Jonathan Shestack

Jonathan Shestack
Born (1959-09-02) September 2, 1959
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
OccupationsFilm producer, film director, activist
SpousePortia Iversen
ChildrenDov Shestack
FatherJerome J. Shestack

Jonathan "Jon" Shestack is a film producer. He has produced well-known movies, such as Air Force One and Firewall.[1] Additionally, he was one of the founders of Cure Autism Now (CAN), an autism-focused nonprofit organization that was formed on August 9, 1995[2] and merged with Autism Speaks on December 31, 2007.[3] His father was Jerome J. Shestack, a well-known lawyer from 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 the Cure Autism Now Foundation 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 in Hollywood. 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 to pass the Combating Autism Act of 2006. 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 founder Ari Ne'eman following Ne'eman's nomination by U.S. President Barack Obama to sit on the 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 by 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.[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 b Ascher-Walsh, Rebecca (April 2006). Best Life. Best Life (magazine). p. 48.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  2. ^ "Articles of Incorporation of Cure Autism Now". California Secretary of State. August 9, 1995. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  3. ^ "Agreement and Certificate of Merger between Autism Speaks Inc. and Cure Autism Now". California Secretary of State. December 31, 2007. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  4. ^ "Marciarose Shestack made her mark as a TV pioneer in Philadelphia - CBS Philadelphia". www.cbsnews.com. March 30, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  5. ^ Grove, Martin (November 2, 2007). "So you're a producer? What exactly do you do?". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  6. ^ Peterson, Richard (September 16, 1997). "Celebrities are taking their charity involvement to new levels". The San Bernardino County Sun. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  7. ^ Mestel, Rosie (March 12, 2001). "Reaching Out to a Remote World". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  8. ^ "Closer to the Truth: Key Terms". PBS. September 17, 2008. Archived from the original on September 17, 2008.
  9. ^ Donvan, John; Zucker, Caren (2016). In a Different Key: The Story of Autism. Crown. pp. 384–391, 467–469. ISBN 978-0-307-98568-2. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  10. ^ Harmon, Amy (March 27, 2010). "Nominee to Disability Council Is Lightning Rod for Dispute on Views of Autism". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 8, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  11. ^ Busch, Anita (December 7, 2017). "Netflix Grabs Hold Of John Scalzi's Sci-Fi Novel 'Old Man's War' For Jon Shestack, Madhouse". Deadline. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  12. ^ "In Development". Jon Shestack. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  13. ^ Jones, Tamera (June 29, 2022). "Sci-Fi Author Philip K. Dick to Get Biopic from Jon Shestack and Michael Richter". Collider. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  14. ^ Burton, Bonnie. "'Redshirts' Sci-Fi Novel Heads to FX as a TV Series". CNET. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
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