Biography

An independent filmmaker and screenwriter in Hollywood, David Sheldon is best known for writing and producing "Grizzly" for Film Ventures and Columbia Pictures that was a phenomenal success and grossed 52 times the cost of the production. It was the top-grossing independent film of the year, at the top of the charts in Variety, and broke box-office records in Japan and Germany. When it went to network television (ABC), it earned the highest rating, a 34 share. David has a long list of commercially successful credits to his name, either as a writer, producer, director, executive producer, or production executive.

Born in Far Rockaway, New York, David grew up in Bellport, Long Island on a farm and estate on which his parents owned and operated a country resort hotel called The Gateway. The main building was in a four-story mansion designed by architect Stanford White. His older sister Sally Harris, then an off-Broadway actress, started a summer stock theater in the family barn which was also designed by Stanford White. At the age of 17, David began directing and acting in the plays. For over ten years, he acted, directed, and produced over 50 plays and musicals.

Between summers at the theater, David earned an MFA degree from Yale University, School of Drama, and has been a member of the Directors Unit at the Actors Studio in New York. At his theater, he met and married aspiring actress Joan McCall who was spotted there by the renowned talent agent George Goldsmith. She immediately starred on Broadway in "A Race of Hairy Men" by Evan Hunter, followed by "Barefoot in the Park" and "Star-Spangled Girl" written by Neil Simon and directed by Mike Nichols.

Working in conjunction with talent scout Joyce Selznick, David's theater became the Columbia Pictures Talent Farm. His productions starred such actors as Robert Duvall, Geraldine Page, Ken Howard, and Gene Hackman. He also directed screen tests for Columbia in New York. His outstanding work was acclaimed in featured articles in Newsweek and the New York Times.

Desiring to switch to movies, David and Joan moved to Hollywood where David began his film career as Director of Development for Lawrence A. Gordon at American International Pictures (AIP) where David was a production executive on such pictures as "Dillinger," "Sisters," "Macon County Line," "The Reincarnation of Peter Proud", "Logan's Run", "Walking Tall", "Boxcar Bertha", "Truck Turner," "Coffy," and "The Last House on the Left." He was executive producer of "Abby" and "The Get-Man," and writer of the final draft of "Foxy Brown."

When Larry Gordon moved on to become President of Columbia Pictures, David joined Mid-America Pictures as an equal partner with William Girdler. Their first film together was "Sheba, Baby" starring Pam Grier. David then wrote and produced "Project: Kill" and "Grizzly" and was executive producer of "Day of the Animals" and "The Manitou," all with Girdler directing. When Girdler was killed in a location-scouting accident in the Philippines, Mid-America Pictures folded. David then wrote the story of "The Evil" for Roger Corman at New World Pictures. He produced "Just Before Dawn" for Picturmedia, and "Lovely But Deadly" for Juniper Releasing. He subsequently formed a production company called Hollywood West Inc. in partnership with producer Phil Feldman who as president of First Artists and produced "Blue Thunder," "The Toy," "A Star is Born", and "The Getaway."

During most of the above, David's wife Joan McCall acted in "Act of Vengeance" and "Project: Kill," and starred in "Devil Times Five" and "Grizzly." Moving on to screenwriting, she wrote "Heart Like a Wheel" and "Grizzly II" and over 250 scripts for "Days of Our Lives," "Search for Tomorrow," "Another World," "Santa Barbara," "Capitol", and "Divorce Court."

After Phil Feldman died, David and Joan created a new production company, Hollywood West Entertainment, in which they are active as screenwriters and producers. They are co-authors of "When I Knew Al: The Untold Story of Al Pacino," published by Harbor House.

- IMDb mini biography by: William Meringoff