Join or Sign In

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Alexander Payne Biography

Birth Name:Alexander Constantine Papadopoulos

Birth Place:Omaha, Nebraska, United States

Profession Producer, Director, Writer, Actor, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

Was honored by the American Cinema Editors in 2012 with the Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award
Studied at the University of Salamanca in Spain and lived in Colombia as a part of his Spanish degree
Graduated with a Masters of Fine Arts in Theater Arts from UCLA Film School
Doubled major in Spanish and History during his time at Stanford University
Directed his first feature film at 35 years old after graduating film school six years earlier
Quote: "(On his films) "My hope is that after 20 minutes, perhaps the audience forgets it is George Clooney or Jack Nicholson and just sees the character․""
Quote: "(On his films) "I want all of my films to belong to me․ There is an audience out there for literate films - slower, more observant, more human films, and they deserve to be made․""
Quote: "(On the role of film) "One of cinema's greatest uses or values lies not just in its ability to capture reality, but to capture or suggest dream․""
Quote: "(On value of films) "It's my hope that we're getting into an era where the value of a film is based on its proximity to real life rather than its distance from it․ To do that, you need actors - stars, basically․""
Best known for directing the films "The Descendents" and "Sideways," both of which earned him Academy Awards for best Adapted Screenplay
Will often set the films he directs around his birthplace of Omaha, Nebraska
Known for depicting contemporary American society in a humorous and satirical light
Known for exploring the loneliness and desire for individualism of his characters
Grew up in the same neighborhood as billionaire Warren Buffett
Is the owner of the Winnebago that Jack Nicholson drives in "About Schmidt․"
Serves on the Board of Directors at the non-profit arts organization Film Streams in Omaha, Nebraska
Has directed five different actors to receiving Oscar nominations

Awards

1996Grand Jury Prize-Dramatic: nominated
1996Best Screenplay-: winner
1996Golden Alexander-: nominated
1999ACCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
1999BSFC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
1999New Generation Award-: winner
1999NYFCC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
1999SDFCS Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: winner
1999Golden Spike-Best Film: nominated
1999Pilar Miró Award-Best New Director: winner
2000Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published: nominated
2000Chlotrudis Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2000Independent Spirit Award-Best Director: winner
2000Independent Spirit Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2000FFCC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2000Sierra Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
2000NSFC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2000OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
2000OFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2000SEFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2000WGA Award (Screen)-Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published: winner
2001Stinker Award-Worst Screenplay for a Film Grossing More than $100 Million Using Hollywood Math: nominated
2002Palme d'Or-: nominated
2002Golden Schmoes-Best Screenplay of the Year: nominated
2002LAFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2002NYFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
2002NYFCC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2003Discover Screenwriting Award-: nominated
2003COFCA Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
2003CFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2003CFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2003Critics Choice Award-Best Writer: nominated
2003Gold Derby Film Award-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2003Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: winner
2003Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
2003INOCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2003IOMA-Best Screenplay (Miglior sceneggiatura): nominated
2003NSFC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2003OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
2003OFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2003USC Scripter Award-: nominated
2003WGA Award (Screen)-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2004ACCA-Best Director: nominated
2004ACCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2004BSFC Award-Best Director: nominated
2004BSFC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2004CFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2004Robert-Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film): nominated
2004FFCC Award-Best Director: winner
2004FFCC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2004Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Feature: winner
2004KCFCC Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: winner
2004LAFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2004LAFCA Award-Best Director: winner
2004Golden Star-: winner
2004NBR Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2004NYFCC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2004PFCS Award-Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Medium: winner
2004SDFCS Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: winner
2004SFFCC Award-Best Director: winner
2004Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: winner
2004SEFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2004SEFCA Award-Best Director: winner
2004SLFCA Award-Best Director - Comedy/Musical: winner
2004SLFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2004UFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2004WAFCA Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: winner
2005Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
2005Oscar-Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: winner
2005BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay - Adapted: winner
2005COFCA Award-Best Director: winner
2005COFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2005Chlotrudis Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2005Critics Choice Award-Best Director: nominated
2005Critics Choice Award-Best Writer: winner
2005DFWFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2005DFWFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2005DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
2005Directors' Week Award-Special Prize of the Jury: winner
2005Independent Spirit Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2005Independent Spirit Award-Best Director: winner
2005Gold Derby Film Award-Adapted Screenplay: winner
2005Gold Derby Film Award-Director: nominated
2005Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
2005Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: winner
2005INOCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2005IFC Award-Best Director: winner
2005ALFS Award-Screenwriter of the Year: nominated
2005ALFS Award-Director of the Year: nominated
2005NSFC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2005NSFC Award-Best Director: nominated
2005OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: winner
2005OFTA Film Award-Best Director: nominated
2005OFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
2005OFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2005Director of the Year Award-: winner
2005Golden Satellite Award-Best Director: nominated
2005Golden Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
2005Comedy Film Honor-Best Director: winner
2005USC Scripter Award-: nominated
2005VFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
2005WGA Award (Screen)-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2006Silver Condor-Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera): winner
2006Bodil-Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film): nominated
2006Un Certain Regard Award-: nominated
2006Czech Lion-Best Foreign Language Film (Nejlepsí zahranicní film): nominated
2006Robert-Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film): winner
2008Razzie Award-Worst Screenplay: nominated
2010Gold Derby Film Award-Adapted Screenplay of the Decade: nominated
2011ACCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2011ACCA-Best Motion Picture: nominated
2011Best Film-: nominated
2011CFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2011CFCA Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
2011DFWFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2011DFWFCA Award-Best Director: winner
2011FFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2011Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Feature: nominated
2011Audience Award-Best Narrative Feature: winner
2011HFCS Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2011HFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
2011IFJA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2011LAFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2011NBR Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2011NYFCC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2011NYFCO Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2011PFCS Award-Best Screenplay - Adaptation: nominated
2011PFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
2011SDFCS Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
2011Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: winner
2011Satellite Award-Best Director: nominated
2011SEFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2011SLFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2011SLFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2011TFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2011UFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2011WAFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2011WAFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2012AACTA International Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2012AACTA International Award-Best Film: nominated
2012Movies for Grownups Award-Best Screenwriter: nominated
2012Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: nominated
2012Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
2012Oscar-Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: winner
2012Award of the Argentinean Academy-Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera): nominated
2012EDA Award-Best Director: nominated
2012EDA Award-Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: winner
2012EDA Award-Best Picture: nominated
2012BAFTA Film Award-Best Film: nominated
2012BAFTA Film Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2012COFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2012Chlotrudis Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2012Cinema for Peace Award-Cinema for Peace Award for the Most Valuable Film of the Year: nominated
2012Critics Choice Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2012Critics Choice Award-Best Director: nominated
2012DFCS Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2012DFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
2012DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
2012Independent Spirit Award-Best Feature: nominated
2012Independent Spirit Award-Best Director: nominated
2012Independent Spirit Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2012GAFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2012Gold Derby Film Award-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2012Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
2012Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
2012Humanitas Prize-Feature Film Category: nominated
2012INOCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2012IOFCP Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2012IFC Award-Best Director: winner
2012ALFS Award-Screenwriter of the Year: nominated
2012OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
2012OFTA Film Award-Best Picture: nominated
2012OFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2012PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: nominated
2012USC Scripter Award-: winner
2012VFCC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2012WGA Award (Screen)-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2013EDA Award-Best Director: nominated
2013Bodil-Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film): nominated
2013Palme d'Or-: nominated
2013Audience Choice Award-: nominated
2013DFWFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2013Grammy-Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media: nominated
2013Art Cinema Award-: nominated
2013HFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
2013PFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
2013SLFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2013FIPRESCI Prize-: winner
2013Best North American Independent Film-: nominated
2014Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
2014Amanda-Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske spillefilm): nominated
2014American Comedy Award-Best Comedy Director - Film: nominated
2014COFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2014Independent Spirit Award-Best Director: nominated
2014Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
2014Guardian Film Award-Best Director: nominated
2014Audience Award-: winner
2014NCFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2014OFTA Film Award-Best Director: nominated
2015ASECAN Award-Best Foreign Film: nominated
2015Silver Condor-Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera): nominated
2015Bodil-Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film): nominated
2015CEC Award-Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera): winner
2015Días de Cine Award-Best Foreign Film: nominated
2017Golden Lion-Best Film: nominated
2023DFWFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2023IFJA Award-Best Director: nominated
2023Audience Award-Fiction Feature: winner
2023NTFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2023People's Choice Award-Best Film: nominated
2024Movies for Grownups Award-Best Director: nominated
2024Harold Lloyd Award-: winner
2024Astra Award-Best Director: nominated
2024BAFTA Film Award-Best Director: nominated
2024Windie-Best Director: nominated
2024Critics Choice Award-Best Director: nominated
2024DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film: nominated
2024HFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
2024ICFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2024IFC Award-Best Director: winner
2024MCFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2024NDFS Award-Best Director: nominated
2024ACCRJ Award-Best Films of the Year (Melhores Filmes do Ano): nominated
2024Satellite Award-Best Director: nominated
2025Bodil-Best English Language Film (Bedste engelsksprogede film): nominated