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Michael Herz

'Michael Herz is an American film producer, director and screenwriter. With Lloyd Kaufman, the two are the co-founders of Troma Entertainment, the world's longest running independent film studio, known for their comedic horror films, including the cult favorite Toxic Avenger series.

Herz and Kaufman first met when both of them were attending Yale University. Initially, the two didn't get along; Kaufman has stated that the only reason the two hung out with each other was that Herz owned a pinball machine and Kaufman was the only person in their dormitory who owned a television. Regardless, he was cast in a small part in Kaufman's first feature film, The Girl Who Returned.

After graduating from Yale, Herz went on to study law at New York University. Although he was quite adept at the subject, he secretly harbored a desire to become a screenwriter. His girlfriend Maris, who was a friend of Lloyd Kaufman's, took Herz to see Cry Uncle!, a film that Kaufman served as a production manager on. Impressed, Herz contacted Kaufman and was hired for the production of the 1973 film Sugar Cookies and Big Gus, What's the Fuss?.

In 1974, Kaufman and Herz formed Troma Entertainment. Together, they co-directed and co-produced all of Troma's movies from 1983's Squeeze Play! to 1991's Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D., when Herz relinquished control of the director's chair to focus on the business end of Troma Studios.

Herz is notoriously publicity-shy, allowing the more charismatic Kaufman to be the public face of Troma. Apart from brief appearances in the Class of Nuke 'Em High series, Herz has remained behind the camera. In 1994 (the creation of Troma Team Video), Herz retired from appearing in promotional videos and the character of 'Michael Herz' was played by Troma's iconic 500-pound actor Joe Fleishaker (in real life, Herz is rather physically fit).

Herz appeared on-camera for the first time in over 20 years to promote Troma's Kickstarter campaign for Return of Nuke 'Em High: Vol. 2. link

With his wife Maris, they have one daughter, Sloane.

Filmography[]

As a director and producer[]

As a producer[]

External links[]

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