Richard Sakai Biography

Executive producer Richard Sakai began his career in 1977, working as a gofer for James L. Brooks at John Charles Walters Productions. Before the decade's end, he had become a producer and director on the popular comedy Taxi. He continued his affiliation with Brooks in 1984, when Brooks invited him to helm his newest production company, Gracie Films, which at the time was producing two popular series for the newborn Fox television network, The Tracey Ullman Show and The Simpsons. Gracie Films was also responsible for a number of major features. Those produced by Sakai include the Oscar-winners Jerry Maguire (1996) and As Good As It Gets (1998). ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi