Who is Renny Harlin? See Net-worth, Quote, Awards, Fact, Wiki

Lauri Mauritz Harjola Wiki Biography

Renny Harlin (born Lauri Mauritz Harjola; 15 March 1959) is a Finnish film director and producer. His films include A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, The Long Kiss Goodnight and Deep Blue Sea.Harlin’s movies have earned $506,543,064 in the United States as of January 2013, making him the 87th highest-grossing director in the American market. His film Cutthroat Island held the Guinness world record for “Biggest Box-Office Flop of All Time”. 

Full Name Renny Harlin
Net Worth $10 Million
Date Of Birth March 15, 1959
Place Of Birth Riihimäki, Finland
Height 6′ 4″ (1.93 m)
Profession Director, Producer, Actor
Education Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Nationality Finnish
Spouse Geena Davis
Children Luukas Mattison Mauritz
Parents Oiva Harjola, Liisa Harjola
Siblings Veli-Pekka Harjola
IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001317
Awards Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature, Lifetime Achievement Jussi
Movies Skiptrace, The Legend of Hercules, Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, Deep Blue Sea, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Cutthroat Island, The Devil’s Pass, The Covenant, 5 Days of War, Mindhunters, 12 Rounds, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, Exorcist: The Beginning, Driven, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane…
Trademark
1 Includes references to Finland, his country of birth [Finland]
Title Salary
Mannerheim 700,000 EUR
Cutthroat Island (1995) $3,000,000
Cliffhanger (1993) $3,000,000
Die Hard 2 (1990) $750,000
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) $100,000
Born American (1986) $10,000
Quote
1 [on writing for Hollywood] I don’t want accidents I want disasters. I don’t want dirt, I want filth. I don’t want a storm, I want a hurricane. I don’t want fear, I want panic. I don’t want suspense, I want terror. I don’t want humor, I want hysteria.
2 In Europe, film making is perceived as an art form with marginal business possibilities, and in the US, film making is a business with marginal artistic possibilities.
3 “Soon, a hundred million dollars is going to be a normal budget for an action picture. That size picture is in the works at every studio.” (Precognitively, after seeing Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), USA Today, August 1, 1991).
Fact
1 “Don’t Look Now” is his favorite film.
2 In 1997 he was going to direct Frequency (2000) for New Line Cinema, but allegedly the film got in trouble after Sylvester Stallone asked too much for playing the lead. Eventually film was directed by Gregory Hoblit and starring Dennis Quaid.
3 On May 29, 1991 Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat wrote that Finnish director Renny Harlin had signed a contract with Paramount to direct the new film adaptation of The Saint (1997) with Robert Evans producing. Eventually the film was directed by Phillip Noyce.
4 In a interview film in 1990 Harlin told about his future projects. He was going to shoot after “Die Hard 2” (1990) a modern remake of Humphrey Bogart film “Key Largo” (1948). Film was titled “Gale Force”, but was never made. After “Gale Force” he was going to film “Torpedo” titled gangster film which would have been set in 1939 New York, but this film was never made either. He dreamed it would have become his “Godfather” film. After those two films he planned to make the “Fade” with Steven Spielberg producing. Film would have told a story about teenage boy growing up in a small town in 1940’s. Spielberg had offered him the film by sending him the book the script was based on.
5 Mario Kassar and Renny made two films together, Cliffhanger (1993) and Cutthroat Island (1995). Cliffhanger (1993) resulted to a box office success while Cutthroat Island (1995) on the other hand resulted to a massive flopped. Which also resulted that Mario’s production company Carolco Pictures bankrupted because of the loss of money for the film.
6 His film Cutthroat Island (1995) resulted in as a massive failure because of the loss of money. The budget of the film was $92 million however the box office of the film was $10,017,322. As a result, the executive producer of the film Mario Kassar’s production company, Carolco Pictures declared bankruptcy. This film also earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest loss of money for a film company ever.
7 Was offered the chance to direct GoldenEye (1995) but turned it down because he felt he had made enough sequels.
8 Mario Kassar thought Harlin was ideal director for “Gale Force,” a film about hurricanes and starring Sylvester Stallone. After Harlin didn’t accept the first offer, Kassar started offering more and more money, and in its way, it changed the pay scale of Hollywood directors. “Gale Force” was never made but, instead, Harlin directed Cliffhanger (1993).
9 Worked as an commercial and company film director before directing his first feature film.
10 As a child he went to see Alfred Hitchcock films with his mother.
11 One of his favorite movies is The Wild Bunch (1969).
12 A 14-year-old Renny Harlin wanted to became a film director after he saw Don Siegel and Charles Bronson in Helsinki while they were making the film Telefon (1977).
13 In 2006, Harlin was hired to direct a biography of Finnish Marshall and president Gustaf Mannerheim. The film is going to be produced by his old friend Markus Selin who produced his first film. The two men had announced initial plans as early as 2001. For a long time, there were major problems with funding, and the production was stopped. However, now the film has been rescheduled, and Mikko Nousiainen has been named as the leading star. The budget is estimated to be at around 10-14 million euros, which would make it the most expensive movie in Finnish film history.
14 Thinks The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) is his best film.
15 Said that Deep Blue Sea (1999) was the most difficult film he had ever made (1999).
16 Was offered to direct Speed (1994) but turned it down. Job went to Jan de Bont. The film was financially successful.
17 Was originally slated to direct Outlander (2008).
18 Does a director’s commentary for the DVDs of every single one of his movies.
19 He got a medal (“Kultainen ansiomerkki”) from Finnish WWII veterans in 2004. He helped to organize “Kiitoksen paikka” concert which collected money to secure treatment and help to the old war veterans. Harlin said that helping the defenders of Finland is much more important that his other achievements.
20 He is a friend of Sylvester Stallone.
21 In 2001, he bought an apartment from former Formula One driver Eddie Irvine.
22 Was perhaps the first mainstream, American-based filmmaker to use Toronto for big-budget locational and shooting purposes (something that has become very commonplace for American films nowadays) with his film The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996).
23 Had 2 films open one week apart in 1990: The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990) and Die Hard 2 (1990).
24 Edited his 1990 Fox films The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990) and Die Hard 2 (1990) at the same time.
25 Father of child born (in August 1997) to personal assistant Tiffany Bowne, who worked with the director on Speechless (1994), Cutthroat Island (1995) and The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996).
26 When he was starting out in Hollywood, he would travel via the city bus system with reels of his work to show studio executives.
27 Worked on Alien³ (1992) for over a year and asked to leave the project after not being satisfied with any script and wanted to do something completely different, and the next day was offered The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990) by Joel Silver.

Director

Title Year Status Character
Legend of the Ancient Sword pre-production
Jue di tao wang 2016
The Legend of Hercules 2014
Graceland 2013 TV Series 3 episodes
Devil’s Pass 2013
Covert Affairs 2012 TV Series 1 episode
White Collar 2012 TV Series 1 episode
Burn Notice 2011-2012 TV Series 4 episodes
5 Days of War 2011
12 Rounds 2009
Cleaner 2007
The Covenant 2006
Exorcist: The Beginning 2004
Mindhunters 2004
Driven 2001
T.R.A.X. 2000 TV Movie
Deep Blue Sea 1999
Making the Video 1999 TV Series documentary video “Deepest Bluest”
The Long Kiss Goodnight 1996
Cutthroat Island 1995
Gladiaattorit 1994 TV Series
Cliffhanger 1993
The Adventures of Ford Fairlane 1990
Die Hard 2 1990
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master 1988
Prison 1987
Born American 1986
Kohtauspaikka 33 1981 TV Short documentary as Lauri Harjola
Huostaanotto 1980 Short as Lauri Harjola

Producer

Title Year Status Character
The Legend of Hercules 2014 producer
Devil’s Pass 2013 producer
5 Days of War 2011 producer
The Resident 2011 executive producer
Mindhunters 2004 executive producer
Driven 2001 producer
Blast from the Past 1999 producer
Mistrial 1996 TV Movie executive producer
The Long Kiss Goodnight 1996 producer
Cutthroat Island 1995 producer
Gladiaattorit 1994 TV Series producer
The Foot Shooting Party 1994 Short executive producer
Speechless 1994 producer
Cliffhanger 1993 producer
Rambling Rose 1991 producer
Fat Boys: Are You Ready for Freddy 1988 Video short executive producer – uncredited
Prinsessa joka nukkui 100 vuotta 1981 Short executive producer – uncredited
Kohtauspaikka 33 1981 TV Short documentary producer

Actor

Title Year Status Character
The Legend of Hercules 2014 Officer Linus
12 Rounds 2009 Air Traffic Control (voice, uncredited)
Driven 2001 Replacement Driver
Susi rajalla 2000 TV Series Etsivä Multanen
Deep Blue Sea 1999 Worker (uncredited)
Cutthroat Island 1995 Pirate with Rifle (uncredited)
Raptori Moe! 1990 Vieraileva tähti Café Metropolissa
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master 1988 Student in Classroom (uncredited)
Born American 1986 Man’s Voice from Ship’s Loudspeakers (voice, uncredited)
Läpimurto 1981 Short Poliisi (uncredited)

Writer

Title Year Status Character
The Legend of Hercules 2014
Gladiaattorit 1994 TV Series writer
Prison 1987 uncredited
Born American 1986 written by
Huostaanotto 1980 Short as Lauri Harjola

Cinematographer

Title Year Status Character
Jos minä olisin aikuinen 1981 Short as Lauri Harjola
Posliinikissa 1981 Short as Lauri Harjola

Camera Department

Title Year Status Character
Läpimurto 1981 Short assistant camera – as Lauri Harjola

Stunts

Title Year Status Character
Born American 1986 stunt double – uncredited

Thanks

Title Year Status Character
Teit meistä kauniin 2016 thanks
The Italian Key 2011 very special thanks
HBO First Look 2001 TV Series documentary producers gratefully acknowledge – 1 episode
When Sharks Attack! 1999 TV Short documentary thanks

Self

Title Year Status Character
Saturday Night Live 2016 TV Series Himself – Host / Various Characters
Yökylässä Maria Veitola 2015 TV Series Himself
Posse 2014 TV Series Himself
Hard Time, the Making of Prison 2013 Video documentary short Himself
Decoding Die Hard 2013 Video documentary Himself
Fear Himself: The Life and Crimes of Freddy Krueger 2012 Video short Himself
Arto Nyberg 2007-2011 TV Series Himself
Alien 3: Enhancement Pods 2010 Video documentary Himself
Ajankohtainen kakkonen 2010 TV Series Himself
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy 2010 Video documentary Himself – Director
Cinema 3 2009 TV Series Himself
The Continuing Adventures of John McClane 2007 Video documentary short Himself
Breaking the Silence: Exposing the Covenant 2007 Video documentary short Himself
Biography 2006 TV Series documentary Himself – Director, Mindhunter
Mindhunters: A Director’s Walk Through Crime Town 2005 Video short Himself
Mindhunters: Stunt Sequence 2005 Video short Himself
Profiling ‘Mindhunters’ 2005 Video short Himself
Exorcist: The Beginning – Behind the Scenes 2005 Video documentary short Himself
4Pop 2003-2004 TV Series documentary Himself
Hyppönen Enbuske Experience 2004 TV Series Himself
E! True Hollywood Story 2004 TV Series documentary Himself
MTV3 Live: Kiitoksen paikka-konsertti 2004 TV Movie documentary Himself – Special Guest
Yokotai 2004 TV Series Himself
The Making of ‘Alien³’ 2003 Video documentary Himself
Kirvesmiehet 2001 TV Series Himself
HBO First Look 2001 TV Series documentary Himself
A Personal Introduction from Renny Harlin 2000 Video documentary short Himself
The Sharks of the Deep Blue Sea 1999 Video documentary short Himself
Sen kväll med Luuk 1999 TV Series Himself
Joonas Hytönen show 1999 TV Series Himself
Making the Video 1999 TV Series documentary Himself
When Sharks Attack! 1999 TV Short documentary Himself
Johtaja Uuno Turhapuro – pisnismies 1998 Himself
Gomorron 1996 TV Series Himself
Late Night with Conan O’Brien 1996 TV Series Himself
Movie Magic 1994-1996 TV Series documentary Himself
A Night to Die for 1995 TV Short documentary Himself
The 66th Annual Academy Awards 1994 TV Special Himself – Audience Member
Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger 1993 TV Short documentary Himself
Hyvät herrat 1992 TV Series Himself
Ringside 1992 Documentary
Slash & Burn: The Freddy Krueger Story 1991 TV Movie documentary Himself
The 15th Annual Women in Film Crystal Awards 1991 TV Special Himself
Die Harder: The Making of ‘Die Hard 2’ 1990 TV Short documentary Himself
Die Hard 2: Breaking the Ice 1990 Video short Himself
Die Hard 2: Interview with Renny Harlin 1990 Video short Himself
Die Hard 2: The Bad Guys – Villains’ Profile 1990 Video short Himself
Luonteita: Renny Harlin 1990 TV Movie documentary Himself
Ruutulippu 1990 TV Series Himself (2000-2005)
The Making of ‘Die Hard 2’ 1990 Video short Himself
The Making of ‘Nightmare on Elm Street IV’ 1989 TV Movie documentary Himself
TV-uutiset ja sää 1986 TV Series Himself
A-studio 1985 TV Series Himself
Kohtauspaikka 33 1981 TV Short documentary Himself (voice, uncredited)

Archive Footage

Title Year Status Character
Cinemassacre’s Monster Madness 2011 TV Series documentary Student in Classroom
Lamastalgia 2010 TV Series Himself
Arto Nyberg 2007 TV Series Himself

Won Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
2013 Titra Film Award Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival The Dyatlov Pass Incident (2013)
1992 Independent Spirit Award Independent Spirit Awards Best Feature Rambling Rose (1991)
1991 Lifetime Achievement Jussi Jussi Awards

Nominated Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
2015 Razzie Award Razzie Awards Worst Director The Legend of Hercules (2014)
2013 Narcisse Award Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival Best Feature Film The Dyatlov Pass Incident (2013)
2005 Razzie Award Razzie Awards Worst Director Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)
2002 Razzie Award Razzie Awards Worst Director Driven (2001)
2001 Stinker Award The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards Worst Sense of Direction (Stop them before they direct again!) Driven (2001)
1996 Razzie Award Razzie Awards Worst Director Cutthroat Island (1995)
1994 Razzie Award Razzie Awards Worst Picture Cliffhanger (1993)
1991 Razzie Award Razzie Awards Worst Director The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990)
1990 Saturn Award Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA Best Director A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
1990 International Fantasy Film Award Fantasporto Best Film Prison (1987)
1989 International Fantasy Film Award Fantasporto Best Film A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
1988 Best Film Sitges – Catalonian International Film Festival A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)

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