Ezra is a scion of the Ezra-Sassoon banking and trading dynasty, whose roots can be traced back to his ancestor David Ezra, a highly successful businessman in Calcutta, India. Another significant ancestor, David Sassoon, held the esteemed position of treasurer to the Ottoman Empire in Baghdad before establishing himself in Bombay, now known as Mumbai, and later becoming a British citizen.
Ezra's mother, hailing from Venice, Italy, was a language coach at the renowned Glyndebourne Festival Opera for many years. This cultural and educational background had a profound impact on Ezra's life, shaping his interests and passions.
Ezra's educational journey took him to Ampleforth College, where he was a contemporary of renowned author and screenwriter Julian Fellowes. He later studied film production at the University of Westminster.
Ezra's impressive filmography includes the horror movie Slaughter High (1986),originally titled April Fools Day, which was picked up by Vestron at the Cannes Film Festival for a staggering ten times its production costs. He has directed several films, including Savage Hearts (1995),which featured acclaimed actors Richard Harris, Julian Fellowes, and Jerry Hall. Waking Ned Devine (1998),which Ezra co-produced, was acquired by Fox Searchlight and grossed over $100 million. He wrote the screenplay for Steal (2002),which debuted in the number 1 spot in France during the Cannes festival. His film House Swap (2010) won an award at the Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood.
In addition to his work in film, Ezra is married to Production Designer and Composer Jenny Chartres. He is also the author of several books and plays for children. Prior to his success in film, Ezra acted in several BBC TV productions, including The Young Ones (1982) and The Grand Inquisitor (1976),which featured the renowned actor John Gielgud.
