Biography
Casey Silver, former Chairman and CEO of Universal Pictures, is a distinguished leader in the motion picture industry with a career spanning multiple decades and notable achievements across production, distribution, and executive leadership. Beginning his career as a screenwriter, Silver made his entry into production when he served as assistant to director Adrian Lyne on Flashdance. He then moved into the director of development and production for Simpson-Bruckheimer Productions, where he played an instrumental part in developing Beverly Hills Cop and Top Gun-two of the most successful films of the era.
At Universal Pictures, Silver oversaw all major domestic divisions, including production, marketing, and distribution. On the international side he supervised all activities concerning Universal's partnerships with United International as well as all domestic distribution activities through it's partnership with October Films. Additionally, Silver oversaw Universal Studios Home Video, Universal Pictures Animation and Visual Effects, and Universal Family & Home Entertainment Production, including Universal Cartoon Studios.
Under his leadership, Universal produced a remarkable slate of critically acclaimed films, including Schindler's List, Shakespeare in Love, Apollo 13, Jurassic Park, Casino, Out of Sight, Field of Dreams, Twelve Monkeys, Do The Right Thing, Scent of a Woman, Born of the Fourth of July, Dazed and Confused, Midnight Run, American Pie and Gladiator-securing Universal's place as one of Hollywood's most influential studios.
Prior to joining Universal, Silver served as Vice President and later Senior Vice President of Production at TriStar Pictures.
Silver's venture into producing extended to the small screen, where he served as executive producer on Netflix's first original limited series Godless-a seven-part cinematic event from filmmaker Scott Frank (Queen's Gambit, Out of Sight, Get Shorty). Nominated for 11 Primetime Emmy Awards, Godless won three, including Outstanding Supporting Actress and Actor for Merritt Wever and Jeff Daniels.
Through his own production company, Casey Silver Productions, he produced several notable films, including The Highwaymen starring Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson, Hidalgo starring Viggo Mortensen, Ladder 49 with Joaquin Phonex and John Travolta, Leatherheads starring George Clooney and John Krasinki, and The Forbidden Kingdom starring Jet Li and Jackie Chan.
With his long-standing creative partnership with filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, Silver has developed and produced several projects that include No Sudden Move starring Don Cheadle and Benecio del Toro and Full Circle a limited series starring Zazie Beatz and Claire Danes, Timothy Olyphant and Jharrel Jerome, which Silver served as executive producer. Additionally, Silver executive produced Mosaic, a transmedia project starring Sharon Stone directed by Soderbergh.
Their latest collaboration is the Soderbergh-directed feature film Black Bag, a sophisticated thriller set in the world of British intelligence and hosts an impressive cast that includes Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Rege-Jean Page, Naommie Harris, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke and Pierce Brosnan.
