Sidney Kimmel (born 1929) is a film producer also working as such under the names Caesar Kimmel and Sydney Kimmel.[1] Some of his many films include Death at a Funeral and The Kite Runner.[1][2] He ranked number 655 in the Forbes list of the richest people alive, in 2010,[3] and is a noted philanthropist who recently donated $25 million to Stand Up To Cancer.
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Sidney Kimmel was born in 1929, in a Jewish family, and raised in Philadelphia.[4] He attended Temple University.[5] He now lives in California with his wife Caroline.
Kimmel founded Jones Apparel Group in 1970 while working at W. R. Grace and Company. Five years later, he purchased the company with a partner. Notable lines produced by Kimmel include: Jones New York, Evan-Picone, 9 West; licensing deals with Ralph Lauren. Stepped down as chief executive officer of Jones in 2002 but remains chairman of the board of directors; has sold most of his shares in the publicly-traded company. Today, he owns art, real estate, movie production outfit Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, and a small stake in the professional NBA basketball team Miami Heat.[5]
Kimmel is an active philanthropist especially with his work with the cure cancer movement. The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital[4] as well as the Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital carry his name.[6]
Throughout his philanthropic endeavours, Sidney Kimmel has both founded his own foundation, and donated towards others. His philanthropic focus has been towards healthcare, education, arts and culture. His goal has been to donate $1 billion in total throughout his lifetime.[7][8]
In 1993, Kimmel founded the Sidney Kimmel Foundation. The foundation's Cancer Research division pledged to contribute $120 million to institutions serving healthcare, education, arts and culture. Later, in 2001, the Sidney Kimmel Foundation for Cancer Research donated $150 million to Johns Hopkins University. The donation became the largest single gift ever received by the University, and was directed toward the development of a residence for cancer patients undergoing extended treatment. The gift inspired the university to name the residence the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. In total Kimmel has his name attached to four separate cancer-research centers in Philadelphia, San Diego and Baltimore.[7][8]
As of April 2003, Kimmel and the Sidney Kimmel Foundation had donated an estimated $400 million.[8]
Another cause that Kimmel has contributed towards, has been the center for the performing arts in Philadelphia, which is now named The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, and is home to the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra. All together Kimmel has donated $35 million to the Center.[7][8]
Other contributions from Kimmel include a $5 million donation to The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia; a $20 million donation to Raymond and Ruth Perelman Jewish Day School in Philadelphia and $25 million for the establishment of a new prostate and urological cancer center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York.[7]
In 2003 Kimmel pledged $25 million to The National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. The construction was said to have cost in total $100 million, and opened in 2006 on the museum's existing site facing Independence Mall.[7][8][9]
Founded in 2004, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, the Los Angeles-based production, finance and distribution company headed by veteran producer Sidney Kimmel, is focused on financing and producing high-profile, quality filmed entertainment projects for mainstream audiences.
SKE’s diverse upcoming slate includes SKE and Screen Gems remake of SKE’s 2007 production of the British comedy Death at a Funeral, which Frank Oz directed and MGM released. The new film, which recently completed principal photography, stars an ensemble cast of primarily black talent headed by Chris Rock, who also co-produced, co-wrote. Other cast members include Loretta Devine, Ron Glass, Danny Glover, Regina Hall, Martin Lawrence, James Marsden, Tracy Morgan, Zoe Saldana and Columbus Short. Neil LaBute directed. Screen Gems will release in 2010.
SKE, which launched in 2004, financed and/or produced or co-produced 17 motion pictures between 2004 and 2008, including such notable titles as The Kite Runner, United 93, Breach, Lars and the Real Girl, Adventureland, Death at a Funeral, and Synecdoche, New York.
Recently, the Company has announced the upcoming projects Old Timers (tentatively titled), a feature comedy to be directed by Jon Amiel; the comedy Cloudburst, starring Oscar winning actresses Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker, with production scheduled for a fall start in Nova Scotia. Thom Fitzgerald wrote and will direct the film; and a co-production with Greet Street Films and A Bigger Boat entitled Mixed Blood, a thriller to be directed by Phillip Noyce with Samuel Jackson set to star. Kelly Masterson has adapted the screenplay from the Roger Smith novel of the same name, which was published in mid 2009.[10] In addition, SKE recently acquired the spec script Sunflower, a taught thriller currently out to directors that the Company will co-produce with Vincent Newman Entertainment.
Recently SKE has forged a formal alliance with Nick Meyer’s newly formed company, Sierra Pictures, which will handle all foreign sales and servicing of future SKE titles.