Raised in Anchorage, Alaska

Began film career as account executive with Jack Woodel Agency, San Francisco (supervised marketing of Warner Bros. Films)

Handeled the publicity for the First International Erotic Film Festival in San Francisco

Hired by Warner Bros. as marketing executive, specializing in youth-oriented product

Co-wrote low-budget film, "Aloha, Bobby and Rose"

Became production executive at Paramount

Promoted to vice president, production, Paramount

Made senior vice president, production, Paramount

Made president, worldwide production, Paramount

Formed Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Productions; entered into five-year exclusive development/production deal with Paramount

First screen credit as producer, "Flashdance"

With Bruckheimer, signed second five-year production deal with Paramount in February; contract ended "by mutual agreement" in November of same year

Simpson-Bruckheimer signed non-exclusive, five-year, five-picture deal with Disney subsidiary Hollywood Pictures (January)

Simpson's doctor, Stephen Ammerman, was found dead of an apparent drug overdose in the shower of Simpson's pool house

At the request of Bruckheimer, Simpson-Bruckheimer dissolved their partnership in December

Simpson found dead at his home on January 19

Final Simpson-Bruckheimer production, "The Rock", debuted in summer