History of James Toback in Timeline

James Toback is an American screenwriter and film director, notable for his work in the movie industry. He garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay in 1991 for his contribution to the film *Bugsy*. Toback's directorial credits include films such as *The Pick-up Artist*, *Two Girls and a Guy*, and *Black and White*, showcasing his involvement in various aspects of filmmaking.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

November 23, 1944: James Toback's Birth

James Lee Toback was born on November 23, 1944. He later became an American screenwriter and film director.

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1966: Graduation from Harvard

In 1966, James Toback graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University, where he also served as an editor for The Harvard Crimson.

April 1968: Marriage to Consuelo Sarah Churchill Vanderbilt Russell

In April 1968, James Toback married Consuelo Sarah Churchill Vanderbilt Russell, a relationship that quickly ended in divorce.

1971: Publication of Jim: The Author's Self-Centered Memoir of the Great Jim Brown

In 1971, James Toback wrote a book about his experiences as Jim Brown's house guest, titled Jim: The Author's Self-Centered Memoir of the Great Jim Brown.

Jim: The Author's Self-centered Memoir on the Great Jim Brown

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1974: Release of The Gambler

In 1974, James Toback achieved his first major film success with the release of The Gambler, a semi-autobiographical film for which he wrote the screenplay.

1978: Directorial Debut with Fingers

In 1978, James Toback made his directorial debut with the film Fingers, starring Harvey Keitel.

1982: Release of Love and Money

In 1982, James Toback directed and released the film Love and Money.

1983: Release of Exposed

In 1983, James Toback directed and released the film Exposed.

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1987: Release of The Pick-up Artist

In 1987, James Toback directed and released the film The Pick-up Artist.

1989: Release of The Big Bang

In 1989, James Toback directed and released the documentary The Big Bang.

1989: Stephanie Kempf Edited The Big Bang

In 1989, Stephanie Kempf edited James Toback's first documentary The Big Bang. Toback is currently married to Stephanie Kempf.

1989: Spy Magazine Article

In 1989, an article in Spy magazine detailed James Toback's alleged behavior of approaching women on the streets of the Upper West Side in New York City, claiming to be a Hollywood director, and inviting them to private meetings.

1991: Academy Award Nomination

In 1991, James Toback received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for his work on the film Bugsy.

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1991: Award and Nominations for Bugsy

In 1991, James Toback won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association award for best screenplay for Bugsy and was nominated for both the Academy Award for best original screenplay and for the Golden Globe best screenplay award.

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2002: Salon Article on Toback's Reputation

A 2002 Salon article noted James Toback's reputation as a womanizer and pickup artist.

2005: The Beat That My Heart Skipped Release

In 2005, Jacques Audiard's remake of James Toback's Fingers as The Beat That My Heart Skipped was released and won numerous Best Film awards.

2005: Release of The Outsider: A Film about James Toback

In 2005, Nicholas Jarecki examined James Toback in a documentary called The Outsider: A Film about James Toback.

2008: Tyson at Cannes Film Festival

In 2008, James Toback's documentary Tyson was featured at the Cannes Film Festival, winning a prize in the festival's Un Certain Regard section and was nominated for best documentary awards in several United States competitions.

2008: Oldenburg International Film Festival Retrospective

In 2008, the Oldenburg International Film Festival selected James Toback and his work for its "Retrospective."

2009: Kanbar Award for Excellence in Screenwriting

In 2009, the San Francisco International Film Festival selected James Toback for its annual Kanbar Award for excellence in screenwriting.

2014: Release of The Gambler Remake

In 2014, English director Rupert Wyatt remade The Gambler, originally written by James Toback.

October 2017: Initial Report of Allegations

In October 2017, an article was published reporting allegations of sexual harassment and assault against James Toback by 38 women. Toback denied the allegations, claiming it was biologically impossible for the alleged actions to have occurred. The alleged harassment occurred at meetings framed as interviews or casting auditions.

October 22, 2017: Los Angeles Times Report on Allegations

On October 22, 2017, Los Angeles Times reported that 38 women had accused James Toback of sexual harassment or assault. James Toback denied these allegations.

2017: Release of An Imperfect Murder

In 2017, James Toback's film An Imperfect Murder was released, with Variety's chief film critic Owen Gleiberman describing it as "a thrift-shop psychological X-ray that demands to be taken on its own Tobackian terms."

January 2018: Increased Number of Accusers

In January 2018, it was reported that since the Los Angeles Times published its article in October 2017, a total of 395 women had contacted the newspaper and said that James Toback had sexually harassed them.

April 2018: No Charges Pressed Against Toback

In April 2018, Los Angeles County prosecutors declared that they would not be pressing any charges against James Toback regarding the allegations of sexual harassment and assault. Reasons included the victim not turning up for an interview and the statute of limitations having expired.

2018: Sexual Harassment Allegations

In 2018, The Los Angeles Times reported that 395 women had accused James Toback of sexual harassment or assault over a 40-year period; Toback denied all allegations.

2019: Sleeping With Strangers: How the Movies Shaped Desire

In 2019, David Thomson included a chapter about his 40-year friendship with James Toback in his book Sleeping With Strangers: How the Movies Shaped Desire, which explored the dominance of male desire in cinema.