# Jonathan Shestack > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jonathan_Shestack > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jonathan_Shestack.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Shestack > Source revision: 1350114119 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American film producer Jonathan Shestack Born (1959-09-02) September 2, 1959 (age 66) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Occupations Film producer, film director, activist Spouse Portia Iversen Children Dov Shestack Father Jerome J. Shestack Neurodiversity paradigm Philosophy Autistic rights movement Bodily autonomy Disability rights movement Independent living movement Self-advocacy Organizations AsIAm Aspies For Freedom Association for Autism and Neurodiversity Autism Europe Autism Network International Autistic Self Advocacy Network National Autistic Society Events Autism Acceptance Day Autism Acceptance Month Autism History Month Autistic Pride Day Autscape Disability Day of Mourning Neurodiversity Celebration Week Weird Pride Day World Misophonia Awareness Day Issues Ableism Anti-autism All in a Row Applied behavior analysis Augmentative and alternative communication Autism-friendly Autism Speaks Autism therapies Autistic masking Communication Shutdown Community integration Conditions comorbid to autism Controversies in autism Deinstitutionalisation Disability-selective abortion Double empathy problem Employment Supported employment Ethical challenges to autism treatment Eugenics Facilitated communication Filicide Inclusion in education Inclusion as a right Judge Rotenberg Center Mortality of autistic individuals Neurodiversity and labor rights Social model of disability Societal and cultural aspects of autism Suicide among people with autism Universal design Universal Design for Learning Violence People Alex Plank Ari Ne'eman Damian Milton Daniel Lightwing Devon Price Donna Williams govy Greta Thunberg Hanna Bertilsdotter Rosqvist Jim Sinclair John Elder Robison Josef Schovanec Judy Singer Julia Bascom Ly Xīnzhèn M. Zhǎngsūn Brown Mel Baggs Michelle Dawson Morénike Giwa Onaiwu Morton Ann Gernsbacher Nick Walker Robert Chapman Roy Richard Grinker Shain Neumeier Steve Silberman William Davenport M. Remi Yergeau Films Citizen Autistic Deej Loving Lampposts Neurotypical Criticism Pro-cure perspective National Council on Severe Autism Matthew Belmonte Manuel Casanova Jill Escher Michael Fitzpatrick Bruce Hall Eileen Lamb Amy S.F. Lutz David Miedzianik Jonathan Mitchell Alysson Muotri Jonathan Shestack Alison Singer v t e **Jonathan "Jon" Shestack** is a film producer. He has produced well-known movies, such as *[Air Force One](/source/Air_Force_One_(film))* and [Firewall](/source/Firewall_(film)).[1] Additionally, he was one of the founders of Cure Autism Now (CAN), an [autism](/source/Autism)-focused nonprofit organization that was formed on August 9, 1995[2] and merged with [Autism Speaks](/source/Autism_Speaks) on December 31, 2007.[3] His father was [Jerome J. Shestack](/source/Jerome_J._Shestack), a well-known lawyer from [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia), and his mother is Marciarose Shestack, a broadcast journalist.[4] Shestack has stated that his production style starts with a pitch for a script. He then refines the idea as needed until a studio decides that it will be made into a movie. He has also advocated giving credit to people that play an indirect role in moviemaking.[5] He has been eager to use the films he produces to raise money for autism research.[6] Shestack started CAN after his son, Dov, was diagnosed with autism.[1] The organization raised money for scientific research on autism,[7] with a primary focus on cure- and treatment-related research.[8] Shestack received many donations through his connections[*[vague](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Vagueness)*] in [Hollywood](/source/Cinema_of_the_United_States). He was known for being able to attract significant donors and awareness, to the extent that he played a major role in convincing the [United States Congress](/source/United_States_Congress) to pass the [Combating Autism Act of 2006](/source/Combating_Autism_Act). Initially, Shestack was against the merger of CAN with Autism Speaks, but decided to eventually accept it.[9] In 2010, Shestack criticized autistic activist and [Autistic Self Advocacy Network](/source/Autistic_Self_Advocacy_Network) founder [Ari Ne'eman](/source/Ari_Ne'eman) following Ne'eman's nomination by [U.S. President Barack Obama](/source/U.S._President_Barack_Obama) to sit on the [National Council on Disability](/source/National_Council_on_Disability). Shestack stated, "Why people have gotten upset is, he doesn’t seem to represent, understand or have great sympathy for all the people who are truly, deeply affected in a way that he isn’t."[10] In 2017 Shestack's production company was selected to produce the Netflix film adaption of the 2005 science-fiction book *[Old Man's War](/source/Old_Man's_War)* by [John Scalzi](/source/John_Scalzi).[11] As of February 2026, Shestack's personal website lists the film as "in development."[12] In 2022 Shestack was selected to produce *Only Apparently Real*, a biopic based on [Philip K Dick](/source/Philip_K._Dick).[13] ## Filmography Year Title Role 1994 The Last Seduction Producer 1997 Air Force One Producer 1998 Disturbing Behavior Producer 2001 Soul Survivors Executive producer 2005 Waiting... Executive producer 2006 Firewall Producer 2006 Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas Executive producer 2007 Dan in Real Life Producer 2009 Ghosts of Girlfriends Past Producer 2013 Open Grave Executive producer[14] 2016 We Love You Producer 2017 Before I Fall Producer ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_1-1) Ascher-Walsh, Rebecca (April 2006). [*Best Life*](https://books.google.com/books?id=JscDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA48). [Best Life (magazine)](/source/Best_Life_(magazine)). p. 48.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: date and year ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_date_and_year)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Articles of Incorporation of Cure Autism Now"](https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/api/report/GetImageByNum/209030130017093021146100112078252027125013195164). *[California Secretary of State](/source/California_Secretary_of_State)*. August 9, 1995. Retrieved January 29, 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Agreement and Certificate of Merger between Autism Speaks Inc. and Cure Autism Now"](https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/api/report/GetImageByNum/191194132020248086114200135133030202022195029254). *[California Secretary of State](/source/California_Secretary_of_State)*. December 31, 2007. Retrieved January 29, 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Marciarose Shestack made her mark as a TV pioneer in Philadelphia - CBS Philadelphia"](https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/marciarose-shestack-made-her-mark-as-a-pioneer-in-philadelphia/). *www.cbsnews.com*. March 30, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-HollywoodReporter_5-0)** Grove, Martin (November 2, 2007). ["So you're a producer? What exactly do you do?"](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/youre-a-producer-what-exactly-154054). *The Hollywood Reporter*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210124124951/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/youre-a-producer-what-exactly-154054) from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-San_Bernardino_6-0)** Peterson, Richard (September 16, 1997). ["Celebrities are taking their charity involvement to new levels"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/94064617/). *The San Bernardino County Sun*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250603063417/https://www.newspapers.com/image/94064617/) from the original on June 3, 2025. Retrieved March 16, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Fundraising_7-0)** Mestel, Rosie (March 12, 2001). ["Reaching Out to a Remote World"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-mar-12-he-36596-story.html). *The Los Angeles Times*. Retrieved March 16, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Closer to the Truth: Key Terms"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080917072749/http://www.pbs.org/kcet/closertotruth/terms/index.html). *[PBS](/source/PBS)*. September 17, 2008. Archived from [the original](http://www.pbs.org/kcet/closertotruth/terms/index.html) on September 17, 2008. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-DifferentKey_9-0)** Donvan, John; Zucker, Caren (2016). [*In a Different Key: The Story of Autism*](https://books.google.com/books?id=sdusCAAAQBAJ). Crown. pp. 384–391, 467–469. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-307-98568-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-307-98568-2). Retrieved March 13, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Ne'eman_10-0)** Harmon, Amy (March 27, 2010). ["Nominee to Disability Council Is Lightning Rod for Dispute on Views of Autism"](https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/health/policy/28autism.html). *The New York Times*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200308124810/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/health/policy/28autism.html) from the original on March 8, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Busch, Anita (December 7, 2017). ["Netflix Grabs Hold Of John Scalzi's Sci-Fi Novel 'Old Man's War' For Jon Shestack, Madhouse"](https://deadline.com/2017/12/netflix-old-mans-war-john-scalzi-sci-fi-novel-jon-shestack-madhouse-entertainment-1202221957/). *Deadline*. Retrieved February 24, 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["In Development"](https://www.jonshestack.com/in-development). *Jon Shestack*. Retrieved February 24, 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Jones, Tamera (June 29, 2022). ["Sci-Fi Author Philip K. Dick to Get Biopic from Jon Shestack and Michael Richter"](https://collider.com/philip-k-dick-biopic-jon-shestack-michael-richter/). *Collider*. Retrieved February 24, 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Burton, Bonnie. ["'Redshirts' Sci-Fi Novel Heads to FX as a TV Series"](https://www.cnet.com/culture/sci-fi-novel-redshirts-heads-to-fx-as-a-tv-series/). *CNET*. Retrieved February 24, 2026. ## External links - [Official website](https://www.jonshestack.com/) - [California Resolution Honoring Jonathan Shestack](https://www.cirm.ca.gov/sites/default/files/files/agenda/131211_Agenda_13_Resolution%202013-06%20%28Shestack%29%20%2800210555%29.pdf) Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States Spain Poland Israel People Deutsche Biographie Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jonathan Shestack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Shestack) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Shestack?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.