Julius R. Nasso

PRODUCER / DIRECTOR

BIOGRAPHY

In 1976, Julius graduated from St. John's University with a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy. He then earned an advanced Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Connecticut. While attending college in 1974, he founded Universal Marine Medical Supply. Co. (UMMSC), which is now the largest international medical supply company servicing cruise ships, oil rigs, super yachts, merchant vessels, tankers, and freighters. Julius is currently CEO of UMMSC. which maintains offices in New York, Miami, Southampton England, Singapore, Athens Greece, Perth Australia and Shanghai China. Julius was listed in Best Startup Magazine as one of the US’ Top 101 CEO’s in the pharmaceutical space (2023). 

In 1977, Julius, founder and CEO, formed Tishcon Corporation with his college professor Dr. Satish Patel. Today Tishcon stands as one of the nation's largest private labeling vitamin and health supplement manufacturing plants, headquartered in Westbury, New York.  

In 1978, along with Xavier Roberts, he capitalized on the worldwide Cabbage Patch craze by opening the Cabbage Patch Babyland General Hospital Store, formerly located on 41st Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan. At Babyland General Hospital Julius met Steve Ross, then CEO of Time Warner, who became instrumental in Julius' acquisition of an overall production deal at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, California. 

In 1980 while continuing his career in pharmaceutical distribution, Julius accepted a position as a personal assistant to director Sergio Leone. Under Leone, Julius worked on the New York portion of Once Upon a Time in America (1984) and participated in the development of two films: In God's Name and Saint Peter's Banker. Under Sergio Leone’s guidance, Julius began to attend courses and seminars in film production at Cinecitta Studios in Rome, Italy.  

From 1981 to 1983, while still developing projects with Leone, Julius went on to produce a television pilot for a Fox TV show entitled "Behind the 8 Ball," starring Jerry Orbach, John Amos, and Jimmy Baio. 

Julius's next venture was as Head of International Promotions for the action film Above the Law (1986). This led to a 15-year production partnership with Warner Brothers Studios, where Julius was responsible for producing a series of action blockbusters including: Hard to Kill (1990). Marked for Death (1990), Out for Justice (1991), Under Siege (1992), On Deadly Ground (1994), Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995), The Glimmer Man (1996), Fire Down Below (1997) and The Patriot (1998).  

This body of work earned Julius a cover on Success Magazine (1992) as well as a coveted spot on Entrepreneur Magazine’s 40 under 40 List (1992).  

After his 15-year tenure at Warner Brothers Studios as a producer, Julius returned to New York and co-founded Manhattan Pictures. Julius then produced and distributed Enigma (2001), starring Kate Winslet, Secret Lives of Dentists (2001) and In Praise of Love (2001), a Jean-Luc Godard film. In concurrence with Manhattan Pictures, Julius founded Julius R. Nasso Productions, which produced award-winning films including Prince of Central Park (2000), starring Kathleen Turner, Danny Aiello, Cathy Moriarty, Jerry Orbach and Harvey Keitel; and One-Eyed King (2001), starring William Baldwin, Dash Mihok, Armand Assante, Jason Gedrick. Connie Britton, and Chazz Palminteri. 

Julius' most acclaimed achievement is his production of Narc (2002), starring Jason Patric, Ray Liotta, and Busta Rhymes, which was nominated for the Sundance Film Festival's Grand Jury Award and won the Special Prize Policier Award at the Cognac Film Festival in France.  

Following Narc, Julius produced In Enemy Hands (2004), starring William H. Macy, Til Schweiger, Lauren Holly, and Scott Caan; Hearts of War (The Poet) (2007), starring Roy Schneider and Daryl Hannah, and Nina Dobrev. 

Since 2006, Julius has been working as Harry Belafonte's producer on a number of projects including Sing Your Song (2011). Julius has earned numerous critical honors, including the 2012 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary for his work with Harry Belafonte on Sing Your Song (2011).  Sing Your Song is a biographical documentary that surveys the life and times of singer/actor/activist Harry Belafonte and was shortlisted for an Academy Award.  

Since 2011 Julius has worked on Harry Bellefonte's final documentary; Following Harry which is dedicated to non-violence (releasing 2024).  

Julius co-founded and was CO-CEO of Belafonte Arts and Media, located in Manhattan.  

Julius has produced multiple films premiering in 2013, including Nailed (2013), starring Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel; Squatters (2013), starring Academy Award winner Richard Dreyfuss and Thomas Dekker; Split Decision (Breakout) (2013), starring Brendan Fraser and Dominic Purcell; Pride of Lions (2013) starring Louis Gossett Jr. and Bo Svenson; and Getaway (2013), inspired by the Steve McQueen hit of the same name, starring Ethan Hawke, Selena Gomez and Jon Voight. 

He is a 35-year Directors Guild of America member, PGA member and a highly respected philanthropist, having been honored by countless civic leaders and institutions for his tireless charitable works.  

Mr. Nasso has produced action blockbusters over the last 4 decades, including Under Siege, Out for Justice, The Getaway and Narc, plus. He has earned numerous critical honors, including the 2012 NAACP Image Award for outstanding Documentary. Julius R. Nasso, is a past chairman of 5 years for the Staten Island Film Festival; as well as past chairman of 4 years for The Harbour Lights Theater Group. 

Julius R. Nasso’s directorial debut "Darc" (2018) Starring Emmy Award-winning actor, Armand Assante joined by Mr. Nasso's new protegee, Tony Schiena. The screenplay for the film was written by Tony Schiena, an expert for counter terrorism training and a real-life action hero, Schiena, is considered to be one of the most highly trained covert operatives in the world. 

In 2019 Julius Produced and Co-Directed Andrea Bocelli's largest concert performance in Beijing, China, with 78,000 people in attendance and 1.7 billion viewers on live TV and streaming.  

In 2020 Julius bought the rights to the book, Gambino the Rise and is now teamed up with Academy Award winning writer Nick Vallelonga (Greenbook) and George Gallo (Midnight Run) and is now in development of an epic; Gambino, the real godfather. Filming to begin in January 2024. 

Julius begins production of the 7-part series first season of The Pendragon Cycle, directed by Jeremy Boreing, CO-CEO of the Daily Wire, in September 2023.