Born in New York City. With brother Terry Sanders as co-producer, co-writer, and cameraman, he directed a two-reel short to fulfill a film course requirement at UCLA. The film, A TIME OUT OF WAR (1954), based on a Civil War incident, went on to win an Academy Award and first prizes at the Venice and Edinburgh Festivals. Venturing into features, the brothers collaborated on the screenplay of Raoul Walsh's THE NAKED AND THE DEAD (1958), then split responsibilities on several films, Denis directing and Terry producing. The National Board of Review listed their WAR HUNT, a Korean War story, among the Ten Best Films of 1962. But their other features fizzled and they soon parted, retreating separately into documentaries and TV. Denis won a second Oscar® for the documentary short CZECHSLOVAKIA 1968 (1969). He also directed ONE MAN'S WAY (1964), starring Don Murray, ELVIS: THAT'S THE WAY IT IS (1970), SOUL TO SOUL (1971) and INVASION OF THE BEE GIRLS (1973).  Short Subjects (Two-reel) 1954: A TIME OUT OF WAR - Producer (w. Terry Sanders)  Documentary (Shorts) 1969: CZECHOSLOVAKIA 1968 - Producer (w. Robert M. Fresco) 2 nominations, 2 Awards