Hollywood producer Scott Rudin became as famous as one of his movie stars last week when hackers leaked vicious e-mails between him and Sony Pictures co-chair Amy Pascal, in which he called Angelina Jolie “a minimally talented spoiled brat” with a “rampaging spoiled ego.” He also made racially charged comments about President Obama, suggesting that Rudin and Pascal ask if Obama enjoyed a slew of films about slavery, adding, “I bet he likes Kevin Hart.”
While Rudin’s talent has never been in question, his abuse is legendary.
Now 56, the Long Island native is one of the most powerful producers in the industry. He’s also one of the few so-called EGOTs: Those who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award.
His movies — starting with his first commercial hit, 1990’s “Flatliners” — have grossed nearly $4 billion cumulatively.
Over the past few years alone, Rudin produced “It’s Complicated,” “The Social Network,” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “Moneyball,” “Moonrise Kingdom,” “Captain Phillips” and Chris Rock’s acclaimed new film, “Top Five.”
As beloved as he is by directors, writers and some actors, Rudin is loathed by those who’ve worked beneath him. He has a reputation as a bully, a megalomanic, a vulgarian and a sadist.
He has pushed assistants out of moving cars. He has thrown so many phones at assistants that, lore has it, a box of fresh ones is always on hand. He has fired people for bringing him the wrong muffin, mispronouncing names and, in at least one case, having to attend a funeral. One dismissed lackey wasn’t even allowed to put on his coat before leaving the building.
The average Rudin assistant lasts four weeks.
“He’s got issues,” former assistant Jon Silk tells The Post. “I don’t think he’s fully in control of the things he says and does to people.”
By last Friday, Pascal’s future at Sony was in question. Rudin, on the other hand, is expected to survive — despite all the human wreckage in his wake.
There was the spectacular firing of an assistant who’d been late to pick up Rudin at the airport. “My last day is today,” the assistant said. “Your last moment is now,” replied Rudin, who forced him out of the car on the Triborough Bridge.
One former assistant told Salon.com of coming into work at 7:30 a.m. to find a stream of voicemails time-stamped from 11 p.m. through 6:30 a.m. “Then the phone rings — it’s 7:35 a.m. — and it’s Scott, saying, ‘Start on those calls,’ ” the ex-assistant said. “This goes on until about 11 a.m. He’s in the office now. I’m making calls, and suddenly he screams, ‘You a–hole! Your forgot to remind me to get flowers for Anjelica Huston’s birthday!’ And as he slowly disappears behind his automatic closing door, the last thing I see is his finger, flipping me off.”
Rudin forced an employee to tape the definition of “anticipate” above his desk. Another had to make 300 calls in a row, in one day. Rudin once pitched a fit when brought the wrong sushi.
He is known for issuing the following declarations:
“Don’t ever f–king think — I hired you from the neck down.”
“This is a new level of stupid.”
“Why doesn’t everyone just do what I say?”
“My silence is high praise.”
“Do you think you’ll even vaguely perform your duties as my employee?”
“You have three things to do: answer the phone, listen to me and die.”
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