Born in Beverley, East Yorkshire, England. Began his film career making short documentaries in the mid-1940s, and in the postwar years mounted his first features, quickly proving himself an effective craftsman of both comedy and drama. In the 1950s Annakin crafted some intrinsically British films and began working for Disney, notably THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON (1960). By the 1960s he was specializing in sprawling, big-budget adventures and a series of long-distance marathon comedies beginning with THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES (1965). He was one of three directors on THE LONGEST DAY (1962), directing the British exteriors. Other notable directing credits include THE STORY OF ROBIN HOOD AND HIS MERRIE MEN (1952), THE SWORD AND THE ROSE (1953), THE SEEKERS (1954), BATTLE OF THE BULGE (1965), MONTE CARLO OR BUST (1969), CALL OF THE WILD (1972), PAPER TIGER (1975), THE FIFTH MUSKETEER (1979), CHEAPER TO KEEP HER (1980), THE PIRATE MOVIE (1982), and THE NEW ADVENTURES OF PIPPI LONGSTOCKING (1988). He was the namesake of George Lucas' "Star Wars" character Anakin Skywalker, and was appointed an OBE in the 2002 Queen's Birthday Honours List.  Nominated for Writing (Best Story and Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen) 1965: THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES (w. Jack Davies) 1 nomination