Motion Picture Studio Executive. Born Dawn Leslie Steel in The Bronx, New York City to Nat Steel, a zipper salesman, who had previously changed the family name from Spielberg, and Lillian, a businesswoman, who was the family's sole support after Nat suffered a nervous breakdown. She attended Boston University, and then transferred to New York University, where she was the only woman in the business school. She then got her start as receptionist for Stadia Publishing Company, where she advanced from receptionist to secretary, and eventually became a sportswriter. She then worked for 'Penthouse' magazine becoming a merchandising director. In 1978 she accepted a job as director of merchandising at Paramount Pictures. She created marketing tie-ins for 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture' including Star Trek ashtrays. She was promoted to vice president of production in 198,0 and then, in 1985, was promoted to production chief where she championed the project that became 'Flashdance'. She was named president of production in April 1985. She moved to Columbia Pictures in 1987 where she was named president and head of production, becoming the first woman ever to hold that position. She boosted the studio standing from ranking 8th among peers to 3rd, with movies success such as 'Casualties of War,' 'Postcards from the Edge,' 'When Harry Met Sally,' 'Awakenings,' 'Look Who's Talking,' and 'Flatliners'. After leaving Columbia in 1991, when the studio was acquired by Sony, she worked as an independent producer for Disney Studios where she produced 'Cool Runnings' and 'Honey, I Blew Up the Kids.' In 1993, she formed a production company, Atlas Entertainment, in partnership with her husband, Charles Roven, producing the supernatural thriller, 'Fallen' and the drama, 'City of Angels'. She authored the best selling memoir, "They Can Kill You But They Can't Eat You. Lessons from the Front" which was published in 1993. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1996, maintaining her hectic schedule throughout, she succumbed less than 2 years later
Motion Picture Studio Executive. Born Dawn Leslie Steel in The Bronx, New York City to Nat Steel, a zipper salesman, who had previously changed the family name from Spielberg, and Lillian, a businesswoman, who was the family's sole support after Nat suffered a nervous breakdown. She attended Boston University, and then transferred to New York University, where she was the only woman in the business school. She then got her start as receptionist for Stadia Publishing Company, where she advanced from receptionist to secretary, and eventually became a sportswriter. She then worked for 'Penthouse' magazine becoming a merchandising director. In 1978 she accepted a job as director of merchandising at Paramount Pictures. She created marketing tie-ins for 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture' including Star Trek ashtrays. She was promoted to vice president of production in 198,0 and then, in 1985, was promoted to production chief where she championed the project that became 'Flashdance'. She was named president of production in April 1985. She moved to Columbia Pictures in 1987 where she was named president and head of production, becoming the first woman ever to hold that position. She boosted the studio standing from ranking 8th among peers to 3rd, with movies success such as 'Casualties of War,' 'Postcards from the Edge,' 'When Harry Met Sally,' 'Awakenings,' 'Look Who's Talking,' and 'Flatliners'. After leaving Columbia in 1991, when the studio was acquired by Sony, she worked as an independent producer for Disney Studios where she produced 'Cool Runnings' and 'Honey, I Blew Up the Kids.' In 1993, she formed a production company, Atlas Entertainment, in partnership with her husband, Charles Roven, producing the supernatural thriller, 'Fallen' and the drama, 'City of Angels'. She authored the best selling memoir, "They Can Kill You But They Can't Eat You. Lessons from the Front" which was published in 1993. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1996, maintaining her hectic schedule throughout, she succumbed less than 2 years later
Bio by: Iola
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