This page uses content from the Rob Tapert biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Ropert Tapert (born Robert Gerard Tapert on May 14, 1955), sometimes credited as Rob Tapert, Robert G. Tapert, or Rip Tapert, is an American film producer, best known for his co-founding of, and his subsequent work with, the Renaissance Pictures company.

Tapert first become involved with filmmaking while attending Michigan State University. He intended to study economics, but was drawn into film courses by his roommate Ivan Raimi's brother Sam. Sam Raimi had been making films of his own in his native Michigan for many years, usually with his brothers Ivan and Ted, and Raimi's childhood friend Bruce Campbell. Ultimately, Sam Raimi and Tapert decided that they should make a film together.

The result of this endeavour was The Happy Valley Kid, the story of a young man, played by Tapert, who goes to college, only to be met with rejection at every turn. Near the end of the film, he loses his mind, dresses up as a cowboy, and begins gunning down all those who wronged him. Despite its seemingly serious plot, the film is largely a comedy. The film was screened at Michigan State several times, and made a profit for Raimi and Tapert. This spurred them onto the idea of making a feature film.

Ultimately, this feature film was produced, a graphic horror film entitled The Evil Dead, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Bruce Campbell. Thanks to a glowing review from author Stephen King, the film was a wild success with the crowd at the Cannes film festival in France, despite not enamouring other critics. The film was successful enough to spawn two sequels, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness, as well as long careers for Tapert, Raimi, Campbell, and others.

Tapert has also produced numerous other films, typically involving Sam Raimi and/or Campbell in some capacity, such as Crimewave, Easy Wheels, Lunatics: A Love Story, Darkman, Timecop, The Gift, The Grudge (and its upcoming sequel, The Grudge 2) and 30 Days of Night.

During the 1990s, Tapert produced several television series, most notably Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess.

He is currently married to Xena star Lucy Lawless since March 28, 1998. They have two sons: Julius Robert Bay Tapert (born October 16, 1999) and Judah Miro Tapert (born May 7, 2002). Tapert is also stepfather to Lawless' daughter, Daisy Lawless (born July 15, 1988), from her first marriage.

References

• Warren, Bill. The Evil Dead Companion, ISBN 0-312-27501-3.

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify the biographical information on this page under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation.