Harvey Weinstein
Born 1952 · Age 73
American film producer; co-founder of Miramax and The Weinstein Company; convicted of multiple sexual offenses and central figure in the #MeToo movement.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Flushing, Queens, New York
Born to Max and Miriam Weinstein in the Electchester/Flushing area of Queens, New York.
Graduated John Bowne High School (approx.)
Completed secondary education in Queens (exact graduation date not stated; attended SUNY Buffalo beginning in 1969).
Matriculated at State University of New York at Buffalo
Attended SUNY Buffalo from 1969–1973 but did not graduate, choosing to concentrate on business interests.
Began promoting rock concerts in Buffalo
With brother Bob and Corky Burger formed Harvey & Corky Productions and promoted rock concerts through much of the 1970s.
Promoted major musical acts in Buffalo
Promoted acts including Frank Sinatra, The Who, Jackson Browne and The Rolling Stones as part of concert-promotion business.
Co-founded Miramax Films
Harvey and Bob Weinstein founded Miramax (named for parents Miriam and Max) as an independent film distribution company.
Produced/Released The Burning (producer credit)
Credit as producer/writer for The Burning (listed in filmography).
Release: The Secret Policeman's Other Ball (Miramax's first hit)
Miramax edited two Amnesty International benefit films into The Secret Policeman's Other Ball; became the company's first hit in May 1982.
Release: Errol Morris' The Thin Blue Line
Miramax gained national attention when The Thin Blue Line helped secure the release of a wrongfully convicted man.
Release: Sex, Lies, and Videotape
Steven Soderbergh's Sex, Lies, and Videotape propelled Miramax into prominence as America's leading independent studio.
MPAA lawsuit after X-rating controversies
Miramax releases of The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover and Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! drew X ratings; Weinstein sued MPAA (suit thrown out); MPAA later created NC-17.
Released The Crying Game (distribution)
Miramax distributed The Crying Game, a critical success that enhanced the studio's reputation.
Miramax sold (Disney purchase)
Disney acquired Miramax in 1993. Sources differ on price; Wikipedia cites an $80,000,000 offer while Britannica cites ~$60,000,000; Weinsteins remained running the studio after sale.
Release: Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction became a major blockbuster and awards contender for Miramax.
Early prominent award recognition for Miramax films
Over the 1990s Miramax films garnered many Academy Award nominations and wins, building Weinstein's reputation as an awards campaigner.
Release: The English Patient (commercial/awards success)
The English Patient, released in 1996, later won Academy Award for Best Picture in 1997 (a major win for Miramax).
Release: Shakespeare in Love
Shakespeare in Love released in 1998; became one of Miramax's biggest hits.
Launched Miramax television division
Miramax expanded into television in 1998 as part of its growth into a mini-studio.
Launched Talk magazine (joint venture with Hearst)
Talk magazine launched in 1999 as part of Miramax's diversification; the venture later struggled.
Won Academy Award for Best Picture (Shakespeare in Love)
As producer, Weinstein shared the Academy Award for Best Picture for Shakespeare in Love.
Underwent surgery for Fournier gangrene
In 1999 Weinstein had surgery for Fournier gangrene (serious health event noted in records).
Received multiple industry awards (Gotham, Producers Guild mentions)
Weinstein and Miramax received various industry awards across the 1990s-2000s (BAFTA, PGA, Gotham, etc.).
Founded Talk Miramax Books
Talk Miramax Books established in 2000 as part of diversified ventures tied to Talk magazine.
Awarded honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (University at Buffalo)
Received an honorary DHL from his alma mater, the University at Buffalo.
Appointed honorary CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire)
Awarded an honorary CBE for contributions to the British film industry (honorary because not a Commonwealth citizen).
Left Miramax and co-founded The Weinstein Company (TWC)
Harvey and Bob Weinstein left Miramax and formed The Weinstein Company with other executives and directors.
Married Georgina Chapman
Married English fashion designer and actress Georgina Chapman; they later had two children.
Michael Moore sues Weinsteins for $2.7M in profits (Fahrenheit 9/11)
Filmmaker Michael Moore filed suit claiming $2.7M in profits denied by Hollywood accounting; suit was dropped in Feb 2012 after settlement.
Michael Moore drops lawsuit; undisclosed settlement
Moore dropped the lawsuit in Feb 2012 after an undisclosed settlement with the Weinsteins.
Made a knight of the French Legion of Honour
Awarded the Legion of Honour in recognition of Miramax's role in increasing foreign films' profile in the U.S.
Reunited with Miramax via co-production/distribution deal
In late 2013 the Weinsteins reconnected with Miramax for a co-production and co-distribution arrangement.
Continued producing high-profile films
TWC released notable films including The Imitation Game (2014) and others; Weinstein remained an influential awards campaigner.
More than 80 women accuse Weinstein; #MeToo / 'Weinstein effect' ignites
By October 31, 2017, over 80 women had made allegations; reporting helped spark the global #MeToo movement.
Honorary degrees and awards start to be revoked
University at Buffalo revoked his honorary doctorate and France revoked his Legion of Honour later in 2017; other honors followed.
Resigned from Directors Guild of America and suspended from BAFTA
In the wake of allegations, Weinstein resigned from DGA and was suspended from BAFTA; other professional memberships were terminated.
New York Times exposé (first major public allegations)
The New York Times published an investigation detailing decades of sexual harassment and assault allegations against Weinstein (Oct 5, 2017).
Fired from The Weinstein Company
Following the growing allegations, Weinstein was fired by the board of The Weinstein Company (Oct 8, 2017).
Georgina Chapman leaves Weinstein
Shortly after the allegations became public, his wife Georgina Chapman announced she was leaving him.
Expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy voted to expel Weinstein from its membership following the allegations.
Reports that Weinstein hired private investigators (Black Cube)
Ronan Farrow and others reported that Weinstein used firms (Black Cube, Kroll) to investigate and try to silence accusers and journalists.
Sought to block publication using political/media contacts
Reports indicate Weinstein tried to enlist help from public figures (including attempts involving Hillary Clinton contacts and others) to try to stop reporting; also used private investigators to gather information on accusers and journalists.
Lantern Entertainment purchases Weinstein Company assets; TWC shut down
Lantern Capital (Lantern Entertainment) purchased TWC assets in 2018; the company shut down on July 16, 2018.
The Weinstein Company files for bankruptcy
TWC filed for bankruptcy after months of failed attempts to sell; Lantern Entertainment later purchased the company's assets.
Arrested and charged in New York
Harvey Weinstein surrendered to NYPD and was arrested on charges including rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct (May 25, 2018).
Released on $1 million bail; travel restrictions imposed
Released after posting $1M bail, surrendered passport and required to wear an ankle monitor; travel limited to NY and CT.
Indicted on additional New York charges (2006 incident)
On July 2, 2018, Weinstein was indicted on three additional felony sex charges relating to a 2006 incident.
Tentative $44M settlement reported
In May 2019 Weinstein's lawyers announced a tentative $44 million settlement to resolve civil lawsuits; negotiations later faltered.
Reports of $25M insurance settlement
Late 2019 reports stated a $25 million settlement would be paid by insurers representing The Weinstein Company to alleged victims (reporting varied).
Bail increased to $5M after alleged monitor violations
A judge increased Weinstein's bail from $1M to $5M after prosecutors alleged he tampered with or disabled his ankle monitor multiple times.
Class-action/civil settlement awards to survivors
Multiple civil settlements and awards followed: tentative deals in 2019; in June 2020 survivors were awarded $18.875M as part of a class-action resolution.
New York criminal trial begins
Weinstein's New York trial began January 6, 2020 (jury selection and proceedings for charges including assault and rape).
Convicted in New York trial on 2 of 5 felony counts
On Feb 24, 2020 a jury found Weinstein guilty of criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree (two of five charges).
Sentenced to 23 years in New York
Weinstein was sentenced on March 11, 2020 to 23 years in prison and began serving his sentence (remanded to Rikers, then transferred to Wende).
Stripped of honorary CBE
Following his conviction, his honorary CBE was revoked on September 18, 2020.
Divorce from Georgina Chapman finalized
Weinstein and Georgina Chapman reached a settlement in Jan 2018 and their divorce was finalized in July 2021.
Extradited to Los Angeles for additional charges
Weinstein was flown to Los Angeles on July 20, 2021 to face charges relating to alleged incidents between 2004–2013.
Pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles
In LA court Weinstein pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges (July 21, 2021).
Los Angeles trial begins
Weinstein's LA trial commenced in October 2022 on multiple counts of rape and sexual assault for incidents spanning 2004–2013.
Convicted in Los Angeles on 3 of 7 charges
On Dec 19, 2022 Weinstein was found guilty on three charges (including rape and forcible oral copulation) in Los Angeles.
Sentenced to 16 years in California
Sentenced to 16 years for the Los Angeles convictions (Feb 23, 2023); California sentence to be served separately from New York term.
Transferred from California back to New York custody (Mohawk)
Weinstein was extradited back to upstate New York's Mohawk Correctional Facility on April 11, 2023.
New York Court of Appeals overturns New York convictions; orders retrial
On April 25, 2024, the NY Court of Appeals overturned Weinstein's 2020 New York rape convictions due to procedural errors and ordered a retrial.
Hospitalized with COVID-19 and double pneumonia (prison transfer to Bellevue)
In July 2024 Weinstein was admitted to Bellevue's prison ward with COVID-19 and double pneumonia, according to lawyers.
Emergency heart surgery at Bellevue Hospital
Underwent emergency heart surgery on Sept 9, 2024 and was reportedly in critical condition afterward for a period.
New sealed New York indictment (announced Sept 12, 2024)
On Sept 12, 2024 Manhattan prosecutors announced a sealed indictment charging Weinstein with additional offenses; arraigned Sept 18, 2024 (not guilty plea).
Arraigned on new NY charges; pleaded not guilty
Weinstein was arraigned on Sept 18, 2024 on a sealed indictment and entered a plea of not guilty to one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree.
Diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (reported)
In October 2024 reports indicated Weinstein had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia.
Judge grants consolidation of new charges into retrial
On Oct 23, 2024 the presiding judge granted the prosecution's motion to consolidate new sealed charges into Weinstein's retrial rather than have two separate trials.
Hospitalized after 'alarming' blood test results
On Dec 2, 2024 he was reported hospitalized in Manhattan due to alarming blood test results while in custody.
Retrail date set for April 15, 2025
Judge Curtis Farber set the retrial date for April 15, 2025 for the overturned New York case.
Jury selection begins for New York retrial
Jury selection for the New York retrial began on April 15, 2025; opening statements and testimony began April 23, 2025.
Convicted on one charge in 2025 New York retrial (mixed verdict)
On June 11, 2025 Weinstein was convicted on one count of criminal sexual act (related to Miriam Haley) and acquitted on another; jury remained undecided on the third charge.
Mistrial declared on additional New York rape charge
On June 12, 2025 an additional rape charge in the retrial was declared a mistrial after jury deadlock/tensions.
Key Achievement Ages
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