Jonathan Hensleigh: Movies & Box Office

Jonathan Blair Hensleigh, born on February 13, 1959, is an esteemed American screenwriter, film producer, and director. He is widely recognized for his impressive work in the action-adventure genre. He has constructed riveting scripts for well-known films such as 'Jumanji', 'Die Hard with a Vengeance', and 'Armageddon'. In 2004, Hensleigh made his directorial debut with the applauded action film 'The Punisher'. He originally graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1981, specializing in history. He also attended the University of Virginia School of Law, earned his J.D. from Tulane University Law School, and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1985, working as an attorney for seven years before transitioning to writing. At the age of 31, Hensleigh started writing scripts and screenplays, having already written a novel and a three-act stage play. Hensleigh solidified his reputation in the entertainment industry writing episodes of the television series 'The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles'. After receiving his first film credit in 1993's 'A Far Off Place', he further collaborated with Michael Bay on the 1998 disaster film 'Armageddon', earning credited recognition for the screenplay. He also contributed to editing scripts for popular Jerry Bruckheimer's projects like 'Con Air' (1997), and 'Gone in 60 Seconds' (2000) where he received executive producer credit. As a director, Hensleigh made waves with 'The Punisher' in 2004, supported by his wife, veteran Hollywood producer Gale Anne Hurd. He co-wrote the script, making use of the Marvel Comics character 'The Punisher', despite a limited budget and tight schedule. He was also involved in the development of the series 'Red Mars', based on the acclaimed novel of the same name. In 2011, Hensleigh successfully wrote and directed 'Kill the Irishman', a film about Cleveland mobster Danny Greene who was active in the 1960s and 1970s.