Jackson Carmichael is an American film producer and husband to actress and philanthropist Darlene Van Kress.
Personal Life
The son of Australian immigrants, Jackson grew up in Atlanta, GA with his brother Rusty who was four years his elder. When Jackson was ten the family moved to Los Angeles. There, tragedy struck just a few months later. Jackson lost his father to a home invasion robbery gone wrong. His father was shot three times in the chest. The incident shattered his mother who was in and out of hospitals for the next seven years, leaving Jackson and Rusty to fend for themselves much of the time. Jackson’s mother died due to medical malpractice on the part of a surgeon who was performing what should have been routine surgery. The ensuing lawsuit provided Jackson with enough money to go into the film business.
Jackson met his wife, Darlene Van Kress, on the set of the film Belle of the South. He was the producer and she was the star. He has always held that the whirlwind romance was a Hollywood fairy tale in and of itself. When Darlene gave up acting and moved back home, he went with her. The couple has made Breakout City their home. In 1987 they welcomed their first child, son Beaumont, into their lives. Their daughter, Olivia, was born five years later.
Film Career
Jackson began his film career as a producer on the independent film Sunshine and Daisies which achieved moderate success. He followed that up with the critically acclaimed The Wrong Man which was nominated for several awards. The third film that he produced was the big budget historical Belle of the South. It failed at the box office ending the career of its star. Jackson tried to recapture the success of The Wrong Man with an equally gritty film Runaway which he also helped create the story for. While the film did well, it failed to achieve the critical or financial success of his earlier film. His subsequent films including the Ninja Rose action outing performed reasonably well for him. Eventually, he tired of the industry and the endless chase for cinematic glory. He retired from film ostensibly to spend more time with his family.
Filmography
1974…………………..Sunshine and Daisies, Producer
1974…………………..The Wrong Man, Producer
1975…………………..Belle of the South, Producer
1976…………………..Runaway, Producer, Story Development
1978…………………..A Prince of a Man, Executive Producer, Story Development
1981…………………..When Darkness Falls, Executive Producer
1985…………………..Ninja Rose, Executive Producer
1987…………………..All the Wrong Reasons, Executive Producer
1995…………………..How Films Shape Reality, Himself