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Jeff Kleeman

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Jeff Kleeman
Born
La Jolla, California, U.S.
Alma materYale University
Occupationstudio executive
Years active1987–present

Jeff Kleeman is an American studio executive who led the revival[1] of United Artists’ James Bond franchise.[2] He is credited with developing and overseeing the films GoldenEye,[3] Tomorrow Never Dies and The World is Not Enough.[1] Kleeman was also head of Robert Redford’s production company, Sundance Productions[4] and president of comedian Ellen DeGeneres’s production company A Very Good Production.[5]

Early life and education

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Kleeman grew up in La Jolla, California.[6] He attended Yale University,[7] graduating in 1986.[8]

Career

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Kleeman’s film career began in 1987 as an executive assistant to the president of production at Paramount,[9] where he worked on The Hunt for Red October, Star Trek 6 and other films.[10]

In 1993, he left his role as president of production for Francis Ford Coppola’s production company, American Zoetrope[11] to become vice president of production at United Artists.[11] At United Artists, he developed and oversaw the 1995 film Hackers,[12] Leaving Las Vegas[9] and The Thomas Crown Affair.[10] Kleeman was also enlisted to manage the revival of United Artists’ James Bond franchise.[2] He oversaw the production and development of the films GoldenEye, released in 1995,[3] and Tomorrow Never Dies, released in 1997.[1] When MGM absorbed United Artists in 1999, Kleeman joined MGM and continued his tenure as production executive of the Bond franchise for the film The World is Not Enough.[1]

In January 2000,[13] Kleeman became the head of Robert Redford’s production company, Sundance Productions.[4]

In 2008 he became president of director David Dobkin’s production company, Big Kid Pictures.[14] Kleeman executive produced Friends with Benefits (TV series),[15] and films The Change-Up,[16] The Judge[17] and Vacation.[18]

In 2012, Kleeman became president of comedian Ellen DeGeneres’s production company A Very Good Production, where he produced 26 series, specials and movies,[19] including the Netflix animated series Green Eggs and Ham.[6]

In May 2023, independent film company Bold Films made Kleeman its CEO.[5]

Personal life

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Kleeman is married.[20] He has prosopagnosia, a neurological disorder that causes face blindness.[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Field, Matthew; Chowdhury, Ajay (2015). Some Kind of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films. The History Press. ISBN 9780750966504.
  2. ^ a b Fordy, Tom (8 August 2022). "How GoldenEye made the world believe in Bond again". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b McGown, Andrew (14 November 2025). "'GoldenEye' at 30: How the 1995 Film Kicked Off Pierce Brosnan's 007 Era and Reinvented James Bond as a Post-Cold War Hero". Variety. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  4. ^ a b Biskind, Peter (2004). Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance, and the Rise of Independent Film. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780684862590. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  5. ^ a b Manfredi, Lucas (14 April 2023). "Bold Films Taps Jeff Kleeman as CEO Following Gary Michael Walters Exit". The Wrap. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  6. ^ a b Berg, Madeline (14 November 2020). "How Dr. Seuss Got Rich In A Very Grinch-Like Year". Forbes. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  7. ^ Schneider, Aninne (3 December 1985). "'Realm of Senses' draws crowd". Yale Daily News. According to Jeff Kleeman '86, director of the Yale Film Society,
  8. ^ Heaslip, Kaela (25 June 2025). "YAA Board of Governors Welcomes Eight New Members for a Three-Year Term". Yale Alumni. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  9. ^ a b Karon, Paul (30 November 1997). "UA boosts Kleeman to prod'n exec veep". Variety. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  10. ^ a b Kilday, Gregg (22 October 2007). "Kleeman rejoins UA prod'n". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  11. ^ a b "United Artists Names Jeff Kleeman as Production VP". The Los Angeles Times. 8 October 1993. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  12. ^ Berkowitz, Joe (11 May 2025). "30 years ago, 'Hackers' and 'The Net' predicted the possibilities—and horrors—of internet life". Fast Company. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  13. ^ "Redford production company fades to black". The Star-Ledger. 24 March 2001. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  14. ^ McNary, Dave (26 August 2008). "Jeff Kleeman to parent Big Kid". Variety. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  15. ^ Schneider, Michael (14 May 2010). "NBC makes it official: Picks up another four series, including one from Conan". Variety. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  16. ^ Chang, Justin (2 August 2011). "The Change-Up". Variety. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  17. ^ McCarthy, Todd (4 September 2014). "'The Judge': Toronto Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  18. ^ McNary, Dave (21 April 2015). "'Vacation' Sequel Draws Big Laughs at CinemaCon". Variety. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  19. ^ Hod, Itay (26 March 2015). "Inside Ellen's Empire: How the Queen of Daytime Is Conquering Hollywood". The Wrap. Retrieved 25 August 2025. Jeff Kleeman, head of DeGeneres' production company, A Very Good Production, told TheWrap
  20. ^ a b Buckland, Danny (4 March 2023). "Mum, 65, lives with neurological disorder that makes her forget other people's faces". The Mirror. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
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