Famous Directors - List of Famous Directors

Remember Catch Me If You Can, Schindlers List or even Saving Private Ryan? They are all Directors are the ones who direct the translation of the script into the final movie. They guide the complete process of making of the film starting right from the visualization of the script to the completion of the filming. The role of a director in film making is extremely complex—he is responsible not just for the technical aspects, but also for the dramatization and artistic elements of film production. Direction is a highly creative process; the director has to give a concrete form to the written words in the script by translating them into sounds and visuals. He has to guide the cinematographer in camera placements, selection of shots and staging of the action. He has to manage the flow of film production in a controlled pace by working with the other crew members and guiding them in setups and rehearsals. Film making involves various components which are to be converged into a single complete unit, i.e., the movie. It is the director who coordinates the efforts of the different professionals involved in film making to realize the artistic vision that eventually takes the shape of a film. Read on to know about the life and works of famous directors, through their biographies and timelines, from around the world.

The Most Famous Directors

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
Kevin CostnerJanuary 18, 1955AmericanKevin Costner is an American actor, director and singer who is best known for his portrayal of rugged individuals with complex emotions
Michel QissiSeptember 12, 1962Belgian, MoroccanMichel Qissi is a Moroccan-Belgian actor known for his role in the martial arts flick ‘Kickboxer.’
Milo VentimigliaJuly 8, 1977AmericanMilo Ventimiglia is an American actor who became famous for his role as Peter Petrelli on the NBC television series Heroes
Dolph LundgrenNovember 3, 1957SwedishDolph Lundgren is a famous Swedish actor, film-maker, screenwriter and martial artist
Hal HolbrookFebruary 17, 1925AmericanHal Rowe Holbrook Jr
Alfonso RibeiroSeptember 21, 1971AmericanAlfonso Lincoln Ribeiro Sr
Baz LuhrmannSeptember 17, 1962AustralianBaz Luhrmann is an Australian writer, filmmaker, and producer
Mel GibsonJanuary 3, 1956AmericanMel Gibson is an American actor and filmmaker
Tom AckerleyJanuary 1, 1990BritishTom Ackerley is an English film and television director and film producer
Harry HollandFebruary 14, 1999BritishHarry Holland is a British actor, director, and writer
Alex Garland

Alex Garland

Alex Garland is an English novelist, screenwriter, film director and producer

BritishMay 26, 1970175 views

Jim Threapleton

Jim Threapleton is a filmmaker, actor and painter, best known for his directorial skills in the 2007 drama film ‘Extraordinary Rendition’

British1973676 views

Jason Priestley

Jason Priestley is a Canadian-American actor and director

CanadianAugust 28, 1969168 views

Bruce Campbell

Bruce Campbell is a popular film & television actor, director, producer, screenwriter & author

AmericanJune 22, 1958133 views

Louis Theroux

Louis Theroux is a British-American documentary filmmaker and broadcaster

BritishMay 20, 1970371 views

Sam Shepard

Sam Shepard was an actor and filmmaker famous for his work in ‘The Right Stuff.’

Baz Luhrmann

Baz Luhrmann is an Australian writer, filmmaker, and producer

Michael Moore

Michael Moore is an American documentary filmmaker, author, producer, actor and political activist

AmericanApril 23, 1954191 views

Sophie Marceau

Sophie Marceau is a French actress, screenwriter, director and author

FrenchNovember 17, 1966420 views

Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott is an English film producer and director

BritishNovember 30, 1937105 views