theOscarSite Facts:
Birth Date:
  • 30 November 1943
Birthplace:
  • Waco, Texas
Education:
  • Attended St. Stephen's High School in Austin, TX - played football
  • Graduated from Harvard University
  • Member: Phi Beta Kappa
  • Rhodes Scholar; attended Oxford University, but left before finishing his thesis
  • Taught philosophy at MIT while freelancing as a journalist
  • MFA from the American Film Institute
Factoids:
  • Nicknamed "Sparky"
  • In his contract for directing THE THIN RED LINE he stated that no current pictures of him could be published or shown anywhere
  • Wrote a treatment for DIRTY HARRY (1971), but none of his work appears in the final version
  • After DAYS OF HEAVEN (1978), it was a full 20 years before he directed his next film, THE THIN RED LINE (1998).
Significant others:
  • Wife: Jill Jakes, divorced 1978
  • Wife: Michele, married 1985, divorced 1998
  • Wife: Alexandra Wallace, married 1998
Feature Film
Credits: 		As director:
  • Tree of Life (2009, also writer)
    The New World (2005, also writer)
    The Thin Red Line (1998, also writer)
    Days of Heaven (1978, also writer)
    Badlands (1973, also writer & producer)
  • Lanton Mills (1969, also writer)

As producer:
  • The Marfa Lights (2009)
    The Unforeseen (2007, exec. prod.)
    Amazing Grace (2006)
    Undertow (2004)
    The Beautiful Country (2003, also writer)
    Xingfu shiguang / Happy Times (2001)
    The Endurance: Shackelton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition (2000)

As writer:
  • Bear's Kiss (2002)
    The Gravy Train (1974)
    Deadhead Miles (1971)
    Pocket Money (1972)
    Drive, He Said (1971, uncredited)
Academy Awards®: