Darryl Francis Zanuck (September 5, 1902December 22, 1979) was an American
film producer and
studio executive; he earlier contributed stories for films starting in the silent era. He played a major part in the Hollywood
studio system as one of its longest survivors (the length of his career was rivaled only by that of
Adolph Zukor). He earned three
Academy Awards as producer for Best Picture during his tenure, but was responsible for many more.