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Philip Kaufman Biography

Birth Place:
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Profession
Director, screenwriter

Fast Facts

  • Spent the better part of the '70s developing a script for a Star Trek movie centered around Spock, but Paramount lost interest due to poor pre-release buzz over another sci-fi film, Star Wars
  • Fired as director of The Outlaw Josey Wales by Clint Eastwood due to creative differences
  • Collaborated with George Lucas on the basic story for Raiders of the Lost Ark
  • Appeared in uncredited background roles in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) and The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1987)
  • Directed the first film to be given an NC-17 rating, Henry & June
  • Honored in an assortment of photographs on the walls of the Tosca Cafe in San Francisco, where he has been based since 1971

Awards

  • 2012Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special: nominated
  • 1989BAFTA Film Awards-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 1989Writers Guild Awards-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 1988Oscar-Best Writing (Screenplay--based on material from another medium): nominated
  • 1987National Society of Film Critics-Best Director: winner
  • 1984Writers Guild Awards-Adapted Drama: nominated
  • 1983Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: nominated
  • 1973Writers Guild Awards-Original Drama: nominated

Relationships