James "Jim" Jacks (December 29, 1947 – January 20, 2014) was an American film producer, having produced the first Hollywood films of Richard Linklater, Joel and Ethan Coen (the Coen Brothers), and Kevin Smith.
Born December 29, 1947, Jacks grew up in a military family. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and from Cornell University with an MBA. He was working as a Wall Street financial analyst when he decided to be a screenwriter. Unsuccessful, he became head of production at Circle Films in the early- to mid-1980s and then senior vice-president of production at Universal Studios from the late-1980s into the early-1990s. In 1992, he became an independent producer with Alphaville Films, which he co-founded with Sean Daniel as a retooling of Daniel's former self-named production company. He left Alphaville Films in 2006 and formed Frelaine Productions.
Jacks died on January 20, 2014, of a heart attack at his Los Angeles home at the age of 66.
Selected filmography He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.
Film Year Film Credit Notes Other notes 1987 Raising Arizona Executive producer 1993 Dazed and Confused Heart and Souls Executive producer Hard Target Tombstone 1995 Village of the Damned Co-executive producer Mallrats 1996 Michael 1997 The Jackal 1998 A Simple Plan 1999 The Mummy 2000 The Gift 2001 Down to Earth The Mummy Returns Rat Race Executive producer 2002 The Scorpion King Dark Blue 2003 The Hunted Intolerable Cruelty Executive producer 2008 The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior Direct-to-video 2012 The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption Executive producer Direct-to-video 2015 The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power Executive producer Direct-to-video Posthumous release 2018 The Scorpion King: Book of Souls Executive producer Direct-to-video Posthumous release Final film
Thanks
Year Film Role 1995 Mallrats The director would like to thank: For treating us like the Coens as opposed to the twenty-something know-nothings we really are 2000 Attention Shoppers Special thanks 2016 Everybody Wants Some!! In remembrance: A guy who loved movies
Television Year Title Credit Notes 1996 Don't Look Back Executive producer Television film 2001 Attila Executive producer
References
External links
Rest in Peace, Mr. Mallrats... by Kevin Smith James Jacks at Find a Grave