‘Variety Confidential’ True Crime Podcast Shows How Sex and Drugs Ended Hollywood’s Once-Promising Producing Duo

variety.com:

Karen Mizoguchi Don Simpson reigned over Hollywood after joining forces with his producing partner Jerry Bruckheimer in the 1980s.

Around town, the studio executive-turned-producer’s addiction to sex workers and drugs was no secret — and for decades, he wielded his power in the industry to continue his nefarious and erratic ways.

Simpson’s rise and fall in the filmmaking world, as well as the demise of his partnership with Bruckheimer is explored in “’80s Hits and ‘80s Excesses,” the fourth episode of Variety and iHeart Podcasts’ true crime podcast “Variety Confidential.” Host Tracy Pattin and co-host Matt Donnelly, Variety’s senior entertainment and media writer, examine how Simpson rose through the ranks at Paramount and became known for creating box office successes, like “Flashdance,” “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Top Gun.” High-grossing films brought Simpson great influence in Hollywood, which he used to fuel his drug abuse and dependency on women, particularly sex workers, later becoming known as one of the biggest clients of the infamous Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss. “The dark prince of movie making,” Pattin refers to Simpson. “His magic touch for producing hits gave him a license to prey on women.” In the end, Simpson’s troubling personal life strained his most important professional relationship.

After 12 years of working together, Bruckheimer announced the end of their powerhouse producing partnership in December 1995.