{{short description|American filmmaker (born 1934)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}} {{Infobox person | name = Tamar Simon Hoffs | image = Tamar_Simon_Hoffs.jpg | image_size = 240px | caption = Hoffs in 2009 | birth_name = Tamar Ruth Simon | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1934|10|23|mf=y}} | birth_place = Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | occupation = {{hlist|Director|producer|screenwriter}} | spouse = Joshua Hoffs | parents = Ralph Simon and Kelsey Hoffer | children = John<br/>Susanna<br/>Jesse }} '''Tamar Simon Hoffs''' (née '''Tamar Ruth Simon'''; October 23, 1934) is an American filmmaker, best known for directing the indie films ''Red Roses and Petrol'' (2003) and ''Pound of Flesh'' (2009), both starring Malcolm McDowell. She is the mother of Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles.
==Life and career== Hoffs was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the youngest child to a Jewish family. Her parents were Kelsey Hoffer and Rabbi Ralph Simon, and she had a brother, Matthew.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theobituaryapp.com/obituaries/matthew-simon/4077562|title=Matthew Simon Obituary|date=2023|accessdate=13 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Special to The New York Times. |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0B1EFA3454177B93CAAB1789D85F438585F9 |title=TAMAR SIMON ENGAGED - She Is Fiancee of Joshua A. Hoffs, A Medical Student - Article - NYTimes.com |publisher=Select.nytimes.com |date=February 28, 1957 |access-date=June 14, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/120590506.html?dids=120590506:120590506&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+20%2C+2002&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=SIMON%2C+KELSEY+H.&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216162725/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/120590506.html?dids=120590506:120590506&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+20,+2002&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=SIMON,+KELSEY+H.&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 16, 2013 |title=Simon, Kelsey H |publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com |access-date=June 14, 2013}}</ref> She grew up in Chicago and received a BA from the University of Chicago, followed by Graduate Studies at Yale University School of Fine Arts and the Illinois Institute of Technology, Institute of Design.<ref name="Httpthehollywoodinterviewblogspotcomtamarsimonhoffshollywoodinterviewhtml">{{cite web |url=https://thehollywoodinterview.blogspot.com/2008/06/tamar-simon-hoffs-hollywood-interview.html |title=The Hollywood Interview: Tamar Simon Hoffs: The Hollywood Interview |publisher=Thehollywoodinterview.blogspot.com |access-date=June 14, 2013 |archive-date=March 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313210645/http://thehollywoodinterview.blogspot.com/2008/06/tamar-simon-hoffs-hollywood-interview.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
After moving to Los Angeles, Hoffs entered the filmmaking profession almost by accident, when actor friend Leonard Nimoy asked her to join the art department of his indie film, ''Deathwatch''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060293/|title=Deathwatch|date=June 27, 1967|via=IMDb|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=June 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616200929/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060293/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1974, she co-wrote Warner Brothers' ''Lepke'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073279/|title=Lepke|date=February 10, 1975|via=IMDb|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=March 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190312215452/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073279/|url-status=live}}</ref> starring Tony Curtis. Hoffs later wrote and produced ''Stony Island'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078324/|title=Stony Island|date=November 17, 1978|via=IMDb|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=April 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414231717/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078324/|url-status=live}}</ref> with Andrew Davis, an independent film about young R&B musicians in inner city Chicago. It screened at Sundance Film Festival, Deauville American Film Festival and at the Chicago International Film Festival, where it won the coveted Lincoln Award and commendation from Illinois Governor James R. Thompson.
In 1980, Hoffs was chosen to participate in the prestigious AFI Directing Workshop for Women.<ref name="Httpthehollywoodinterviewblogspotcomtamarsimonhoffshollywoodinterviewhtml" /> Her directorial debut was the short comedy, ''The Haircut''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0263416/|title=The Haircut|via=IMDb|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=January 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127210752/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0263416/|url-status=live}}</ref> (Universal Studios, 1983), starring John Cassavetes, an official selection of the 1983 Cannes Film Festival, (Un Certain Regard), Toronto International Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival, and receiving a commendation from Robert Redford, Sundance Institute.
In 1987, Hoffs became the first woman to receive the triple director/writer/producer credit on a major studio feature film, ''The Allnighter'' (Universal Studios).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/malcolminterviews/redroses12804.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810094731/http://geocities.com/malcolminterviews/redroses12804.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-08-10|title=Tamar Simon Hoffs|website=www.webcitation.org}}</ref> In 1994, she was awarded Doctor of Humane Letters from International University College, Aix-en-Provence in International Education and European Studies.
In 1989 Hoffs wrote, produced and directed the youth musical ''Rock n' Read'', starring Pauly Shore (MCA- Universal Studios), and ''Smokin': Somebody Stop Me'' (Library Video Company / Schlessinger Media, 1999), a series about the dangers of tobacco use. She served as producer, writer, and voice director on the digital animation series, ''Horrible Histories'', (Scholastic Corporation, 2001), narrated by Stephen Rea.
In 2003 Hoffs wrote, directed and produced ''Red Roses and Petrol'', a feature based on the stage play of the same name by Joseph O'Connor, starring Malcolm McDowell and Max Beesley. Her next feature, ''Pound of Flesh'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1196338/|title=Pound of Flesh|date=September 19, 2010|via=IMDb|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=April 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401154345/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1196338/|url-status=live}}</ref> starring Malcolm McDowell and Angus Macfadyen, was released in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1196338/|title=Pound of Flesh (2010) - IMDb|via=m.imdb.com|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=April 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401154345/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1196338/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Hoffs has also directed and produced numerous music videos, notably The Bangles' "Going Down to Liverpool" and "If She Knew What She Wants" (Columbia Records, 1984). On the stage, Hoffs directed the play ''Ghost Music'', starring Pam Grier and Nick Cassavetes (Beyond Baroque Theater,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beyondbaroque.org/ |title=Beyond Baroque Homepage |publisher=Beyondbaroque.org |access-date=June 14, 2013 |archive-date=June 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621040450/http://www.beyondbaroque.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 1984).
Hoffs is a member of the Directors Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America West, and the Alliance of Women Directors.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/ |title=Vision Focus Action |publisher=Alliance of Women Directors |access-date=June 14, 2013 |archive-date=June 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602171734/http://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Personal life== She was married to Joshua Allen Hoffs, M.D. for 67 years until his death in 2024, and has three children, John, Jesse, and Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles.
==Filmography== *[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1196338 ''Pound of Flesh''] (writer, director, producer), 2009 *''Red Roses and Petrol'' (writer, director, producer), 2003 *''Horrible Histories'' (TV series) (producer), 25 episodes, 2001–2002 *[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385195 ''Rock & Read''] (writer, director, producer), 1989 *''The Allnighter'' (writer, director), 1987 *The Bangles music video "If She Knew What She Wants" (producer), 1986 *[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090062 ''Stand Alone''] (associate producer), 1985 *The Bangles music video "Going Down to Liverpool" (director), 1984 *''The Haircut'' (writer, director), 1982 *''Stony Island'' (writer, producer), 1978 *[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475511 ''At Home with Shields and Yarnell''] (associate producer), 1978 *[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073279 ''Lepke''] (writer), 1975
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *{{Official website|http://tamarsimonhoffs.com}} *{{IMDb name|0389311}} *[http://www.redrosesandpetrol.com Official "Red Roses and Petrol" Webpage] *{{Citation | last = McCarthy | first = Sean | title = Mother of All Inventions | newspaper = Film Ireland | pages = 28–30 |date=Jul–Aug 2004 }} *{{Citation | last = Simon | first = Alex | title = Tamar Simon Hoffs | newspaper = Venice Magazine, Volume XX | date=June 2008 }}
*[https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117924721.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&query=tamar+simon+hoffs Variety: Hoffs wins Prix Tournage, Avignon Film Festival]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoffs, Tamar Simon}} Category:1934 births Category:Film producers from Pennsylvania Category:American music video directors Category:Screenwriters from Illinois Category:American theatre directors Category:American women theatre directors Category:Jewish theatre directors Category:American women film directors Category:American voice directors Category:Illinois Institute of Technology alumni Category:Living people Category:Writers from Chicago Category:People from Johnstown, Pennsylvania Category:University of Chicago alumni Category:American women screenwriters Category:Yale University alumni Category:Film directors from Pennsylvania Category:Women music video directors Category:Screenwriters from Pennsylvania Category:American women film producers Category:Film producers from Illinois Category:20th-century American Jews Category:21st-century American Jews Category:20th-century American women Category:21st-century American women