X
Join or Sign In
Sign in to customize your TV listings
By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.
Gus Van Sant Biography
Birth Name:
Gus Green Van Sant Jr.
Birth Place:
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Profession
Director, screenwriter, producer, photographer
Fast Facts
- Feature debut, Mala Noche (1986)—mostly financed with his own savings—won Best Independent Film from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, but only gained a wider theatrical release after the success of Drugstore Cowboy in 1989
- Also a musician, played guitar in a Portland, Ore
- , band called Destroy All Blondes in the 1980s, and released two solo albums, 18 Songs About Golf and Gus Van Sant in the late 1990s
- In addition to film, has exhibited his paintings at several galleries, including the Gagosian in Los Angeles, and released a book of photographs called 108 Portraits in 1993
- Has directed more than a dozen music videos, including Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Under the Bridge" and Hanson's "Weird
- "
Awards
- 2013Berlin Film Festival-Special Award - Silver Bear: winner
- 2010César Awards-Best Foreign Film: nominated
- 2009Critics' Choice Awards-Best Director: nominated
- 2008Southeastern Film Critics Association-Best Director: nominated
- 2008Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: nominated
- 2008Chicago Film Critics Association-Best Director: nominated
- 2008Boston Society of Film Critics-Best Director: winner
- 2008Independent Spirit Awards-Best Director: nominated
- 2008Vancouver Film Critics-Best Director: nominated
- 2008San Francisco Film Critics Circle-Best Director: winner
- 2008London Film Critics Association-Best Director: nominated
- 2008Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
- 2007Cannes Film Festival-Special 60th Anniversary Award: winner
- 2004César Awards-Best Foreign Film: nominated
- 2004Independent Spirit Awards-Best Director: nominated
- 2003Independent Spirit Awards-Best Director: nominated
- 2003Cannes Film Festival-Palme d'Or: winner
- 2003Cannes Film Festival-Best Director: winner
- 1998Berlin Film Festival-Silver Bear for Outstanding Individual Performance: winner
- 1997Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: nominated
- 1997Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
- 1992Independent Spirit Awards-Best Feature: nominated
- 1992Independent Spirit Awards-Best Director: nominated
- 1992Independent Spirit Awards-Best Screenplay: winner
- 1992Independent Spirit Awards-Best Film Music: winner
- 1990Independent Spirit Awards-Best Director: nominated
- 1990Independent Spirit Awards-Best Screenplay: winner
- 1988National Society of Film Critics-Best Director: winner
- 1988Los Angeles Film Critics Association-Best Screenplay: winner
Relationships
- Gus Green Van Sant Sr. -- Father
- Betty Van Sant -- Mother
- Malinda Van Sant -- Sister