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Chris Columbus Biography

Birth Name:Christopher Joseph Columbus

Birth Place:Spangler, Pennsylvania, United States

Profession Producer, Director, Writer, Actor

Fast Facts

  • Donated funds to the Saint Ignatius College Preparatory, where the piazza is named after him
  • Studied at New York University film school at the Tisch School of the Arts
  • Married Monica Devereux in 1983 and has four children with her
  • His professional career began after Steven Spielberg picked up his screenplay for the film "Gremlins․"
  • His first foray into directing was the teen comedy "Adventures in Babysitting․"
  • Quote: "I can understand the validity of showing people the ugliness of the world, but I also think there is a place for movies to leave people with a sense of hope․ If you're film isn't going to do that, I just don't think it's worth making․"
  • Known for making family films that appeal to a wide range of ages
  • Best known for his work on the films "Gremlins," "The Goonies," "Mrs․ Doubtfire" and "Home Alone․"
  • All four of his children made cameo appearances in the first two "Harry Potter" films of the series
  • Attended Tisch School of the Arts with director Charlie Kaufman

Awards

  • 1985Saturn Award-Best Writing: nominated
  • 1986Saturn Award-Best Writing: nominated
  • 2002Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2002Amanda-Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske spillefilm): nominated
  • 2002BAFTA Children's Award-Best Feature Film: nominated
  • 2002Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film-: nominated
  • 2002Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation: nominated
  • 2003Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2003Amanda-Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske spillefilm): nominated
  • 2003BAFTA Children's Award-Best Feature Film: nominated
  • 2003Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation - Long Form: nominated
  • 2003Readers' Choice Award-Best Foreign Language Film: winner
  • 2004BAFTA Children's Award-Best Feature Film: winner
  • 2004Stinker Award-Worst Screenplay: winner
  • 2005Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film-: nominated
  • 2005Satellite Award-Outstanding Director: nominated
  • 2011ACCA-Best Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2012Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: nominated
  • 2012Contribution to Cinematic Imagery Award-: winner
  • 2012BAFTA Film Award-Best Film: nominated
  • 2012Black Reel-Best Film: winner
  • 2012Christopher Award-Feature Films: winner
  • 2012Gold Derby Film Award-Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2012PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: nominated
  • 2015Audience Award-: nominated
  • 2016Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: nominated
  • 2018Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: nominated
  • 2025Windie-Best Studio Film: nominated
  • 2025NDFS Award-Best Picture: nominated