Born in Montebellard, France. Screenwriter turned director who, after earning a couple of screen credits as production assistant and set dresser, got a break when he sold an original screenplay, ultimately unproduced, to producer Jere Henshaw and Apollo Pictures. Darabont received his first screenplay credit when he helped director Chuck Russell rewrite A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS (1987). The film's popularity and Darabont's longstanding love of horror films led to his penning screenplays for the remake of THE BLOB (1988), the sequel THE FLY II (1989) and several episodes of TV's "Tales from the Crypt." He cut his teeth as a producer on a TV horror flick, BURIED ALIVE (1990) and began to branch out from scary material, writing for the ABC adventure series "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles" (1992). Darabont crafted his most ambitious, adult work to date adapting a Stephen King novella for THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994). Offered a healthy $2.4 million for his adaptation, Darabont held out for the chance to direct -- the result was a critically praised prison story about an unusual but powerful friendship between a level-headed banker convicted of murdering his wife and a seasoned lifer with a knack for acquisitions. For his efforts, Darabont was awarded a DGA nomination, a WGA nomination, and an Oscar® nomination for Best Screenplay. Other notable writing credits include THE WOMAN IN THE ROOM (1983, short - also director) and MARY SHELLEY'S FRANKENSTEIN (1994). He adapted and directed THE GREEN MILE (1999) -- another King novel -- produced and directed THE MAJESTIC (2001) and produced THE SALTON SEA (2002). Darabont wrote, produced and directed THE MIST (2007), and he adapted and will direct the upcoming FAHRENHEIT 451 (announced for 2009).  Nominated for Achievement in Writing - Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published 1994: THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION  Nominated for Best Picture of the Year 1999: THE GREEN MILE - Producer at Castle Rock Pictures (w. David Valdes)  Nominated for Achievement in Writing - Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published 1999: THE GREEN MILE 3 nominations