James Lassiter

James Lassiter
OccupationFilm producer
Known forCo-founder of Overbrook Entertainment

James Lassiter is an American film producer and talent agent. He served as the manager of American rapper and actor Will Smith before the two co-founded the production company Overbrook Entertainment in 1998. Also Smith's business partner, Lassiter has co-produced several films in which he starred. Prior, he founded Jarola Artist Management in 1991, and Brookside Artist Management in 2002 as sole proprietor.[1]

Career

Lassiter attended University of Miami and Temple University and befriended Jeffrey "Jazzy Jeff" Townes, who was in a rap duo with soon-to-be actor Will Smith. Lassiter became acquainted with Smith, and became his road manager. Lassiter briefly worked with other companies including Handprint and The Firm, but ultimately shifted focus towards managing Smith full time, also serving as his business partner. Lassiter and Smith formed Overbrook Entertainment in 1998, a production company which has produced films including Hitch and ATL. While Overbrook had a deal with Universal Studios to produce films, none resulted, and the company was taken to Sony. The pair sought to market each of their productions to a different foreign market, promoting I, Robot in Russia and Ali in South Africa.[2]

Filmography

He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

Year Film Credit
2001 Ali
2002 Showtime Executive producer
2004 I, Robot Executive producer
Saving Face
2005 Hitch
2006 ATL
The Pursuit of Happyness
2007 I Am Legend
2008 Hancock
The Secret Life of Bees
The Human Contract Executive producer
Lakeview Terrace
Seven Pounds
2010 The Karate Kid
2012 This Means War
2013 After Earth
2014 Annie
2018 Sprinter
2019 Hala
2020 Bad Boys for Life Executive producer
Charm City Kings Executive producer
Life in a Year Executive producer
2021 King Richard Executive producer
The Harder They Fall
2022 Emancipation Executive producer
2023 The Book of Clarence
TBA Teddy Executive producer
Music department
Year Film Role Notes
1997 Booty Call Executive music producer
Men in Black Uncredited

Television

Year Title Credit Notes
1998 Getting Personal Executive producer
2000 Loose Cannon Executive producer Television pilot
2003−07 All of Us Executive producer
2013 The Queen Latifah Show
Styled to Rock Executive producer
2018−present Cobra Kai Executive producer
2020 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion Executive producer Television special
2022 Bel-Air Executive producer
Thanks
Year Title Role Notes
2016 StoryBots Super Songs Special thanks
2017 A StoryBots Christmas Television special
2016−18 Ask the StoryBots

References

  1. ^ "Trademark Status & Document Retrieval – Brookside Artist Management".
  2. ^ Holson, Laura M (2006-08-21). "The Fresh Princes of Mumbai". The New York Times.