Puttnam was born in Southgate, London, England, the son of Marie Beatrix, a homemaker, and Leonard Arthur Puttnam, a war photographer.
1940
Born London, 25th February
Feb 1941
1950
Starts work as a Messenger
Jan 1958
First in Publishing then in Advertising.
Educated at Minchenden Grammar School, North London
Jan 1952
1952-1958 Educated at Minchenden Grammar School in London
1960
Starts David Puttnam Associates, a Photographic Agency
Jan 1968
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.
Marries Patricia Mary Jones
Jan 1961
Joins Collett, Dickenson, Pearce as an Assistant Account Executive
Feb 1962
1970
Produces ‘Midnight Express’
Jan 1978
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.
Produces ‘The Duellists’
Jan 1977
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.
Enigma Productions Founded
Feb 1976
In 1976, he sets up his own production company, Enigma Productions, through which he produced a string of films.
Produces ‘Bugsy Malone’
Jan 1976
David produces gangster musical comedy ‘Bugsy Malone’ set during prohibition and featuring only child actors.
Produces ‘That’ll Be The Day’
Jan 1972
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.
Produces first film ‘Melody’
Jan 1971
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.
Produces ‘Stardust’
Jan 1974
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.
1980
Is appointed Chairman and CEO of Columbia Pictures
Feb 1986
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.
Becomes chairman for the NFTS
Feb 1987
David is appointed Chairman of the NFTS (National Film and Television school) a post, which he retains until 1996.
‘The Mission’ Wins the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival
Jan 1986
The Mission wins the Palme’ d’Or, the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival.
Produces ‘The Mission’
Jan 1986
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.
Produces ‘The Killing Fields’
Jan 1984
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.
Produces ‘Local Hero’
Jan 1983
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.
Produces ‘Chariots of Fire’
Jan 1981
David produces ‘Chariots of Fire’, which tells the story of the two athletes Eric Liddel and Harold Abrahams during the 1924 Olympics.
Awarded CBE
Jan 1982
David is awarded with a CBE.
Chariots of Fire Wins the Oscar for Best Picture
Jan 1982
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.
1990
Founding chair of the National Endowment for Science Technology of the Arts
Jan 1998
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.
Becomes Chancellor of the University of Sunderland
Feb 1997
Lord Puttnam was the first chancellor of the University of Sunderland from 1997 until 13 July 2007.
Awarded a Knighthood
Feb 1995
Produces ‘Memphis Belle’
Jan 1990
David produces ‘Memphis Belle’, a fictionalized documentary of the last mission of an American Boeing during the Second World War.
Appointed a Labour Peer in the House of Lords
Jan 1997
David becomes a life peer and is granted Letters Patent to become Baron Puttnam of Queensgate in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Founds the National Teaching Award
Jan 1998
David founds the National Teaching Awards held each autumn to recognize outstanding teachers in the UK.
2000
Appointed President of the Film Distributors’ Association
Feb 2008
David is appointed as president of the Film Distributors Association, the trade body for theatrical film distributors in the UK.
Serves as Chair of the Joint Parliamentary Committee for the Climate Change Bill
Feb 2007
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).
Made Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in France
Feb 2006
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.
Appointed Deputy Chair of Channel4
Feb 2006
David serves as deputy chairman for Channel 4 from 2006 until 2012.
Appointed Chancellor of the Open University
Feb 2006
David is appointed as chancellor of the Open University, a public research university in Buckinghamshire, a post that he retains until 2014.
Awarded BAFTA Fellowship
Feb 2006
In February 2006 David is awarded the BAFTA fellowship, a lifetime achievement award in recognition of outstanding achievement in cinema.
Serves as Chair of the Joint Scrutiny Comittee for the Communications Bill
Feb 2002
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.
Becomes President of UNICEF UK
Feb 2002
Serves as Chair of the Joint Scrutiny Committee for the Communications Bill
Movies and money is published
Feb 2000
David’s book, The Undeclared War in UK and Australia, is an entertaining account of the struggle for control of the global film industry since the birth of the medium in 1895.
Awarded BAFTA Fellowship
Jan 2006
In February 2006 David is awarded the BAFTA fellowship, a lifetime achievement award in recognition of outstanding achievement in cinema.
2010
Made a Freeman at the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead
Feb 2015
David is made a freeman at the Metropolitan borough of Gateshead in recognition of his services as chairman at the Sage Gateshead.
Announces his return to film production with ‘Arctic 30’
Feb 2015
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.
Appointed Chair of the Academic Board for Pearson College
Feb 2014
David is appointed Chair of the academic board for Pearson College London.
Named Ireland’s Digital Champion
Feb 2012
David is named Ireland’s Digital Champion where he encourages individuals to become digital and promotes e-skills in education.
Starts Atticus Education
Feb 2012
David begins his venture into online education, delivering lectures both in person and from home using video technology to over half a dozen universities around the world.
Appointed Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar
Feb 2012
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).