Biografia
Peters made his Hollywood debut in Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments (1956), portraying the boy on the donkey crossing the Red Sea. He grew up as a tough kid, spending much of his youth in and out of reform school. At 14, Peters joined the family hairdressing business. With a natural talent for self-promotion, he built a large celebrity clientele at his popular Jon Peters Salon on Rodeo Drive, earning millions through sales of the salon’s cosmetic products. Gaining the trust of the rich and famous who confided only in their hairdressers, Peters became well-versed in Hollywood’s inner workings. In 1973, he fell for his client Barbra Streisand and took on managing her early music and film career. He produced her 1976 remake of A Star Is Born, which grossed over $100 million and earned four Oscar nominations, including the award-winning song “Evergreen.” Peters continued producing a series of successful Streisand albums and films such as The Main Event, The Eyes of Laura Mars, and Caddyshack, establishing himself as a top-tier producer for more than three decades.
In 1980, Peters partnered with former Casablanca Records and Filmworks executive Peter Guber; along with Neil Bogart, they founded Polygram Productions, later renamed the Boardwalk Company. After multiple mergers and acquisitions, Guber-Peters emerged in 1983. Their bold willingness to take substantial financial risks turned them into Hollywood prodigies, especially following the critical and commercial triumphs of Missing (1982), Flashdance (1983), The Color Purple (1985), Witches of Eastwick (1987), Gorillas in the Mist (1988), and Rain Man (1989). Guber-Peters expanded into television by acquiring Chuck Barris Productions, known for The Gong Show, The Dating Game, and The Newlywed Game, forming Guber-Peters-Barris. Their biggest gamble paid off with Batman (1989), which secured them a multi-million-dollar seven-year contract with Warner Bros. Shortly after, Sony Corporation enticed them with a $1 billion offer to take on executive roles.
Peters later founded Peters Entertainment, producing blockbuster hits such as Batman Returns, Wild Wild West, Ali, and Superman Returns. Over his career, Peters has earned more than 254 nominations and won numerous Oscars, Golden Globes, and Grammys. His productions have grossed over $6 billion worldwide and continue to grow with two Superman sequels and a remake of A Star Is Born underway. Peters is the proud father of five children: Christopher, Caleigh, Jordan, Skye, and Kendyl. Through the Peters Family Foundation, he supports a wide range of youth charities, including the Christopher Reeve Foundation, Life Rolls On, Homeboy Industries, My Friend's Place, Cambodian Children's Fund, Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation, Heartfelt Foundation, The Laurence School, the Sheriff's Youth Foundation, and many others.
