Mark Vahradian

Mark Vahradian
Մարկ Վահրադեան
Vahradian in 2024
Born1967 (age 58–59)
Mission Viejo, California
Alma mater
OccupationFilm producer
Years active1994–present

Mark Vahradian (Armenian: Մարկ Վահրադեան; born 1967[1]) is an American film producer. He is best known for producing the Transformers franchise and Pet Sematary (2019). He serves as the president of production at Di Bonaventura Pictures.[2]

Early life

Vahradian was born into an Armenian family in Mission Viejo, California. He attended Mission Viejo High School, training with Mission Viejo Nadadores club as a swimmer.[3][4] He later swam competitively at Duke University as a D1 athlete, where he majored in political science.[3] He competed for the Duke Blue Devils from 1986 to 1988, and placed as one of Men's Swimming All-Time Letterwinners.[5] In 1990, his brother was crushed to death due to an accident with a collapsed wall.[6][3]

Following his undergraduate studies, Vahradian completed his Juris Doctor at the UCLA School of Law before pivoting to movie production.[4]

In recognition of his extensive volunteer service to Duke University as an alumni, Vahradian earned the Forever Duke Award in 2017.[7]

Career

Vahradian initially joined Universal Pictures as an assistant, then later transitioned to Walt Disney Co. in 1994 as a creative executive before being promoted to director of creative affairs, then subsequently to executive vice president of production.[8][4]

After eight years, he left Disney to join Jerry Weintraub Productions in 2003 as president of production, based at Warner Bros. He was involved in productions such as sequel 2004 film Ocean's Twelve.[9]

In 2006, Vahradian went to Paramount Pictures as president of production for Di Bonaventura Pictures. He collaborated with producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura and director Michael Bay in the production of the Transformers film series.[2][3][4]

He received a nomination for the Golden Globe in the category of Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for the 2010 film Red.[10]

Transformers film series

Vahradian has been a part of production for the Transformers franchise since its 2007 launch. He served as executive producer in the films Transformers (2007), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), and as senior producer in Bumblebee (2018), Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023), and animated film Transformers One (2024).

Advocacy

Vahradian is an advocate for reduction of taxes in the film industry. In May 2025, he interviewed with The Lead with Jake Tapper on CNN, expressing concerns on President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign-made films: "We would love nothing more than to make movies in the United States... but... sometimes that’s just not possible."[11] In October of the same year, he led a delegation of high-end Hollywood producers to Spain to explore co-production partnerships with Zeta Studio, known for producing the Spanish TV series Elite, partly due to the country's lower tax rebate.[12]

Vahradian serves as vice chair of Producers United, a collective advocacy group launched in June 2023 by career producers to promote fair compensation and recognition for their services in the Hollywood filming industry.[13][14]

Filmography

Producer

Executive producer

References

  1. ↑ "Mark Vahradian". radaris.com.
  2. 1 2 "Mark Vahradian". Variety. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Stewart, Mel (2017-06-25). "Movie Producer Mark Vahradian: Life After Swimming in Hollywood". SwimSwam. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Mark Vahradian is Making Waves in Hollywood". usms.org. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
  5. ↑ "2018-19 Duke Swimming & Diving" (PDF). SIDEARM Sports. 2018–19. p. 94. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  6. ↑ "MISSION VIEJO : Mortuary Sued in Theft of Son's Ashes". Los Angeles Times. 1990-03-09. Retrieved 2026-04-18.
  7. ↑ "2017 Duke Alumni Association Roster". Duke Today. 2017-09-21. Retrieved 2026-04-18.
  8. ↑ Lyons, Charles (1999-10-07). "Vahradian on the move at Mouse House". Variety. Retrieved 2026-04-18.
  9. ↑ Dunkley, Cathy (2003-03-11). "Vahradian makes leap to Weintraub". Variety. Retrieved 2026-04-18.
  10. ↑ "The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards NOMINATIONS | OFFICIAL WEBSITE of the HFPA and the GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS". Goldenglobes.org. December 14, 2010. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  11. ↑ Lincoln, Ross A. (2025-05-06). "'Transformers' Producer Says Trump Tariffs Aren't 'the Best Way Forward' for Hollywood: 'We Are Not a Car Business' | Video". TheWrap. Retrieved 2026-04-18.
  12. ↑ Fuente, Anna Marie de la (2025-10-27). "'Transformers' Exec Producer Mark Vahradian, 'American Sniper' Producer Andrew Lazar Eyeing Co-Productions With Spain, Attend Zeta Studios' Inaugural Creative Summit (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2026-04-18.
  13. ↑ "Mark Vahradian". Linkedin.
  14. ↑ Donnelly, Matt (2025-11-19). "'Our Value Was Never Disrespected': Hollywood Career Producers Are Battling Actors, Greedy Managers, Penny-Pinching Execs and Stolen Credits to Survive". Variety. Retrieved 2026-04-18.
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