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Terry Gilliam Biography

Birth Name:Terence Vance Gilliam

Birth Place:Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Profession Actor, Writer, Director, Animation department, Soundtrack, Art department, Producer, Production designer, Art director, Costume department

Fast Facts

  • One of the founding editor of Fang, a humor magazine based at Occidental College in Los Angeles
  • Despite heralding several box offices miscues, he has been nominated for both Oscars and BAFTAs for some of his earliest work as a director including "Brazil" and "The Crimson Permanent Assurance," both from the early 1980s
  • Grew up in the United States, but eventually moved to England and became a naturalized citizen in 1968
  • Quote: "I want audiences to come out with shards stuck in them․ I don't care if people love my films or walk out, as long as they have a strong response․"
  • Quote: "There's a side of me that always fell for manic things, frenzied, cartoony performances․ I always liked sideshows, freakshows․․․I like things to be tasteless․"
  • Began working with the Monty Python crew as a cartoonist to help bridge to sketches together between breaks for the group's BBC television show
  • Following the breakup of the Monty Python group in the late '70s, he eventually began to direct his own productions, while writing as well
  • Helped start the annual Umbria Film Festival in Italy where he often spends much of his time at his vacation home
  • J․K․ Rowling has stated that he was her first choice as director for the Harry Potter series of films
  • Publicly renounced his American citizenship in 2006 and is now only allowed to stay in the country for no more than 29 days per year

Awards

  • 1970Special Award-: winner
  • 1976Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation: nominated
  • 1982Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 1982Saturn Award-Best Writing: nominated
  • 1982Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation: nominated
  • 1983International Fantasy Film Award-Best Film: nominated
  • 1984BAFTA Film Award-Best Short Film: nominated
  • 1985LAFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 1985LAFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 1986Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
  • 1986Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation: nominated
  • 1986NSFC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 1990Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation: nominated
  • 1991LAFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 1991People's Choice Award-: winner
  • 1991Silver Lion-: winner
  • 1991Golden Lion-: nominated
  • 1991Little Golden Lion-: winner
  • 1992Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 1992CFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 1992Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1996Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 1996Golden Berlin Bear-: nominated
  • 1996Reader Jury of the "Berliner Morgenpost"-: nominated
  • 1996Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation: nominated
  • 1997Empire Award-Best Director: winner
  • 1998Palme d'Or-: nominated
  • 2005Rondo Statuette-Best Film: nominated
  • 2005Golden Seashell-: nominated
  • 2005FIPRESCI Prize-: winner
  • 2005Golden Lion-Best Film: nominated
  • 2009Satellite Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2009Satellite Award-Best Art Direction & Production Design: nominated
  • 2011European Film Award-European Short Film: winner
  • 2012Felix-Best Director: nominated
  • 2013Jury Prize-Best Film: nominated
  • 2013Golden Lion-: nominated
  • 2013Future Film Festival Digital Award - Special Mention-: winner
  • 2014Politiken's Audience Award-: nominated
  • 2018ARRI/OSRAM Award-Best International Film: nominated
  • 2019Vida en sombras Award-: winner
  • 2022Prémios Àquila-Best Film - Cinema: nominated
  • 2022Prémios Àquila-Best Director - Cinema: winner