Ted Demme

[ichabodius]

Ted Demme

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Ted Demme (October 26, 1963 â?? January 13, 2002), born in New York, New York, was an American film director and producer. He grew up in Rockville Centre on Long Island, New York and attended South Side Senior High School. He was the nephew of movie producer and director Jonathan Demme. His career had modest beginnings â?? starting as a production assistant at MTV, he later created the cable network's seminal hip-hop show Yo! MTV Raps and directed other projects for them, including the infamous black-and-white rants starring then-unknown chain-smoking comedian Denis Leary. His best known films were The Ref, starring Leary and Kevin Spacey, and Blow which featured Johnny Depp as George Jung (a high-profile drug dealer during the 1970s).
Over the course of his career, he established a group of actors that he chose to work with on more than one occasion. The most frequently used of these was Denis Leary, who he directed as a lead or star in No Cure for Cancer, The Ref, Denis Leary: Lock 'n Load, and Monument Ave.. Leary also worked as producer on the film Blow. Other actors he frequently used included:

• Noah Emmerich in Beautiful Girls, Monument Ave., Life, and (a cut scene in) Blow,
• Max Perlich in Beautiful Girls and Blow, and
• Adam LeFevre in The Ref and Beautiful Girls.

On January 13, 2002, while playing a game of basketball, Demme collapsed and died of a heart attack which may have been related to cocaine later found in his system during an autopsy. After his death, his wife, Amanda Scheer Demme, opened â??celebrityâ?� bars in Hollywood, including "Teddy's" at the Roosevelt Hotel â?? not named after her late husband, but rather the former president.
Kevin Spacey tipped a glass to his late friend at the 59th Golden Globe Awards on January 20, 2002 to a full house of film and television professionals, in tribute to Demme.

Selected filmography

• Who's the Man? (1993)
• The Ref (aka Hostile Hostages) (1994)
• Beautiful Girls (1996)
• Monument Ave. (1998)
• Life (1999)
• Blow (2001)

[RaRaRamona]

When I saw his name I wondered if he was related to Jonathan. I loved "the Ref" and "Blow".

[Warmed Over]

Homicide was a great series, especially the earlier seasons, and he directed a bunch of those episodes. Sucks that he died so young.

[lisalouver]

When I saw his name I wondered if he was related to Jonathan. I loved "the Ref" and "Blow".

Oh Blow was just about one of my favorite movies ever.

I love the part where Johnny Depp walks through the airport wearing the white outfit!

[Sharmika]

When I saw his name I wondered if he was related to Jonathan. I loved "the Ref" and "Blow".

If I'm not mistaken, they were brothers...

[Linnythepooh]

No, Jonathan is his uncle.

[RaRaRamona]

Yeah, it says in the first post he's his uncle.

Johnny Depp is always hot - & crazayzay.

[hoxharding]

I really enjoyed The Ref-great film.

[Mrs F]

There was a show on IFC called "Dinner for Five" that Jon Favereau hosted. One episode it was only 4 guests, they said someone could not make it. Turns out Michael Rappaport (who was in Ted's adorable movie "Beautiful Girls") was supposed to be the 5th guest but was with Ted when he fell out at the basketball court. So sad. So young. Had a very young child.

[RaRaRamona]

There was a show on IFC called "Dinner for Five" that Jon Favereau hosted. One episode it was only 4 guests, they said someone could not make it. Turns out Michael Rappaport (who was in Ted's adorable movie "Beautiful Girls") was supposed to be the 5th guest but was with Ted when he fell out at the basketball court. So sad. So young. Had a very young child.

That is sad. I love Favreau, but I never did watch that show.

[Mrs F]

It was a really interesting show, it is out on DVD now. The first few were really great, everyone was a smidge nervous and got really drunk really quickly. There was an insanely uncomfortable moment between Rod Steiger and Sarah Silverman. He was trying to pay her a compliment by saying she looked like Geraldine Chaplin (she does!). Sarah tried to make a joke and Rod just stared at her blankly for what felt like forever.