Taylor Hackford Biography

Fast Facts

• After graduating from college, spent two years in Bolivia as part of the Peace Corps
• While filming his time in Bolivia, fell in love with the medium and gave up his desire to study law
• Earned two local Emmys in the 1970s for his work as an investigative reporter for KCET in Los Angeles
• Made his big-screen directorial debut in 1980 with the rock biopic The Idolmaker
• Scored his biggest hit as a director with the 1982 romance An Officer and a Gentleman
• Met his wife, actor Helen Mirren, on the set of his 1985 drama White Nights
• Has become known for his documentary profiles and biopics, including the acclaimed Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll (1987) and the Oscar-winning Ray (2004)
• Succeed Michael Apted as president of the Directors Guild of America in 2009