Born in Kingston, NY; trained at Stella Adler Theater School, New York. Former film critic (for such magazines as Film Culture, Movie and Esquire) who published a series of book-length studies on directors including Howard Hawks, Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock before entering film production under the ægis of Roger Corman. After two pedestrian writing assignments Bogdanovich was allowed to direct his first film, TARGETS (1968), the first in a series of critical and financial successes that proved his mastery of a wide range of genres. Highlights were THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (1971) (still considered his masterpiece), the screwball comedy, WHAT'S UP, DOC? (1972) and the Depression-era comedy/drama, PAPER MOON (1973). Bogdanovich's fortunes began to flag with the ill-conceived costume drama DAISY MILLER (1974). His subsequent output has been somewhat uneven, and not without its outright flops (AT LONG LAST LOVE, 1975, and ILLEGALLY YOURS, 1988). In 1990 TEXASVILLE, a sequel to THE LAST PICTURE SHOW, was released to mixed reviews. Other notable directing credits include NICKELODEON (1976), MASK (1985), NOISES OFF... (1992), THE THING CALLED LOVE (1993), THE CAT'S MEOW (2001), and UNTITLED TOM PETTY DOCUMENTARY and THE BROKEN CODE (both 2007). Bogdanovich was formerly married to production designer Polly Platt. Subsequent companions included Cybill Shepherd and murdered Playboy model Dorothy Stratten; his current wife is Stratten's half-sister, Louise Hoogstraten. He continues to appear as an actor in films and television, either as a character or as himself. He remains influential as a historian and upholder of American filmmaking traditions.    Nominated for Directing 1971: THE LAST PICTURE SHOW  Nominated for Writing (Best Screenplay based on material from another medium) 1971: THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (w. Larry McMurtry) 2 nominations