Gary Goetzman


Gary Michael Goetzman is an American film and television producer and actor, and co-founder of the production company Playtone with actor Tom Hanks.

Life and career

Born in Los Angeles, Goetzman began his career as a child actor. He had starred in the film Yours, Mine and Ours with Lucille Ball, appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, and eventually started a waterbed company and a pinball arcade. Goetzman at one time delivered a waterbed to Jon Peters's home. His exploits as a performer and a salesman inspired his friend Paul Thomas Anderson's 2021 film Licorice Pizza.
In 1984, he produced the Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense with director Jonathan Demme. That initiated a successful run as a music supervisor, on such films as Something Wild, Colors, Modern Girls, and Married to the Mob; among many others. In 1991, producer Goetzman and director Demme again collaborated to make The Silence of the Lambs, which garnered the top five Academy Awards including Best Picture.
In 1993, Goetzman was executive producer of Demme's Philadelphia, starring Tom Hanks, beginning a working relationship with Hanks. Goetzman co-produced Hanks's 1996 directorial debut, That Thing You Do! The two then co-founded Playtone in 1998. Since then, Goetzman has produced hit films including My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Polar Express, Charlie Wilson's War, and Mamma Mia! Goetzman has also received several Emmy Awards for HBO mini-series Band of Brothers, The Pacific, John Adams, Game Change, and Olive Kitteridge.
Aside from producing films, Goetzman has been known to play small parts in movies he is connected to.
He has also enjoyed a successful parallel career as a music composer and producer, working with such artists as Smokey Robinson, Natalie Cole, Jane Child, Thelma Houston, and The Staples Singers.
He currently sits on the National board of directors for the Producers Guild of America.
Goetzman is executive producer of the CNN exclusive documentary miniseries The Sixties, The Seventies, The Eighties, and The Nineties.

Filmography

He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

ProducerModern Girls Miami Blues Amos & Andrew Devil in a Blue Dress That Thing You Do! Beloved My Big Fat Greek Wedding The Polar Express The Ant Bully Starter for 10 Charlie Wilson's War The Great Buck Howard Mamma Mia! City of Ember Where the Wild Things Are Larry Crowne Parkland Ricki and the Flash My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 A Hologram for the King The Circle Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Greyhound News of the World A Man Called Otto My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3
Executive producerThe Silence of the Lambs Philadelphia Evan Almighty My Life in Ruins Ithaca
;As an actor
YearFilmRoleNotes
1967Divorce American StyleJonathan Harmon
1968Yours, Mine and OursGreg Beardsley
1974Caged HeatSparkyUncredited
1977Handle with CareRV Salesman
1979Last EmbraceTour Guide
1980Melvin and HowardMelvin's Cousin Fred
1981The Incredible Shrinking WomanNewscaster
1981Bustin' LooseStore Manager
1984Swing Shift'Swing Shift' Bandleader
1986Modern GirlsUndercover Cop
1986Something WildGuido Paonessa
1988And God Created WomanAl Lawrence
1988Married to the MobThe Guy at the Piano
1990Miami BluesHotel Desk Clerk
1991The Silence of the LambsGuido PaonessaUncredited
1993Family PrayersIrate Driver
1993PhiladelphiaGuido Paonessa

;Music department
YearFilmRole
1982Jinxed!Radio source music
1984Swing ShiftLyricist: Additional original songs
1986Something WildMusical consultant
1988And God Created WomanMusic supervisor
1988ColorsMusic consultant
1988Married to the MobMusic supervisor
1988The Prince of PennsylvaniaMusic supervisor
1989Lost AngelsMusic supervisor
1989Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly HillsMusic supervisor
1989Little MonstersMusic supervisor
1990A Shock to the SystemMusic supervisor
1990CatchfireMusic supervisor
1990The Hot SpotMusic supervisor
1990Reversal of FortuneMusic supervisor
1991Queens LogicMusic supervisor
1991Point BreakMusic supervisor
1991Until the End of the WorldMusic supervisor
1992FreejackMusic supervisor

;Soundtrack
YearFilmRole
1984Heavenly BodiesProducer: "At Last You're Mine"
1985Police Academy 2: Their First AssignmentProducer: "Temporary Insanity"
Writer: "Dirty Work"
1985Just One of the GuysWriter: "Gone Too Far"
1985Fright NightProducer: "Boppin' Tonight"
Writer: "Boppin' Tonight"
1986Thrashin'Producer:
"Don't Think Twice"
"Dancin' in Jamaica"
Writer:
"Arrow Through My Heart"
"Dancin' in Jamaica"
1986Something WildLead vocal: "Before the Next Teardrop Falls"
1988Dominick and EugeneWriter:
"Game of Love"
"Lucky at Love"
1990Miami BluesWriter:
"Island Blues"
"Floatin'"
1993PhiladelphiaPerformer: "All the Way"
1996That Thing You Do!Writer:
"Mr. Downtown"
"Voyage Around the Moon"
"Hold My Hand, Hold My Heart"
"Will You Marry Me?"
2000Big Momma's HouseWriter: "Radio"

;Production manager
YearFilmRole
1974Caged HeatUnit manager

;Thanks
YearFilmRole
1991Straight Out of BrooklynThanks
1991Fires WithinSpecial thanks
2002The Truth About CharlieVery special thanks
2005The Wedding DateThanks
2008Surfer, DudeVery special thanks
2009I Hate Valentine's DaySpecial thanks
2014Inherent ViceThank you
2018Hotel ArtemisSpecial thanks
2019A Beautiful Day in the NeighborhoodThe producers wish to thank
2021Licorice PizzaSpecial thanks

Television

;As an actor
YearTitleRoleNotes
1965McHale's NavyTonio
1979Hot RodSecurity GuardTelevision film
1978−80FamilySteven / Sam
2012Electric City

;Soundtrack
YearTitleRole
1984Kidd VideoWriter: "Video Romeo"

;Miscellaneous crew
YearTitleRoleNotes
2014The Concert for ValorTribute film executive producerTelevision special
2023A Grammy Salute to the Beach BoysFor: Tom HanksTelevision special

;Thanks
YearTitleRoleNotes
2012POVSpecial thanks
2021A Night in the Academy MuseumFilmmaker acknowledgementTelevision special