Art Linson

Art Linson (born March 16, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American producer, director, and screenwriter whose career spans some of modern Hollywood’s most influential studio and auteur-driven films. Known primarily for production, Linson has also appeared as himself in behind-the-scenes and retrospective features such as The Making of 'Heat' and multiple The Untouchables documentaries.

Linson stepped behind the camera with the 1980 comedy Where the Buffalo Roam, a loose, Hunter S. Thompson-inspired ride starring Bill Murray, and later directed The Wild Life (1984). As a producer, he helped shepherd a wide range of titles—from Car Wash and Fast Times at Ridgemont High to Melvin and Howard and Fight Club—building a reputation for backing distinctive voices and ambitious material.

His collaborations include major filmmakers such as Brian De Palma on The Untouchables, Casualties of War, and The Black Dahlia, as well as work connected to creators like Michael Mann, David Mamet, and Cameron Crowe. Linson also partnered with family on projects including Sunset Strip and a film about The Runaways.

Beyond film sets, Linson has written American Hot Wax and authored the Hollywood insider books What Just Happened?—later adapted for the screen—and A Pound of Flesh. He has also served as an executive producer on the FX drama Sons of Anarchy.