Hank Moonjean


Hank Moonjean was an American film producer, executive producer, and associate producer. His production credits included Dangerous Liaisons, Child's Play, and The Great Gatsby and several movies featuring Burt Reynolds. Moonjean and film producer Norma Heyman jointly received an Academy Award for Best Picture nomination for the 1988 dramatic film, Dangerous Liaisons.

Life and career

Moonjean, who was Armenian American, was born in Evanston, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Southern California. He answered an employment ad from MGM Studios soon after graduation from USC and became an uncredited assistant director for the 1954 film, Bhowani Junction, directed by George Cukor. He worked for MGM for eight years. He became a second director for numerous MGM films while at the studio: Blackboard Jungle, The Prodigal, It's Always Fair Weather, Love Me or Leave Me, The Tender Trap, I'll Cry Tomorrow, A Catered Affair, Kismet, Tea and Sympathy and Raintree County.
Moonjean collaborated to produce or co-produce many films starring Burt Reynolds, including The End in 1978, Hooper in 1978, Smokey and the Bandit II in 1980, Paternity in 1981, Sharky's Machine in 1981, and Stroker Ace in 1983.
In 2008, Moonjean released his memoir, Bring In The Peacocks: Memoirs Of A Hollywood Producer. He also donated an extensive collection of film advertisements to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Hank Moonjean died from pancreatic cancer at his Hollywood Hills residence on October 7, 2012, at the age of 82. He was survived by his partner of 53 years, Bradley Bennett.

Filmography

All films, he was producer unless otherwise noted.

Film

;Second unit director or assistant director
YearFilmRoleNotes
1955Blackboard JungleAssistant director
Uncredited
1955Love Me or Leave MeAssistant director
Uncredited
1955KismetAssistant director
Uncredited
1956Somebody Up There Likes MeAssistant director
Uncredited
1956High SocietyAssistant director
Uncredited
1956Lust for LifeSecond assistant director
Uncredited
1956The Teahouse of the August MoonAssistant director
Uncredited
1957Raintree CountyAssistant director
Uncredited
1957Until They SailAssistant director
Uncredited
1957Jailhouse RockAssistant director
Uncredited
1958GigiAssistant director: France
Uncredited
1958Cat on a Hot Tin RoofAssistant director
Uncredited
1959The Diary of Anne FrankAssistant director: Netherlands
Uncredited
1959Never So FewAssistant director
Uncredited
1960Tall StoryAssistant director
1960BUtterfield 8Assistant director
1961FannyAssistant director
Uncredited
1962Sweet Bird of YouthAssistant director
1963Drums of AfricaAssistant director
1963The PrizeAssistant director
1964The Unsinkable Molly BrownAssistant director
1965The Money TrapAssistant director
1965A Patch of BlueAssistant director
1967Cool Hand LukeAssistant director
1968The Odd CoupleAssistant director
1968The Secret Life of an American WifeAssistant director
1969The April FoolsAssistant director
1970MoveAssistant director
1970WUSAAssistant director
1972Child's PlayAssistant director

;Miscellaneous crew
YearFilmNotes
1970MoveAssistant to the producer
1972Pocket MoneyProduction representative

;Production manager
YearFilmNotes
1970MoveUnit production manager

Television

;As writer
YearTitle
1959The David Niven Show