Sam Raimi

Samuel Marshall Raimi (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; born October 23, 1959) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for directing the first three films in the Evil Dead franchise (1981–present) and the Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007). He also directed the superhero movie Darkman (1990), the revisionist western The Quick and the Dead (1995), the neo-noir crime thriller A Simple Plan (1998), the supernatural thriller The Gift (2000), the supernatural horror Drag Me to Hell (2009), the Disney fantasy Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), and the Marvel Studios film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).

His films are known for their highly dynamic visual style, inspired by comic books and slapstick comedy. He founded the production companies Renaissance Pictures in 1979 and Ghost House Pictures in 2002. Raimi has also produced several successful television series, including Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, its spin-off Xena: Warrior Princess, and Ash vs Evil Dead starring longtime friend and collaborator Bruce Campbell reprising his role in the Evil Dead franchise.

Early life

Raimi was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, to a Conservative Jewish family. He is a son of merchants Celia Barbara (née Abrams) and Leonard Ronald Raimi. His ancestors were Jewish immigrants from Russia and Hungary. His younger brother Ted is an actor, and his older brother Ivan is a screenwriter and physician. His older sister, Andrea Raimi Rubin, is a court reporter. Another older brother, Sander, died at 15 in an accidental drowning in Israel; Raimi has said that the trauma knitted the remaining family closer together and "colored everything he's done for the rest of his life." Raimi also mentioned that Sander first introduced him to Spider-Man, igniting his love for comics.

Raimi graduated from Groves High School and later went on to attend Michigan State University and later Università Bocconi in Milan, Italy, where he studied English but left after three semesters to film The Evil Dead.

Career

Film

Raimi became fascinated with making films when his father brought a movie camera home one day. He began to make Super 8 movies with his friend Bruce Campbell, whom he met in 1975. In college, he collaborated with his brother's roommate Robert Tapert and Campbell to shoot Within the Woods (1978), a 32-minute horror film which raised $375,000, as well as his debut feature film It's Murder!. During that time, he also shot the seven-minute short film Clockwork (1978), starring Scott Spiegel (who had appeared in Within the Woods) and Cheryl Guttridge. Through family, friends, and a network of investors, Raimi was able to finance production of the highly successful horror film The Evil Dead (1981), which became a cult hit and effectively launched Raimi's career.

He began work on his third film Crimewave (1985), which he co-wrote with the then-unknown Coen brothers, shortly after. Intended as a live-action comic book, the film was unsuccessful, partly due to unwanted studio intervention. Raimi then returned to the horror genre with the seminal Evil Dead II (which added slapstick humor to the over-the-top horror, showcasing his love of the Three Stooges). With his brother Ivan Raimi (and crediting himself as Celia Abrams), Sam Raimi also wrote Easy Wheels (1989), which parodied the Outlaw biker film genre. A long-time comic book buff, he then attempted to adapt "The Shadow" into a movie but was unable to secure the rights, so he created his own superhero, Darkman (1990). The film was his first major studio picture, and was commercially successful, spawning two sequels. Through it he was still able to secure funding for Evil Dead III, which was retitled Army of Darkness and largely steered away from horror towards fantasy and comedy elements. Army of Darkness, the final movie in the Evil Dead trilogy, commercially underperformed, yet on video became a cult classic.

In the 1990s, Raimi moved into other genres, directing such films as the western The Quick and the Dead (starring Sharon Stone and Gene Hackman), the critically acclaimed crime thriller A Simple Plan (1998) (starring Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton), and the romantic drama For Love of the Game (1999) (starring Kevin Costner).

Raimi has frequently collaborated with Joel and Ethan Coen, beginning when Joel was one of the editors of Evil Dead. The Coens co-wrote Crimewave and The Hudsucker Proxy with Raimi in the mid-1980s (though Hudsucker was not produced for almost a decade). Raimi made cameo appearances in Miller's Crossing, The Hudsucker Proxy, and with Joel Coen in Spies Like Us. The Coen brothers gave Raimi advice on shooting in snow for A Simple Plan, based on their experiences with Fargo.

Raimi has worked in front of the camera in The Stand as a dimwitted hitman, John Carpenter's Body Bags as a murdered gas station attendant, and Indian Summer in what is perhaps his biggest role as a bumbling assistant to Alan Arkin. The film was written by his childhood friend, writer-director Mike Binder, and shot at the camp that they both attended when they were younger.

File:Sam Raimi by David Shankbone (2).jpg

Raimi in 2007

Raimi achieved great critical and commercial success with the blockbuster Spider-Man (2002), which was adapted from the comic book series of the same name. The movie grossed over US$800 million worldwide, spawning two sequels: Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3, both directed by Raimi and each grossing approximately $800 million. After the completion of the third Spider-Man film, he planned on producing two more sequels (although Sony Pictures planned three sequels) but could not find a satisfactory script. In 2022, reflecting on Spider-Man 3, Raimi told Rolling Stone: "It was a very painful experience for me. I wanted to make a Spider-Man movie to redeem myself for that. [The aborted] Spider-Man 4 — that was really what that was about. I wanted to go out on a high note. I didn't want to just make another one that pretty much worked. I had a really high standard in my mind. And I didn't think I could get that script to the level that I was hoping for by that start date." He, along with Marc Webb, were both brought on as creative consultants for Marvel Studios' Spider-Man: No Way Home, directed by Jon Watts.

Raimi produced the entire English-language The Grudge franchise, based on the original Japanese films. On December 11, 2006, the website SuperHero Hype reported that director Sam Raimi and Michael Uslan would co-produce a new film version of The Shadow for Columbia Pictures. On October 16, 2007, Raimi stated that: "I don't have any news on The Shadow at this time, except that the company that I have with Josh Donen, my producing partner, we've got the rights to The Shadow. I love the character very much and we're trying to work on a story that'll do justice to the character." According to Entertainment Weekly, Raimi had expressed an interest in directing a film version of The Hobbit, the prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In 2008, it was reported Guillermo del Toro would direct with Peter Jackson as the executive producer, though Jackson ultimately directed The Hobbit film series. In 2008, it was reported Raimi might direct By Any Means Necessary, the next film based on the "Jack Ryan" CIA character created by Tom Clancy for Paramount Pictures. Disney also approached him to direct W.I.T.C.H.: The Movie, based on the popular comic.

Raimi directed the horror film Drag Me to Hell, released in 2009 to critical acclaim. Blizzard Entertainment announced on July 22, 2009, that Raimi would be directing a film adaptation of the Warcraft video game series, but at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con, it was revealed that he would not be the director.

File:Drag Me to Hell ComicCon panel.jpg

Raimi (far left) at the Drag Me to Hell film discussion panel at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con

In 2009, it was reported Raimi would produce the British supernatural thriller Refuge, which would be directed by Corin Hardy and published by Mandate Pictures, and the remake of the Danish thriller The Substitute, which would be directed by Scott Derrickson, under his new label Spooky Pictures. In 2010, it was reported he would produce the British thriller flick Burst 3D with his company Ghost House Pictures, directed by Neil Marshall.

Raimi directed Oz the Great and Powerful, which was released on March 8, 2013, by Walt Disney Pictures and grossed $493 million worldwide. He said he would not be directing the planned sequel.

Raimi, along with Bruce Campbell and Rob Tapert, produced the remake of Raimi's Evil Dead. First-time feature filmmaker Fede Álvarez wrote and directed, and Diablo Cody was also brought in to revise/rewrite the script. Raimi confirmed plans to write Evil Dead 4 with his brother; it was later specified that this film would be Army of Darkness 2. Álvarez revealed that Raimi would direct the sequel to Army of Darkness. However, in a 2014 interview, Bruce Campbell announced that Army of Darkness 2 is not happening, saying "It's all internet b.s. There's no reality whatsoever. These random comments slip out of either my mouth, or Sam Raimi's mouth, next thing you know, we're making a sequel."

File:Sam Raimi (14586619450).jpg

Raimi speaking at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con

On February 26, 2016, it was confirmed that Raimi was attached to direct the upcoming film World War 3 for Warner Bros. The film would be based on a possible future inspired by the book The Next 100 Years by George Friedman.

On February 16, 2017, it was reported that Raimi would be directing a thriller about the Bermuda Triangle for Skydance Media, with the script being written by Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard.

By January 29, 2018, Raimi was set to direct the first in the movie adaptations of Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicle series, The Name of the Wind, with Rothfuss and Lin-Manuel Miranda serving as executive producers.

On February 5, 2020, it was announced that Raimi was in talks with Marvel Studios to direct Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Raimi confirmed his involvement in April 2020. This marked Raimi's return to the superhero film genre after more than 15 years following Spider-Man 3 in 2007 and his first feature film directorial effort since 2013's Oz the Great and Powerful.

Television

In addition to film, Raimi has worked in television, producing such series as Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and its spin-off Xena: Warrior Princess, both featuring his younger brother Ted Raimi and long-time friend Bruce Campbell, American Gothic, Cleopatra 2525, M.A.N.T.I.S., 13: Fear Is Real, Young Hercules, and Jack of All Trades. In 2008, Raimi executive-produced a syndicated TV series called Legend of the Seeker, based on Terry Goodkind's best-selling The Sword of Truth fantasy series. He also executive produced the Starz original television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, Spartacus: Vengeance and Spartacus: War of the Damned. He directed the pilot episode of Ash vs Evil Dead for Starz.

Personal life

In 1993, Raimi married Gillian Greene, the daughter of Canadian actor Lorne Greene. They have five children; their three eldest, daughter Emma Rose and sons Lorne and Henry, appeared as extras in Drag Me to Hell and during the final battle in Spider-Man 3. Greene filed for divorce on May 8, 2024, citing irreconcilable differences.

Political donations

In 1995, Raimi donated $450 to the campaign of then-Republican Senator Arlen Specter. In 2002, he donated $1,000 to Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer. During the 2004 election cycle, Raimi donated $900 to Republican President George W. Bush.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Director	Writer	Producer	Notes
1977	It's Murder!	Yes	Yes	Yes	Amateur film; also uncredited editor and sound mixer
1981	The Evil Dead	Yes	Yes	Executive
1985	Crimewave	Yes	Yes	No
1987	Evil Dead II	Yes	Yes	No
1989	Easy Wheels	No	Yes	No	Credited as "Celia Abrams"
1990	Darkman	Yes	Yes	Executive
1992	The Nutt House	No	Yes	No	Credited as "Alan Smithee Jr."
	Army of Darkness	Yes	Yes	No	Also editor (credited as "R.O.C. Sandstorm")
1994	The Hudsucker Proxy	2nd unit	Yes	No
1995	The Quick and the Dead	Yes	No	No
1998	A Simple Plan	Yes	No	No
1999	For Love of the Game	Yes	No	No
2000	The Gift	Yes	No	No
2002	Spider-Man	Yes	No	No
2004	Spider-Man 2	Yes	No	No
2005	Man with the Screaming Brain	No	Story	No	Credited as "R.O.C. Sandstorm"
2007	Spider-Man 3	Yes	Yes	No
2009	Drag Me to Hell	Yes	Yes	No
2013	Oz the Great and Powerful	Yes	No	No
2021	Spider-Man: No Way Home	No	No	No	Creative Consultant
2022	Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness	Yes	No	No
2026	Send Help	Yes	No	Yes

Producer only Year Title Director 1994 Timecop Peter Hyams 2004 The Grudge Takashi Shimizu 2005 Boogeyman Stephen T. Kay 2006 The Grudge 2 Takashi Shimizu 2007 The Messengers The Pang Brothers 30 Days of Night David Slade 2012 The Possession Ole Bornedal 2013 Evil Dead Fede Álvarez 2014 Murder of a Cat Gillian Greene 2015 Poltergeist Gil Kenan 2016 Don't Breathe Fede Álvarez 2019 Crawl Alexandre Aja 2020 The Grudge Nicolas Pesce 2021 The Unholy Evan Spiliotopoulos Don't Breathe 2 Rodo Sayagues Nightbooks David Yarovesky 2022 Umma Iris K. Shim 2023 65 Scott Beck Bryan Woods Boy Kills World Moritz Mohr 2024 Don't Move Adam Schindler Brian Netto 2025 Locked David Yarovesky 2026 Evil Dead Burn Sébastien Vaniček TBA Play Dead Jaume Collet-Serra

Executive producer only Year Title Director Notes 1989 The Dead Next Door J. R. Bookwalter 1991 Lunatics: A Love Story Josh Becker 1993 Hard Target John Woo 1995 Darkman II: The Return of Durant Bradford May Direct-to-video 1996 Darkman III: Die Darkman Die 1998 Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus Lynne Naylor Young Hercules T.J. Scott 2002 Xena: Warrior Princess – A Friend in Need Robert G. Tapert 2007 Rise: Blood Hunter Sebastian Gutierrez 2023 Evil Dead Rise Lee Cronin

Acting roles

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1977	It's Murder!	Uncle Jasper
1981	The Evil Dead	Hitchhiker	Uncredited
1983	Hefty's	Cook No. 2
1985	Spies Like Us	Drive-in guard No. 2
1987	Evil Dead II	Knight hailing Ash	Uncredited
	Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except	Cult leader
1988	Maniac Cop	News Reporter
1989	Intruder	Randy
1990	Miller's Crossing	Snickering Gunman
	Maniac Cop 2	Newscaster
1992	Innocent Blood	Roma Meats Man
	Army of Darkness	Knight in Sweatshirt and Sneakers	Uncredited
1993	Indian Summer	Stick Coder
	Body Bags	Dead Bill	Segment: "The Gas Station"
1994	The Hudsucker Proxy	Hudsucker Brainstormer
	Template:Sortname	Cliff Vandercave Look-A-Like
1995	Galaxis	Nervous Official
2002	Spider-Man	Popcorn-Throwing Wrestling Fan	Offscreen
2009	Drag Me to Hell	Ghost at Seance	Uncredited
2013	3 Geezers!	Sam
2016	The Jungle Book	Giant Squirrel	Voice role

Short film

Year	Title	Director	Writer	Producer	Notes
1972	Out West	Yes	Yes	No	Also cinematographer
1975	The Great Bogus Monkey Pignuts Swindle	Yes	No	No
1976	Uncivil War Birds	Yes	No	No
	The James R. Hoffa Story, Part II	Yes	No	No
	Mystery No Mystery	Yes	No	No
	Attack of the Pillsbury Doughboy	Yes	No	No
1977	The Happy Valley Kid	Yes	No	No
	Six Months to Live	Yes	No	No
	Picnic	Yes	No	No
	Civil War Part II	Yes	No	No
1978	Within the Woods	Yes	Yes	Executive	Also editor
	Clockwork	Yes	Yes	Yes
1979	William Shakespeare: The Movie	Yes	No	No
1985	The Sappy Sap	Yes	No	No
2017	The Black Ghiandola	Yes	No	No

Acting roles

Year	Title	Role
1978	Attack of the Helping Hand	Milk Man
	Shemp Eats the Moon	Angelo the Knife
1982	Cleveland Smith: Bounty Hunter	Nazi

Television

Year	Title	Director	Writer	Executive Producer	Creator	Notes
1994–1997	M.A.N.T.I.S.	No	Story	Yes	Yes	Wrote story for "Pilot"
1995–2001	Xena: Warrior Princess	No	No	Yes	Developer
1997	Spy Game	No	No	Yes	Yes
2008–2010	Legend of the Seeker	No	No	Yes	Yes
2014	Rake	Yes	No	Yes	No	2 episodes
2015Template:Ndash2018	Ash vs Evil Dead	Yes	Yes	Yes	Developer	Wrote and directed episode: "El Jefe"
2020	50 States of Fright	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	3 episodes

Executive producer only

Year	Title	Notes
1994	Hercules and the Lost Kingdom	TV movie
	Hercules and the Circle of Fire
	Hercules in the Underworld
	Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur
1995–1996	American Gothic
1995–1999	Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
1998–1999	Young Hercules
2000	Jack of All Trades
2000–2001	Cleopatra 2525
2009	13: Fear Is Real
2010	Zombie Roadkill
2011	Spartacus: Gods of the Arena
2013	Spartacus: War of the Damned

Acting roles

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1993	Journey to the Center of the Earth	Collins	TV movie
1994	The Stand	Bobby Terry	Miniseries
1997	The Shining	Gas Station Howie

Awards and nominations

Year	Association	Category	Work	Result	Ref.
1982	Sitges Film Festival	International Critics' Award	The Evil Dead	Template:Won
1990		Best Director	Darkman	Template:Won
1992		Honorary Time Machine Award	—	Template:Won
	Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival	Golden Raven	Army of Darkness	Template:Won
	Avoriaz International Fantastic Film Festival	Grand Prize		Template:Nominated
	Fantasporto	Critics Award		Template:Won
1999	Cognac Festival du Film Policier	Special Jury Prize	A Simple Plan	Template:Won
2001	Saturn Awards	The George Pal Memorial Award	—	Template:Honored
2003		Best Director	Spider-Man	Template:Nominated
2005	Empire Awards	Best Director	Spider-Man 2	Template:Won
2005	Saturn Awards	Best Director		Template:Won
2007	Scream Awards	Best Director	Spider-Man 3	Template:Nominated
2008	Saturn Awards	Best Director		—
2014	Comic-Con	Inkpot Award	—	Template:Honored
2016	Motion Picture Sound Editors	Filmmaker Award	—	Template:Honored

See also

• Sam Raimi's unrealized projects

External links

• Template:Trim/ Template:PAGENAMEBASE at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidata