Renny Harlin Biography

Fast Facts

• Helped organized "Kiitoksen paikka" concert, a concert that collected money to secure treatment and assistance for Finnish war veterans, for which Harlin received a medal
• Harlin worked a job as a commercial and company film director before directing his first feature film
• Quote: "In Europe, film making is perceived as an art form with marginal business possibilities, and in the US, film making is a business with marginal artistic possibilities․"
• Quote: "(On Hollywood writing) "I don't want accidents, I want disasters․ I don't want dirt, I want filth․ I don't want a storm, I want a hurricane․ ․ ․ ․ I don't want fear, I want panic․ I don't want suspense, I want terror․ ․ ․ ․ I don't want humor, I want hysteria․ ․ ․ ․""
• Purchased apartment from former Formula One driver Eddie Irvine in 2001
• Has done director's commentary for the DVDs of every movie he has done
• Harlin may have been the first filmmaker based in the U․S․ to use the city of Toronto, Canada, to film big-budget movies for location and shooting purposes, with his 1996 film, "The Long Kiss Goodnight․"
• In 1990, Harlin edited his Fox films, "Die Hard 2" and "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane," at the same time