Lawrence Alan "Larry" Kasanoff (born June 1, 1959) is an American film producer who founded the Vestron Pictures genre subsidiary Lightning Pictures in 1986,[1] Lightstorm Entertainment with James Cameron in 1990, and Threshold Entertainment in 1993.

Lawrence Kasanoff
Born
Lawrence Alan Kasanoff

(1959-06-01) June 1, 1959 (age 65)
Other namesLarry Kasanoff
EducationCornell University (BA)
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (MBA)
OccupationFilm producer
Websitelarrykasanoff.com/

Career

edit

Kasanoff graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and later received a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Pennsylvania.[2]

He is known for films such as the Mortal Kombat movie franchise including the 1995 Mortal Kombat, its 1997 sequel Mortal Kombat Annihilation and its spin-off series Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm and Mortal Kombat: Conquest. He became involved with the franchise after working on Terminator 2 with Lightstorm Entertainment, which was overtaken by Mortal Kombat as the most successful arcade game in 1993. His company Threshold Entertainment was started with the purpose of producing the first Mortal Kombat film and other Mortal Kombat media spin-offs.[3] Kasanoff later served as executive producer of the 2021 reboot of Mortal Kombat.

Other films produced by Kasanoff include Blood Diner, Blue Steel, True Lies, and Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers. He also directed and produced the 2012 Threshold Entertainment animated film Foodfight!, which was originally intended to be released in 2003.

In 2023, Kasanoff released a self-help book titled A Touch of the Madness: How to Be More Innovative in Work and Life… by Being a Little Crazy.[4]

Filmography

edit

Films

edit
Year Film Role Notes
1987 Party Camp Executive producer
Blood Diner
The Underachievers Role: Studio Exec
The Beat
1988 You Can't Hurry Love
Dangerous Curves
1989 Dream a Little Dream
C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D.
Far from Home
She's Back
1990 Blue Steel [5]
Class of 1999
A Gnome Named Gnorm
Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College Direct-to-video
1994 True Lies [5]
1995 Mortal Kombat Producer [5]
Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins Direct-to-video
Strange Days Executive producer [5]
1996 Mortal Kombat: Live Tour Director
1997 Mortal Kombat Annihilation Producer, Story [5]
1999 Beowulf Producer
2009 Bionicle: The Legend Reborn Executive producer Direct-to-video
2011 Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers
2012 Marvel Super Heroes 4D Short
Foodfight! Producer, director, screenwriter Voice of Cheasel T. Weasel[6]
2015 Ocean Quest: The Immersive Adventure Executive producer
Mindfulness: Be Happy Now Producer, director Documentary
2020 Bobbleheads: The Movie Producer
2021 Mortal Kombat Executive producer

Television

edit
Year Film Role Notes
1991 The Making of 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' Executive producer Documentary
1995 Mortal Kombat: Behind the Dragon
1996 Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
1998–1999 Mortal Kombat: Conquest
2003 The Afterlife TV movie
2010 Lego Atlantis: The Movie TV Short
2011–2013 Hero Factory
2012 Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out TV Short
2013 Rockin' Rounds
3 Rounds With

References

edit
  1. ^ "CAN FILMMAKING SAVE VESTRON'S HOME VIDEO?". Chicago Tribune. 18 June 1987. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  2. ^ "Embrace The Crazy With A Touch Of The Madness with Larry Kasanoff! / SpeakIn".
  3. ^ 2022 Larry Kasanoff interview [1]
  4. ^ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735748/a-touch-of-the-madness-by-lawrence-kasanoff/ [bare URL]
  5. ^ a b c d e "Larry kasanoff´s page".
  6. ^ "Lawrence Kasanoff (Visual voices guide)".
edit