Born October 25, 1955, in Los Angeles, CA; daughter of Frank E. (an investor)and Lolita (maiden name, Espiau) Hurd; married James Cameron (a director), 1985 (divorced, 1989); married Brian De Palma (a director), July 21, 1991 (marriage ended); married Jonathon Hensleigh (a producer and writer); children: (second marriage) Lolita. Avocational interests: Scuba diving, Paso Fino horses. Career: Producer, screenwriter and production assistant. NewWorld Pictures, Los Angeles, CA, executive assistant, director of advertising and publicity, then producer, 1977-82; Pacific Western Productions, BeverlyHills, CA, founder and owner, 1982-; founder and owner, No Frills Productions; created Gale Anne Hurd production grants for American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women. U.S. Film Festival, Salt Lake City, UT, juror, 1988, and Focus Student Film Awards, 1989; mentor, Peter Stark Motion Picture Producing Program, University of Southern California; mentor, Women in Film Mentor Program. Member: American Film Institute (board of trustees), Hollywood Women's Political Committee, Phi Beta Kappa, Academy of Motion PictureArts & Sciences (Nicholl Fellowships Committee, 1989-; Producer's Board Executive Committee), Show Coalition, IFP West (board of directors), Artists Rights Foundation (board of directors), Los Angeles International Film Festival (board of directors), Coral Reef Research Foundation, Americans for a SafeFuture (board of directors, 1993-), Women in Film (board of directors, 1989-90), Institute for Research on Women and Gender (national advisory panel, 1997-), Feminist Majority. Awards, Honors: Grand Prix, Avoriaz Film Festival, c. 1984, for The Terminator; Special Merit Award, National Association Theater Owners, 1986; Special Merit Award, National Association of Theater Owners, and Hugo Award, best dramatic presentation, World Science FictionSociety, 1987, both for Aliens; Saturn nomination, c. 1988, for Alien Nation; Stanford-LA Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Business School Alumni Los Angeles, 1990; Independent Spirit Award, best first feature, 1993, for The Waterdance(with Neal Jimenez and Michael Steinberg); Florida Film Festival Award, 1994. Addresses: Office: Pacific Western Productions, 270 North Canon Dr., Suite 1195, Beverly Hills, CA 90210-5323.
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