Timeline: Key events of the rise and fall of Harvey Weinstein

[January 03, 2020]  (Reuters) - Harvey Weinstein, who transformed the independent film world with award-winning movies such as "Shakespeare in Love" and "The English Patient", faces criminal sexual assault charges before a jury trial in New York state court to begin next week.

Weinstein, 67, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he sexually assaulted two women, one in 2006 and another in 2013. More than 80 women have made allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Weinstein has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone. A spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

Here is a timeline of the rise and fall of one of the most powerful Hollywood executives:

1979 - Harvey Weinstein and his brother Bob found independent film distribution and production company Miramax, naming it after their parents, Miriam and Max.

June 1993 - The Walt Disney Company buys Miramax for $80 million but the brothers stay on until 2005.

May 1994 - Director Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction," starring Uma Thurman and John Travolta and backed by Miramax, wins the prestigious Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival.

1997 - Miramax wins its first Academy Award for best picture with "The English Patient."

1999 - Miramax's "Shakespeare in Love" wins seven Oscars - including best picture and best actress for Gwyneth Paltrow.

2004 - Weinstein divorces his first wife Eve Chilton, with whom he has three daughters.

2005 - The Weinstein brothers leave Miramax to set up their own production company, The Weinstein Company.

2007 - Weinstein marries English fashion director Georgina Chapman.

October 5, 2017 - The New York Times reports Weinstein settled with eight women who accused him of unwanted physical contact and sexual harassment over three decades. Weinstein in a statement apologized for causing pain to colleagues and said he was taking a leave of absence and entering therapy. Reuters did not independently verify the details of the New York Times report.

October 6, 2017 - Weinstein takes indefinite leave of absence from The Weinstein Co. The company later says he is fired.

October 10, 2017 - The New Yorker reports allegations by 13 women who said Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them, including three who said he raped them. Weinstein again denies non-consensual sex. Reuters did not independently verify the details of The New Yorker's accounts.

October 10, 2017 - Chapman, Weinstein's wife, says she is leaving him.

Film producer Harvey Weinstein exits following a hearing in his sexual assault case at New York State Supreme Court in New York, U.S., December 6, 2019. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

October 14, 2017 - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group that selects the Oscar winners, expels Weinstein.

October 2017 - Actress Alyssa Milano fuels the expansion of the #MeToo movement, founded by Tarana Burke, by writing on Twitter: "If you've ever been sexually harassed or assaulted write 'me too' as a reply to this tweet." In the following weeks, #MeToo would be used by millions of women.

January 1, 2018 - Hollywood celebrities launch the Time's Up campaign to fight sexual harassment in the workplace.

May 25, 2018 - Weinstein surrenders to New York police on charges of rape and a criminal sex act involving alleged assaults against two women, in 2004 and 2013.

June 5, 2018 - Weinstein pleads not guilty to the charges.

June 9, 2018 - Weinstein pleads not guilty to new charges of sexually assaulting a third woman in 2006.

October 11, 2018 – Weinstein wins dismissal of the charges over the alleged 2004 assault. Charges involving the other two women remain pending.

January 17, 2019 - Benjamin Brafman, Weinstein's defense attorney, issues statement saying he is quitting, without elaborating.

January 25, 2019 - Weinstein appears in court to announce new defense team.

April 26, 2019 - Weinstein's trial is delayed until September 9 to allow defense more time to gather evidence.

July 11, 2019 - Weinstein hires third legal team after second team of defense attorneys exits the case.

August 26, 2019 - Weinstein pleads not guilty to new indictment involving the same two women accusing him of two counts of predatory sexual assault, in 2006 and 2013. His trial is pushed back to January 6, 2020.

December 11, 2019 - Weinstein and his bankrupt studio reach tentative $25 million settlement with dozens of women who accused him of sexual misconduct. Representatives for Weinstein declined to comment.

January 7, 2020 - Jury selection at Weinstein's trial expected to begin.

(Reporting by Diane Craft; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Daniel Wallis)

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