Martin Ransohoff

Martin Ransohoff(born November 30, 1926)is a cinema and television producer,and member of theRansohoff family.He graduated fromColgate Universityin 1949 and is on a list ofDistinguished Alumni. He founded the film production companyFilmways, Inc.in 1960 and remained with the company until 1972.Filmways started making TV commercials, moved into documentaries then sitcoms; by 1963 Filmways were making $13 million a year.In 1972 he became an independent producer. He attempted to "create" female movie stars during the 1960s; the actresses who achieved the greatest success under his tutelage wereAnn-Margret,Tuesday WeldandSharon Tate, who featured in several of his films from 1964 until her death in 1969. He is a cousin of neurosurgeonJoseph Ransohoff. The Beverly Hillbilliesbrought Ransohoff his first success in 1962 and thereafter he turned his attention to films. Ransohoff went on to produce such films asAmerican Pop.