Gerald AyresGerald Ayres (born February 3, 1936) is an American film studio executive, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his work as producer of The Last Detail (1973) starring Jack Nicholson and as writer of Rich and Famous (1981) the last film diected by George Cukor. He worked in New York in 1957 as a theatre writer and play doctor. Between writing jobs he worked in a zipper factory in the garment district and as a story analyst for the New York office of Columbia Pictures. In 1964 he was brought to Columbia's Hollywood studio as assistant to new studio chief, Mike Frankovich. When Frankovich left in 1971 Ayres was made creative head of the studio. In 1970 Ayres served as producer of The Model Shop directed by French author Jaques Demy and starring Anouk Aimee and Gary Lockwood, but was not credited because of his position as studio executive. At that time he tried unsuccessfully to secure financing for Demy's wife, Agnes Varda, to direct a script she had written, Peace and Love. Gerald Ayres produced for Columbia the small film, Cisco Pike in 1972, starring Kris Kristofferson, Gene Hackman and Karen Black. In 1973, he produced The Last Detail, which was nominated for three Academy Awards: Jack Nicholson as actor, Robert Towne as screenwriter and Randy Quaid as supporting actor. The film won BAFTA's best picture award and Nicholson won best actor laurels at Cannes. Columbia executives considered the film "un-American", and Ayres took the production to Toronto. In 1979 Ayres wrote the script for Foxes (film), starring Jodie Foster which he co-produced with David Puttnam. He wrote the screenplay for Rich and Famous, which as released in 1981, starring starred Jacqueline Bisset and Candice Bergen. He was awarded the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium Credits: Film Writer 1981 Rich and Famous 1980 Foxes Television Writer: 1995 Destiny (TV mini-series on the life of Elizabeth Taylor) written under the pseudonym of Burr Douglas 1992 Crazy in Love (TV movie) (teleplay) 1992 Stormy Weathers (TV movie) (teleplay) 1982 Rumpelstiltskin (1982) (teleplay) Film Producer: 1980 Foxes 1973 The Last Detail 1972 Cisco Pike Actor: 1973 The Last Detail - Skater at Ice Rink (uncredited) 2002 How to Draw a Bunny (documentary) Himself Awards: Rich and Famous- 1980 Writer's Guild award Best Adapted Comedy of the Year Read More Read Less