Albert R. Broccoli
Broccoli was born into an Italian-American family on Long Island. The family moved to Florida, and on the death of his father Giovanni, Albert moved to live with his grandmother in Astoria, Queens in New York City.
Having worked many jobs, including spending some time as a casket maker, Albert became involved in the film industry. He started at the bottom working as a gofer on the 1941 film The Outlaw. Here he met Howard Hughes who oversaw production of the movie when the director Howard Hawks was fired.
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in late 1941, Albert joined the United States Navy, returning to Hollywood when peace was achieved in 1945 to work as an agent at the Famous Artists Agency.
At the beginning of the 1950s, Albert moved once more, this time to London. A shrewd businessman, he was able to make good use of the subsidy given by the British government to subsidise films made in the UK with British casts and crews.
Broccoli produced the first James Bond movie, Dr. No in 1962, and his involvement in the series continued until his death. His family, particularly daughter Barbara Broccoli and stepson Michael G. Wilson, have since stepped into his shoes.
Besides the Bond movies, Broccoli produced the Dick Van Dyke classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, from the book by James Bond author Ian Fleming and the Bob Hope film Call Me Bwana.
Broccoli died at his home in Beverly Hills.
Albert R. Broccoli Facts
Birth Name | Albert Romolo Broccoli |
Occupation | Producer |
Birthday | April 5, 1909 |
Sign | Aries |
Birthplace | New York, New York, USA |
Date of death | June 27, 1996 (age 87) |
Selected Filmography
Licence To Kill | ||
From Russia With Love | ||
The Man With the Golden Gun | ||
Fire Down Below | ||
Octopussy | ||
Live And Let Die | ||
Diamonds Are Forever | ||
The Living Daylights | ||
Goldfinger | ||
For Your Eyes Only | ||
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