STEVEN SPIELBERG

One of the most influential film directors in movie history found interest in movies and film as a child living in Scottsdale, Arizona. Early efforts he directed were 8 millimeter productions with titles like; ESCAPE TO NOWHERE and THE LAST GUN. He attended Arcadia high school in Scottsdale and later Cal State University where he majored in film. By the early 1970’s he was directing tv shows like NIGHT GALLERY and MARCUS WELBY M.D.

Spielberg’s breakthrough film was a made for tv effort called DUEL (1971) in which highway traveler Dennis Weaver was menaced by a phantom truck driver on a desolate desert highway. His first big theatrical directorial effort was THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS (1974). It was his next movie JAWS (1975) that made him a star director. In the next few years Spielberg and his production company made movies that have become classics and big money makers including CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977) and RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981) which led to several sequels including INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL (2008)

Other big blockbusters that Steven Spielberg directed include; E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTIAL (1982) JURASSIC PARK (1993) and SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998) where he won an OSCAR as best director.

(bio by Jim West)