Jon Avnet


Jonathan Michael Avnet is an American director, writer, and producer.
Avnet was born in Brooklyn, the son of Joan Bertha and Lester Francis Avnet, a corporate executive with Avnet founded by his paternal grandfather, Charles Avnet. He has two siblings, Carole Avnet Rocherolle and Rosalind Avnet Lazarus. He attended Great Neck North High School in Great Neck, New York. He entered the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania, and he earned a B.A. degree in film and theater arts from Sarah Lawrence College in 1971. He is Jewish.
Avnet addressed political issues with his fourth film Red Corner in 1997, a movie about the Chinese legal system, starring Richard Gere and Bai Ling. Because of Gere's presence and support for Tibet and the Dalai Lama, they could not film in China, and instead filmed in Southern California. Avnet, however, did film a few scenes in Beijing and included some footage of actual Chinese executions.

Personal life

Avnet has been married to the artist Barbara Brody since 1975. They have three children, Alexandra Avnet Costantino, Jacob Avnet, and Lily Avnet; and six grandchildren.

Filmography

Television
Broadway Plays
  • Spamalot
  • The Pillowman
  • The History Boys
  • The Seafarer
  • ''The Country Girl''