Hillard Elkins, producer, was born in New York City on October 18, 1929. He began his professional career early and worked as a radio actor while still in his teens. At the age of 19 he owned and operated the Belle Harbor Theater, a Long Island summer tent theatre, and was in charge of its production and publicity. A year later (1949) he joined the William Morris Agency where he eventually became talent coordinator for New York and Los Angeles. After he served two years in the Army (1950-1952), Elkins formed Hillard Elkins Management, a managerial and production firm which boasted such clients as Robert Culp, Steve McQueen, and Mel Brooks. In 1959 his management firm merged with General Artists Corporation, and he became the vice president in charge of West Coast productions. A year later Elkins left to form Elkins Productions International Corporation (EPIC), which acquired and developed properties for motion pictures and theater. He later formed Elkins Productions Ltd (1972) and Hillard Elkins Entertainment Corporation (1974).
Elkins successfully produced or co-produced a number of well-known works in theater and film. His first play was Lillian Hellman's rendition of Candide (with music by Leonard Bernstein) which played at the Buck County Playhouse in Pennsylvania. This was followed by Come on Strong and Golden Boy, the latter a hit musical which starred Sammy Davis. He also helped mount a massive civil rights benefit, Broadway Answers Selma. In 1969 Elkins produced Oh! Calcutta!, a controversial nude musical. A year later his musical The Rothschilds was nominated for a Tony Award as Best Musical, and his 1974 production of South African Season was the nominee for Best Play. He also produced A Doll's House and Hedda Gabler in repertory.
In addition to his Broadway work Elkins produced the motion pictures A Doll's House, Alice's Restaurant, A New Leaf, and Oh! Calcutta!.
A number of his productions were chosen as vehicles for his wife, actress Claire Bloom, to whom he was married from 1969 to 1976. Following his divorce from Bloom in 1976, Elkins married Judith Wilson; subsequently the couple had a son, Daniel Hillard. At some point in 1977 or 1978, Elkins moved to Beverly Hills, California.
Although Elkins Productions International Corp. (EPIC) remained his major production company during this time, Elkins also established several other organizations, primarily in Canada and in London. In 1972 Elkins and Gordon Stulberg, president of Twentieth Century-Fox, formed Elkins Productions of Canada, Ltd. (EPOC) as the first Canadian international film production company. EPOC merged with Life Investors, Ltd. and International Bond and Equity in January 1973, with the resulting conglomerate called Life Investors International, Ltd. The new company was to engage in international banking in the areas of venture capital, real estate, and entertainment; producing feature films, television specials and series, stage productions, records, and tapes; publishing, and film distribution. EPOC became embroiled in Canadian incorporation and tax law questions and never accomplished the goals intended.
