David Ellison

This article is about the American producer. For the British actor, see David Ellison (British actor).

David Ellison
Born (1983-01-09) January 9, 1983 (age 41)
Santa Clara County, California, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
Occupation(s)Film producer, actor
Years active2005–present
TitleFounder and CEO, Skydance Media
Spouse
Sandra Lynn Modic
​
(m. 2011)​
Children2
Parents
FamilyMegan Ellison (sister)

David Ellison (born January 9, 1983) is an American film producer, former actor, and the founder and CEO of Skydance Media. He is the son of multibillionaire and Oracle Corporation co-founder Larry Ellison.

Early life and education

David Ellison was born in Santa Clara County, California. He is the son of billionaire Oracle Corporation co-founder and chairman Larry Ellison, and his ex-wife, Barbara Boothe Ellison. His father is of Italian and Jewish heritage.[1] David attended the University of Southern California.[2][3] He has one sister, film producer Megan Ellison, who founded Annapurna Pictures.[1]

Career

Ellison is the CEO and founder of Skydance Media. The company's films include Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Annihilation, World War Z, True Grit, Jack Reacher, Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Trek Beyond. Ellison was named to Variety's Dealmaker list for 2010[4] and the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2011.[5]

As an actor, Ellison has performed in the films Flyboys, Little Fish, Strange Pond and Hole in One.

Ellison's company Skydance Media expanded in 2013 with the launch of its television division. He has executive produced shows such as Altered Carbon, and Grace and Frankie.

In 2014, Ellison launched a new line of men's clothing, called the "LANAI Collection."[6]

In 2017, Ellison helped launch Skydance Animation in partnership with Spain's Ilion Animation Studios.[7]

In 2018, he announced that Skydance Media had partnered with Tencent Holdings Limited.[8]

In January 2024, it was reported that Ellison was interested in buying Paramount Global's parent company National Amusements from Shari Redstone.[9]

Personal life

Ellison is a licensed pilot with instrument ratings for helicopter aviation, aerobatics, commercial aviation, fixed-wing aircraft, and multi-engine aircraft. In 2003, aged 20, he was selected to perform as part of Sean D. Tucker's "Stars of Tomorrow" aerobatic team at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.[10]

Ellison is a member of the Producers Guild of America and Television Academy.[11]

He married Sandra Lynn Modic, an actress and singer, on October 1, 2011, in Palm Springs, California.[12] The couple has two children.[13]

Filmography

Film

Executive producer

Producer

Actor
Year Film Role Notes
2005 The Chumscrubber Student #1
When All Else Fails Mike Williams Short film
2006 Flyboys Eddie Beagle
2009 Hole in One Tyler Hayden
Little Fish, Strange Pond Romeo Direct-to-video
Director
Year Film Notes
2005 When All Else Fails Short film
Writer
Year Film Notes
2005 When All Else Fails Short film
Thanks
Year Film Notes
2013 Phantom Special thanks

Television

Executive producer
Actor
Year Title Role Notes
2008 Blank Slate Blake Feltzer Television film
2010 Leverage Ballard

References

  1. ^ a b Matthew Symonds, Larry Ellison. Software: An Intimate Portrait of Larry Ellison and Oracle Simon and Schuster, 2004. pp332-333
  2. ^ Fritz, Ben, "Ellison: more than a trust fund kid?", Los Angeles Times, February 22, 2011.
  3. ^ Masters, Kim, "How David Ellison, Son of Larry Ellison, Scored Big With 'True Grit'" Archived April 29, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Hollywood Reporter, March 1, 2011.
  4. ^ Lowry, Tom. "Paramount-Skydance deal: Dealmakers Impact Report 2010", Variety.com, December 9, 2010.
  5. ^ Dorothy Pomerantz, Michael K. Ozanian and David M. Ewalt. "Forbes 30 Under 30" Archived February 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, "Forbes.com", December 19, 2011.
  6. ^ Bort, Julie (December 4, 2014). "Larry Ellison's Son Launches A Clothing Line Inspired By His Dad's Hawaiian Island". Business Insider. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  7. ^ McNary, Dave (March 16, 2017). "David Ellison's Skydance Launching Animation Division With Spain's Ilion". Variety. Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  8. ^ "Skydance Media Announces Strategic Investment by Tencent Holdings Limited". www.businesswire.com. January 25, 2018. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  9. ^ "David Ellison Makes Offer for Redstone Family's Media Empire". Bloomberg.com. January 24, 2024. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  10. ^ EAA News Archived December 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine; accessed October 26, 2015.
  11. ^ "Execs Archive". Skydance Media. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  12. ^ "Tom Cruise Wedding Dance Battle...Caught On Tape". TMZ. June 10, 2011. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Tom and Katie were in Palm Springs this weekend celebrating the wedding of Sandy Modic and David Ellison.
  13. ^ Farah, Lynn (March 21, 2024). "Meet Larry Ellison's Hollywood children, David and Megan: the heirs to the Oracle co-founder's billion-dollar fortune are nepo babies in film, but remain largely behind-the-scenes". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on October 18, 2024.