X

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

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.

Spike Jonze Biography

Birth Name:
Adam Spiegel
Birth Place:
Rockville, Maryland, United States
Profession
Director, producer, actor, screenwriter

Fast Facts

  • Was given his nickname when he was a teenager by his coworkers at a BMX store
  • Cofounded Dirt magazine, a publication aimed at a teenage-boy audience, with high-school friends Andy Jenkins and Mark Lewman
  • Started his directing career with music videos, making videos for Sonic Youth, the Beastie Boys and Weezer
  • Co-owner of the Girl Skateboard Company
  • Cocreated the MTV series Jackass
  • Won several awards, including an MTV Movie Award and a New York Film Critics Circle Award, for his 1999 film directorial debut Being John Malkovich
  • Directed a short documentary for presidential candidate Al Gore for the 2000 Democratic National Convention
  • Had a speaking part in the 2006 Beck song "The Horrible Fanfare/Landslide/Exoskeleton
  • "

Awards

  • 2020Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special: nominated
  • 2020Emmy-Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming: nominated
  • 2019Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Specials: nominated
  • 2019Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Specials: nominated
  • 2018Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special: nominated
  • 2017Emmy-Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: nominated
  • 2016Emmy-Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: nominated
  • 2014Writers Guild Awards-Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2014Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: winner
  • 2014Producers Guild Awards-Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: nominated
  • 2014Critics' Choice Movie Awards-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2014Critics' Choice Movie Awards-Best Director: nominated
  • 2013Detroit Film Critics Society-Best Director: nominated
  • 2013Oscar-Best Writing (Original Screenplay): winner
  • 2013Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Original Song): nominated
  • 2013Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: nominated
  • 2013Detroit Film Critics Society-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2013National Board of Review-Best Director: winner
  • 2009Independent Spirit Awards-Best First Feature: winner
  • 2003Berlin Film Festival-Jury Grand Prix - Silver Bear: winner
  • 2003Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2000Critics' Choice Awards-Breakthrough Performer: winner
  • 2000Critics' Choice Awards-Breakthrough Performer: winner
  • 2000Independent Spirit Awards-Best First Feature over $500,000: winner
  • 2000César Awards-Best Foreign Film: nominated
  • 1999Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: nominated
  • 1999Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated

Relationships