Stand-Up Comedy Special Rick Reynolds: Only the Truth Is Funny Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Charles H. Joffe, 78; top manager of comedic talent co-produced Woody Allen's films". Los Angeles Times. July 12, 2008. Retrieved July 12, 2008.
  2. ^ Coleman, Janet (November 1, 1991). The Compass: the improvisational theatre that revolutionized American comedy. University of Chicago Press. p. 239. ISBN 978-0-226-11345-6. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d Bergan, Ronald (July 16, 2008). "Charles Joffe - Movie producer and a key player in the career of Woody Allen". The Guardian.
  4. ^ "Charles H. Joffe Biography (1929-)".
  5. ^ "Oscar-winning 'Annie Hall' producer Charles Joffe dies at 78". taiwannews.com. July 15, 2008. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  6. ^ Rochlin, Margy (June 23, 2002). "FILM; Just Like Her Family: Complicated". The New York Times.
  7. ^ "Charles H. Joffe". IMDb.
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