Michael Gregg Wilson, CBE (born January 21, 1942) is an American-British screenwriter and film producer, best known for his association with the James Bond film series.
Background
Wilson was born in New York City, the son of Dana (née Natol) and actor Lewis Wilson.[2] His father was the first actor to play the DC Comics character Batman in live action, which he did in the 1943 film serial Batman. He is the stepson of the James Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli and half-brother to Bond co-producer Barbara Broccoli. Wilson graduated from Harvey Mudd College in 1963 as an electrical engineer. He later studied law at Stanford University. After graduating, Wilson worked for the United States government and later a firm located in Washington D.C. that specialized in international law.[3]
In 2010, Wilson was given The Royal Photographic Society's award for Outstanding Service to Photography, which carries with it an Honorary Fellowship of The Society.[5]
In 1972, Wilson joined Eon Productions, the production company responsible for the James Bond film series dating back to 1962, beginning with his stepfather Albert R. 'Cubby' Broccoli and Harry Saltzman. Wilson specifically worked in Eon Productions' legal department until taking on a more active role as an assistant to Cubby Broccoli for the film The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). In 1979 Wilson became executive producer of the film Moonraker and since has been an executive producer or producer in every James Bond film, currently co-producing with his half-sister Barbara Broccoli.
Wilson collaborated five times with veteran Bond screenwriter Richard Maibaum, starting in 1981 with For Your Eyes Only. In 1989, Wilson was forced to finish the screenplay to Licence to Kill alone[6] due to a strike by the Writers Guild of America West which prevented Maibaum from having any further involvement. For both, this was their final James Bond script, as Maibaum died in 1991 and Wilson ceased writing, although he outlined a never-produced film in the series with writer Alfonse Ruggiero, scrapped due to internal legal issues[7] between Eon and MGM (the following film, GoldenEye, being a completely different story written by Michael France).
In addition to his production duties, Wilson has also made many cameo appearances (speaking and non-speaking) in the Bond films. His first appearance, long before becoming a producer, was in Goldfinger in which he appeared as a soldier. Wilson has made cameo appearances in every Eon-produced Bond film since 1977.[8]
Personal life
Wilson and his wife Jane have two sons: A younger son, Gregg Wilson,[9] and an older son, David G. Wilson, both of whom work at Eon Productions.
