Background
Randal Kleiser was born on July 20, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States to the family of Harriet Kelly Means and John Raymond Kleiser. He grew up in the Pennsylvania Dutch community in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
1978
Los Angeles, California, United States
Randal Kleiser between Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta during the dance contest scene.
1980
Fiji
Randal Kleiser with Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins in Fiji.
1980
Fiji
Randal Kleiser shooting "The Blue Lagoon" with Nestor Almendros.
1984
Pontiac, Illinois, United States
Randal Kleiser and Patrick Swayze in "Grandview USA"
1984
Pontiac, Illinois, United States
Randal Kleiser shooting "Grandview USA".
2006
Los Angeles, California, United States
Randal Kleiser and Henry Cavill in his first American film, "Red Riding Hood".
Radnor High School, Wayne, Pennsylvania, United States
Randal Kleiser studied at Radnor High School.
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
Randal Kleiser attended the University of Southern California earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968 and Master of Arts degree in 1974.
(Based on a true story, Tod Lubitch is born with a deficie...)
Based on a true story, Tod Lubitch is born with a deficient immune system (which is unlike being born with AIDS). As such, he must spend the rest of his life in a completely sterile environment. His room is completely hermetically sealed against Bacteria and Virus, his food is specially prepared, and his only human contact comes in the form of gloved hands.
https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Plastic-Bubble-John-Travolta/dp/B019D89KA0/?tag=2022091-20
1976
(Edward portrays Adam and Maureen is his estranged wife Ka...)
Edward portrays Adam and Maureen is his estranged wife Kate in a beloved holiday classic that celebrates the tender power of forgiveness and the profound gift of family love.
https://www.amazon.com/Gathering-Edward-Asner/dp/B00C3F0VXQ/?tag=2022091-20
1976
(John Travolta solidified his position as the most versati...)
John Travolta solidified his position as the most versatile and magnetic screen presence of the decade in this film version of the smash hit play Grease. Recording star Olivia Newton-John made her American film debut as Sandy, Travolta's naive love interest. The impressive supporting cast reads like a "who's who" in this quintessential musical about the fabulous '50s. Grease is not just a nostalgic look at a simpler decade - it's an energetic and exciting musical homage to the age of rock 'n' roll!
https://www.amazon.com/Grease-Randal-Kleiser/dp/B001CTGQBK/?tag=2022091-20
1978
(In the sequel to "Pee Wee's Big Adventure", Pee-Wee Herma...)
In the sequel to "Pee Wee's Big Adventure", Pee-Wee Herman is a simple farmer in a small town. But soon a big storm blows their way. A circus ends up at Pee Wee's farm. So he lets the circus stay at his farm for a while. The circus decides to put on a show with one lovable star, Pee-Wee!
https://www.amazon.com/Big-Top-Pee-Wee-Paul-Reubens/dp/B0015L5BJS/?tag=2022091-20
1988
(Jenny (Amanda Bynes) has worshipped rock idol Jason Maste...)
Jenny (Amanda Bynes) has worshipped rock idol Jason Masters (Chris Carmack) for as long as she can remember. Jenny takes a summer job working at Jason's favorite resort on the tropical island of St. Lucas. Jenny sneaks onto an exclusive cruise in order to get close to him but during a sudden storm Jenny and Jason are tossed overboard, and on a tiny raft they wash ashore. Help is nowhere to be found - but Jenny assures Jason that she can take care of them -and since Jason hurt his leg, he's stuck on the beach as Jenny sets up camp.
https://www.amazon.com/Lovewrecked-Amanda-Bynes/dp/B003HIJ9GI/?tag=2022091-20
2005
(Red Riding Hood: Lainie Kazan, Henry Cavill, Morgan Thomp...)
Red Riding Hood: Lainie Kazan, Henry Cavill, Morgan Thompson, Sam Oz Stone, Daniel Roebuck, Debi Mazar, Joey Fatone, Donzaleigh Abernathy, Andrea Bowen, Mary Jo Catlett, Jackson Englund, David Kaufman, Randal Kleiser, D. Scott Easton, David Borg, Dessie Markovsky, Greg McDonald, Jacob Grimm, Timothy Dolan, Wilhelm Grimm: Gateway.
https://www.amazon.com/Red-Riding-Hood-Lainie-Kazan/dp/B000EXDS4S/?tag=2022091-20
2007
(George Lucas & Randal Kleiser in association with USC Sch...)
George Lucas & Randal Kleiser in association with USC School of Cinematic Arts present Nina Foch Course for Filmmakers and Actors a masterpiece DVD, culled from over 200 hours of footage from Academy Award nominee Nina Foch's legendary USC class, this two-set DVD is the perfect and must have resource for any student of the performing arts and filmmaking as well as for any professionals involved in writing, directing, producing, acting.
https://www.amazon.com/Nina-Foch-Course-Filmmakers-Actors/dp/B004BW9EVO/?tag=2022091-20
2010
Actor director producer screenwriter author
Randal Kleiser was born on July 20, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States to the family of Harriet Kelly Means and John Raymond Kleiser. He grew up in the Pennsylvania Dutch community in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
Randal Kleiser studied at Radnor High School. He attended the University of Southern California earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968 and Master of Arts degree in 1974. His award-winning Master’s Thesis film there, „Peege“, not only launched his film making career but was selected by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Registry in 2007. Kleiser studied under a key mentor, Nina Foch, whose teachings have been influential in his own Master Workshops throughout Europe.
Randal Kleiser has been an internationally known film director since the release of his first feature, Grease (1978). Other features include The Blue Lagoon (1980) with Brooke Shields, Summer Lovers (1982) starring Peter Gallagher and Daryl Hannah, Grandview, U.S.A. (1984) with Jamie Lee Curtis, Flight of the Navigator (1986), featuring the first use of digital morphing in a motion picture; Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992) and White Fang (1991). In London, he directed the critically acclaimed comedy Getting It Right (1989) starring Lynn Redgrave, Helena Bonham Carter, Jane Horrocks, and Sir John Gielgud. In 1996 he wrote and directed It's My Party (1996) starring Eric Roberts, Gregory Harrison, Lee Grant, Bruce Davison, and Marlee Matlin.
As a writer-producer, Kleiser was responsible for the surfing classic North Shore (1987) for Universal Pictures. He also directed the thriller Shadow of Doubt (1998) with Melanie Griffith and Tom Berenger. Working in 70mm 3-D, he directed Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (1994), which drew record crowds at the Disney Theme Parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Tokyo, and Paris. His television movies include The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976) with John Travolta; the Emmy Award-winning The Gathering (1977) and Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway (1976).
As a freshman at the University of Southern California, Kleiser appeared in George Lucas' first student film, Freiheit (1966). Kleiser's award-winning Master's thesis film, Peege (1973), launched his professional career. He has taught a graduate production workshop at Kleiser and Master Directing Classes for European students at film festivals in Deauville and Sarlat, and Malaga. Kleiser serves as a judge on the Student Awards for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and as chairman of the Academic Subcommittee for the Directors Guild of America, he inaugurated a videoconferencing program to connect film classes with working directors. Working with the Graphics Lab at University of Southern California's Institute for Creative Technologies, Kleiser has co-invented a digital Cinerama-like process called Vistarama HD and developed "Silver Metal Lover" for Dimension Pictures. In 2005 he directed Amanda Bynes for Lovewrecked (2005), shot in the Caribbean. Two years later Kleiser came up with an original musical movie shot on virtual sets, Red Riding Hood (2006), starring Joey Fatone and Lainie Kazan.
Kleiser has spent several years working with George Lucas to create The Nina Foch Course for Filmmakers and Actors (2010), an instructional video for aspiring actors, writers, and filmmakers.
Randal Kleiser wrote and directed the 360-degree Virtual Reality series Defrost: The Virtual Series, featuring Carl Weathers, Bruce Davison and Harry Hamlin which was shown at the Sundance Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival in 2016.
Kleiser serves on the Sci-Tech Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. At the Directors Guild of America, Kleiser chairs the annual Digital Day presentation and serves on the National Board.
Kleiser currently resides in Los Angeles.
(George Lucas & Randal Kleiser in association with USC Sch...)
2010(Red Riding Hood: Lainie Kazan, Henry Cavill, Morgan Thomp...)
2007(Edward portrays Adam and Maureen is his estranged wife Ka...)
1976(John Travolta solidified his position as the most versati...)
1978(Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins star as shipwrecked...)
1980(Based on a true story, Tod Lubitch is born with a deficie...)
1976(Jenny (Amanda Bynes) has worshipped rock idol Jason Maste...)
2005(In the sequel to "Pee Wee's Big Adventure", Pee-Wee Herma...)
1988(Classic tale of the friendship between a hunter and a dog...)
1991(A boy is destined for an extraordinary adventure aboard a...)
1986(An inventor accidentally zaps his son, causing his child ...)
1992
Quotations:
"I try to get the script onto film in an entertaining way. If there's any style, that's for other people to analyze because I don't consciously try to say, "Now, I'll give it this look." I try to go with the feel a script should have. When I do get into a darker film, I'll try to execute that as best I can, too. I don't consciously go into a project thinking that I'm now going to put my stamp on it."
"I would actually like to do a hard-edged picture and I'm trying to find one. The problem is that, like actors, directors get typecast. Because I've done funny, uplifting-type films, that's what I'm offered."
"I never knew they had made a film of "The Blue Lagoon" before (with Jean Simmons in 1948). I hadn't seen it. It was Henry DeVere Stacpoole's book that inspired me; the images seemed so perfect for cinema. So we're not remaking the earlier version, we're doing our version of the novel."
While filming Summer Lovers in Greece in 1982, Kleiser met Harry Stein (1954-1993), an on-location production assistant also working on the movie. The two men subsequently embarked on a relationship that lasted eight years until the death of Stein.