Wikipedia

Jonathan Shestack

Jonathan Shestack
Born (1959-09-02) September 2, 1959 (age 66)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
OccupationsFilm producer, film director, activist
SpousePortia Iversen
ChildrenDov Shestack
FatherJerome J. Shestack

Jonathan "Jon" Shestack is a film producer. He has produced well-known movies, such as Air Force One.[citation needed] Additionally, he was one of the founders of Cure Autism Now (CAN), an autism-focused nonprofit organization that was formed on August 9, 1995[1] and merged with Autism Speaks on December 31, 2007.[2] His father was Jerome J. Shestack, a well-known lawyer from Philadelphia, and his mother is Marciarose Shestack, a broadcast journalist.[citation needed]

Shestack has stated that his production style starts with a pitch for a script. He then refines the idea as needed until a studio decides that it will be made into a movie. He has also advocated giving credit to people that play an indirect role in moviemaking.[3] He has been eager to use the films he produces to raise money for autism research.[4]

Shestack started CAN after his son, Dov, was diagnosed with autism. One of the organization's goals was to raise money for scientific research on autism.[5] Shestack received many donations through his connections[vague] in Hollywood. He was known for being able to attract significant donors and awareness, to the extent that he played a major role in convincing the United States Congress to pass the Combating Autism Act of 2006. Initially, Shestack was against the merger of CAN with Autism Speaks, but decided to eventually accept it.[6]

In 2010, Shestack criticized autistic activist and Autistic Self Advocacy Network founder Ari Ne'eman following Ne'eman's nomination by U.S. President Barack Obama to sit on the National Council on Disability. Shestack stated, "Why people have gotten upset is, he doesn’t seem to represent, understand or have great sympathy for all the people who are truly, deeply affected in a way that he isn’t."[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Articles of Incorporation of Cure Autism Now". California Secretary of State. August 9, 1995. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  2. ^ "Agreement and Certificate of Merger between Autism Speaks Inc. and Cure Autism Now". California Secretary of State. December 31, 2007. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  3. ^ Grove, Martin (November 2, 2007). "So you're a producer? What exactly do you do?". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  4. ^ Peterson, Richard (September 16, 1997). "Celebrities are taking their charity involvement to new levels". The San Bernardino County Sun. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  5. ^ Mestel, Rosie (March 12, 2001). "Reaching Out to a Remote World". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  6. ^ Donvan, John; Zucker, Caren (2016). In a Different Key: The Story of Autism. Crown. pp. 384–391, 467–469. ISBN 978-0-307-98568-2. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  7. ^ Harmon, Amy (March 27, 2010). "Nominee to Disability Council Is Lightning Rod for Dispute on Views of Autism". The New York Times. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
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