Biography
Producer and occasional screenwriter Debra Hill worked on many popular and highly regarded films, most notably as the producer of
Terry Gilliam's acclaimed
The Fisher King (1991), which received five Oscar nominations and one Best Supporting actress award for co-star
Mercedes Ruehl. The classic slasher movie
Halloween, which Hill produced and co-wrote with director
John Carpenter, also remains a high point in her career. In addition to her extensive work in feature films, she was heavily involved in productions for such premium cable television networks as HBO and Showtime. As producer of the Showtime movie series Rebel Highway, she won nominations for eight Cable ACE awards. Her television credits include the HBO movies
El Diablo and a remake of
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, as well as the NBC special The Disneyland 35th Anniversary Special. In 1985, Hill teamed up with friend and colleague
Lynda Obst and founded Hill/Obst Productions, which was responsible for
Fisher King and other films, including
Adventures in Babysitting (1987). Debra Hill died after a long fight with cancer on March 7, 2005. Her final film as a producer,
Oliver Stone's 9/11 drama
World Trade Center, was scheduled to arrive onscreen less than sixth months after the prolific producer's untimely death. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide