William N. Panzer

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William N. Panzer

Born 1942
New York City, New York, United States
Died March 18, 2007
Boise, Idaho, United States
Education Princeton University, New York University Film School[1]
Occupation Film and television producer

William N. Panzer (1942 – March 18, 2007), usually referred to as Bill Panzer, was an American television and movie producer best known as one half of Davis-Panzer Inc,[2] the production company behind the Highlander franchise.

Panzer was born in New York City and educated at Princeton University.[2] He then attended the New York University Film School,[2] and worked as a cameraman and film editor, then produced television commercials at VPI.[1] In 1968, still at NYU,[2] he produced the feature documentary Mexican Anticipation starring Duke Ellington. Panzer then partnered Phos Cine Productions in New York, making commercials[2] and industrial films for seven years.[1]

In 1976, Panzer moved to Los Angeles and partnered with Peter Davis to found David-Panzer Productions.[2][1] They produced more than twenty films, including The Osterman Weekend (1983, directed by Sam Peckinpah), Death Collector with Joe Pesci, Stunts, and Freeway (1988 film).[2]

Panzer had been a familiar figure at the Cannes Film Festival since 1982.[2]

This company also made the Highlander franchise,[1][2] which comprises five movies, two television series, animated features and video games. Panzer co-wrote screenplays for three Highlander movies,[2] was Executive Producer of Highlander: The Series, which were nominated twice for the Gemini Awards in 1996 and once for a Saturn Award in 1998. Panzer regularly attended Highlander conventions, where he mingled with fans and was very popular.[2]

Panzer was a member of BAFTA and the Television Academy. His wife was Priscilla Panzer.[2]

He died in 2007 of an aneurysm[2] following a head injury sustained from a fall.

There is a scholarship fund in his name at the Lawrenceville School in Princeton, New Jersey.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Highlander: The Series - The Producers at Rysher.com. Archived from the original on 2000-10-12.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Variety.com staff (2007-03-26). William Panzer, 64, producer - Filmmaker worked on Highlander franchise - Obituary at Variety.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.

[edit] External links

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