Leslie Urdang is the Producer and President of Olympus Pictures, a production company chaired by Dean Vanech that finances and produces low budget features and develops and produces films of all budget sizes. Olympus’ first feature, “Adam,” with Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne, Peter Gallagher, Frankie Faison and Amy Irving was released by Fox Searchlight in 2009. Recent projects include the Oscar-nominated “Rabbit Hole” with Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart, and Mike Mills’ “Beginners” with Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer and Melanie Laurent. She is currently producing “Mr. Pip,” starring Hugh Laurie. Urdang founded Serenade Films and produced the Independent Spirit Award nominated film, “12 and Holding,” directed by Michael Cuesta starring Jeremy Renner, “The Great New Wonderful,” starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, “Game 6,” starring Michael Keaton and directed by Michael Hoffman and “The Narrows” directed by Francois Velle.
Some of Urdang’s other producing credits include “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Kevin Kline, and Stanley Tucci; “Me and Veronica” starring Elizabeth McGovern and Patricia Wettig; and “People I Know” starring Al Pacino. Urdang was also a producer for Robert Redford’s company, Wildwood Enterprises and for Gary Ross’ Larger Than Life. At both companies she developed several projects including Walter Salles’ “Motorcycle Diaries.”
In the theatre, Urdang founded and continues to be a Producing Director of New York Stage and Film that for over twenty years has developed and produced the new works of hundreds of artists for Broadway and theaters throughout the country. Some of these include the Tony Award winning plays “Sideman” and “Tru,” and most recently John Patrick Shanley’s Pulitzer and Tony Award winning play “Doubt.” Urdang lives with actor Jon Tenney.
