Born in New York City; educated at Yale (painting). Former protégé of Clint Eastwood who was as much lauded for his award-winning THE DEER HUNTER (1978) as he was reviled for the financially disastrous HEAVEN'S GATE (1980 - writer & director), which helped topple the troubled United Artists. Cimino's excessive tendencies have since continued to overwhelm his obvious directorial talent. Other notable credits include (as director) THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT (1974, also writer), THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE (1984), YEAR OF THE DRAGON (1985, also writer), THE SICILIAN (1987, also producer), DESPERATE HOURS (1990, also producer) and THE SUNCHASER (1996, also producer); (as writer) SILENT RUNNING (1972), MAGNUM FORCE (1973), THE ROSE (1979, uncredited) and THE DOGS OF WAR (1981).  Best Picture 1978: THE DEER HUNTER - Producer at EMI Films/Cimino (w. Barry Spikings, John Peverall & Michael Deeley)  Directing 1978: THE DEER HUNTER  Nominated for Writing (Best Screenplay written directly for the screen) 1978: THE DEER HUNTER (w. Deric Washburn, Louis Garfinkle & Quinn K. Redeker) 3 nominations, 2 Awards