Puttnam was born in Southgate, London, England, the son of Marie Beatrix, a homemaker, and Leonard Arthur Puttnam, a war photographer.
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1940
Feb 1941
Born London, 25th February
1950
1952
Educated at Minchenden Grammar School, North London
1952-1958 Educated at Minchenden Grammar School in London
1958
Starts work as a Messenger
First in Publishing then in Advertising.
1960
1961
Married to Patricia Mary Jones
1962
Joins Collett, Dickenson, Pearce as an Assistant Account Executive
1968
Starts David Puttnam Associates, a Photographic Agency
1970
1971
Produces first film 'Melody'
David produces his first film, ‘Melody’ with Ronald S Kass. It is released in the UK as S.W.A.L.K and tells a romantic story from the viewpoints of the children.
1972
Produces 'That'll Be The Day'
David and Sanford Lieberson produce ‘That’ll be the Day’, set in the late 50’s about the restless young school drop out, Jim MacLaine.
1974
Produces 'Stardust'
The sequel to David's previous film, ‘That’ll be the Day’. Its tagline reads, ‘Show me a boy who never wanted to be a rock star and I’ll show you a liar’ and it continues to tell the life story of Jim MacLaine.
1976
Enigma Productions Founded
In 1976, he set up his own production company, Enigma Productions, through which he produced a string of films.
1976
Produces 'Bugsy Malone'
David produces gangster musical comedy ‘Bugsy Malone’ set during prohibition and featuring only child actors.
1977
Produces 'The Duellists'
David produces ‘The Duelists’ based on Joseph Conrad’s short story, ‘The Duel’ beginning in 1800, the film tells the story of two French officers who engage in a number of duels spanning over two decades.
1978
Produces 'Midnight Express'
David produces ‘Midnight Express’ based on Billy Hayes’ experience in Turkish prison following his attempt to board a plane to the US from Istanbul with 2kg of Hashish strapped to his chest.
1980
1981
Produces 'Chariots of Fire'
David produces ‘Chariots of Fire’, which tells the story of the two athletes Eric Liddel and Harold Abrahams during the 1924 Olympics.
1982
Chariots of Fire Wins the Oscar for Best Picture
David wins his first Oscar as producer of the ‘Chariots of Fire’, and brings director Hugh Hudson on stage with him to collect the award.
1982
Awarded CBE
David is awarded with a CBE.
1983
Produces 'Local Hero'
David produces comedy-drama Local Hero about an American oil representative sent to a village in the West Coast of Scotland to buy the town for his company.
1984
Produces 'The Killing Fields'
David produces the Killing Fields based on the experiences of Dith Pranh and Sydney Schanberg during the Cambodian civil war and subsequent take over by the Khmer Rouge.
1986
Produces 'The Mission'
David produces the Killing Fields based on the experiences of Dith Pranh and Sydney Schanberg during the Cambodian civil war and subsequent take over by the Khmer Rouge.
1986
'The Mission' Wins the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival
‘The Mission’ wins the Palme’ d’Or, the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival.
1986
Is appointed Chairman and CEO of Columbia Pictures
David is appointed chairman and chief executive offer of Columbia Pictures from 1986-1988 and becomes the first non-American to head a Hollywood Studio.
1987
Becomes chairman for the NFTS
David is appointed as Chairman for the NFTS (National Film and Television school) a post, which he retains until 1996.
1990
1990
Produces 'Memphis Belle'
David produces ‘Memphis Belle’, a fictionalized documentary of the last mission of an American Boeing during the Second World War.
1995
Awarded a Knighthood
David is awarded with a knighthood.
1997
Becomes Chancellor of the University of Sunderland
Lord Puttnam was the first chancellor of the University of Sunderland from 1997 until 13 July 2007.
1997
Appointed as a Labour Peer in the House of Lords
David is created as a life peer and granted Letters Patent to become Baron Puttnam of Queensgate in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
1998
Founding chair of the National Endowment for Science Technology of the Arts
David becomes the founding chairman for the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA) a public body designed to promote creativity, talent and innovation.
1998
Founds the National Teaching Award
David founds the National Teaching Awards held each autumn to recognize outstanding teachers in the UK.
2000
2000
Publishes ‘Movies and Money’
David’s book ‘Movies and Money’ is published (publishes in the UK and Australia as The Undeclared War), an entertaining account of the struggle for control of the world’s film industry since the birth of the medium in 1895.
2002
Becomes President of UNICEF UK
Serves as Chair of the Joint Scrutiny Committee for the Communications Bill
2002
Serves as Chair of the Joint Scrutiny Comittee for the Communications Bill
David chaired the joint scrutiny committee on the Communications Bill, which recommended an amendment to prevent ownership of British terrestrial TV stations by companies with significant involvements in the newspaper industry.
2006
Awarded BAFTA Fellowship
In February 2006 David was awarded the BAFTA fellowship, a lifetime achievement award in recognition of outstanding achievement in cinema.
2006
Appointed Chancellor of the Open University
David is appointed as chancellor of the Open University, a public research university in Buckinghamshire, a post that he retains until 2014.
2006
Appointed Deputy Chair of Channel 4
David serves as deputy chairman for Channel 4 from 2006 until 2012.
2006
Made Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in France
David is made commander of the Order of Arts and Letters (Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) in France, which recognises significant contributions to the arts and literature.
2007
Serves as Chair of the Joint Parliamentary Committee for the Climate Change Bill
David serves as head of a joint select committee of 24 members from the House of Lords and Commons for the Climate Change Bill (having performed the same role on the 2002 Communications Bill).
2008
Appointed President of the Film Distributors' Association
David is appointed as president of the Film Distributors Association, the trade body for theatrical film distributors in the UK.
2010
2012
Appointed Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar
David is appointed as Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar for the UK governmental department UKTI (UK Trade and Investment).
2012
Starts ‘Atticus Education’
David begins his venture into online education whereby he delivers lectures to university students from around the world using technology from his home in Skibbereen.
2012
Named Ireland’s Digital Champion
David is named Ireland’s Digital Champion where he encourages individuals to become digital and promotes e-skills in education.
2014
Appointed Chair of the Academic Board for Pearson College
David is appointed as chair of the academic board for Pearson College London.
2015
Announces his return to film production with ‘Arctic 30’
David announces that he will produce environmental thriller, ‘Artic 30’, based on the book, ‘Don’t Trust, Don’t Fear, Don’t Beg’ by Ben Stewart.
2015
Made a Freeman at the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead
David is made a freeman at the Metropolitan borough of Gateshead in recognition of his services as chairman at the Sage Gateshead.
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