Ahmet Zappa
| Ahmet Zappa | |
|---|---|
|
Ahmet and Dweezil Zappa (1993) | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ahmet Emuukha Rodan Zappa |
| Born |
May 15, 1974 Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, actor, writer, producer, publisher |
| Associated acts | Dweezil Zappa |
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Ahmet Emuukha Rodan Zappa (born May 15, 1974) is an American writer, producer, publisher, and executor of the Zappa Family Trust.
Early life
Ahmet Zappa was born in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles, the third of four children born to musician Frank Zappa and businesswoman Gail Zappa (née Sloatman).[1] Ahmet's father was of Sicilian, Greek, Arab and French descent and his mother was of French, Irish and mostly Danish ancestry.[2][3] Ahmet Zappa is named after legendary music executive Ahmet Ertegün, whom Frank Zappa greatly admired.[4]
Ahmet's older brother and sister are Dweezil Zappa and Moon Zappa, and his younger sister is Diva Zappa. Ahmet has released several albums with Dweezil, as well as writing the song "Frogs with Dirty Little Lips" with his father. He has appeared in several feature films and television programs, including hosting the TV shows Robotica and But Can They Sing?.
Career
In the late 1990s, Ahmet appeared on Channel 4 UK's The Adam and Joe Show, in a regular segment called 'Vinyl Justice', in which hosts Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish, dressed as policemen, examined his vinyl collection for 'criminal records'.
In 2000, Ahmet appeared in the film Ready to Rumble. Along with his brother Dweezil, he also performed a cover of Britney Spears' song "...Baby One More Time" for the film's soundtrack.
In July 2006, Ahmet saw the release of his debut novel, entitled The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless, aimed at younger readers. The rights to a movie have already been bought by Bruckheimer Films and Disney.[5] The movie is in production with screenwriter Tim Firth assisting, and an expected release is being determined.[6]
On October 19, 2006, The Jim Henson Company announced it had hired Ahmet to write a treatment for a feature film version of the hit 1980s television show Fraggle Rock. He is also writing a sequel to The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless, which had also been optioned to adapt to a screenplay.
Ahmet Zappa introduced the idea of developing a graphic novel-to-film division to Disney's studio head, Bob Iger. Iger, understanding the studio's need for such an entity, allowed Ahmet to run with the idea and granted him free rein to what became known as "Disney's Kingdom Comics."[7]
Ahmet was also given a first look deal at Walt Disney Studios for motion picture productions. His company is called Monsterfoot Productions. He has since created and sold many films. The first, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, was released on August 15, 2012 by Walt Disney Pictures, and starred Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton.
Personal life
Ahmet married actress Selma Blair on January 24, 2004, at Carrie Fisher's mansion in Beverly Hills, California. Blair filed for divorce at the Los Angeles Superior Court on June 21, 2006, citing irreconcilable differences. In a statement to People, a spokesman for the couple said, "Selma and Ahmet have decided to divorce but love each other very much and will continue to be close friends".[8]
Ahmet is now married to Shana Muldoon — designer, writer, and creator of Disney Star Darlings and the sister of actor Patrick Muldoon.[7] They have a daughter, Halo Violetta Zappa, born in 2010.
The Zappa Family Trust, run by Ahmet since the death of his mother Gail Zappa, is threatening legal action against Ahmet's brother Dweezil. The ZFT has proposed a Trademark on the name Zappa which would prevent Dweezil from using his own last name for commercial purposes. Since 2006 Dweezil has been leading and touring with an act called Zappa Plays Zappa, playing Frank Zappa's music. The trust seeks to collect a fee from Dweezil for continued use of the name as well as proceeds from merchandise sold at Zappa Plays Zappa concerts.
Discography
- Confessions (1991)
- Shampoohorn (1994)
- Music for Pets (1996)
Filmography
- Pump Up the Volume (1990) – Jaime
- Anarchy TV (1998)
- Jack Frost (1998) – Snow plow driver
- Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror (1998) – Lazlo
- Ready to Rumble (2000) – Cashier
- Gen¹³ (2000) - Additional Voices (voice)
- Fraggle Rock: The Movie (Announced, October 2006) – producer
- The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012) – story by and producer
Television
- 2 Hip 4 Tv – Host (1988)
- Robotica – host for three seasons (2001–2002)
- webRIOT – host (1999)
- Happy Hour – host (1999)
- But Can They Sing? – host (2005)
- Head Case Ep No. 105 (Parental Guidance Required) – Starz Channel Original Series – self (2008)
- Roseanne (1994)
References
- ↑ "Ahmet Zappa Biography (1974-)".
- ↑ Miles, Barry (2004). Zappa. Grove Press. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-8021-1783-0. ISBN 0-8021-1783-X.
- ↑ Creem magazine. September 1974. p. 16
- ↑ Nolan, Tom (December 4, 2011). "Book review: Recalling legend Ahmet Ertegun, at home with Kissinger or Zappa". Denver Post.
- ↑ "'Mighty' Mouse Book Buy".
- ↑ "The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless at IMDB".
- 1 2 "A Los Angeles Social Diary".
- ↑ E! News – Selma Blair Legally Divorced
