Dennis Dugan

Born: September 5 1946
Where: Illinois, USA

Actor-turned-director Dugan specialises in the lighter side of movie making with a name for comedy.

He made his name a laugher-maker with box office hits including Big Daddy, in which he played a small part, and Happy Gilmore.

Dugan began his career in the New York theatre scene and then landed his own series Ritchie Brockelman, Private Eye, in 1978.

At the same time, he guest-starred on programmes including M*A*S*H, Columbo, The Rockford Files and Moonlighting.

During an appearance in Moonlighting he first stepped behind the camera and directed the final season of the show.

He went on to direct many TV projects, including NYPD Blue and Ally McBeal while appearing in movies such as Parenthood and The Howling.

Recently, he directed Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn in National Security and Saving Silverman, also with Zahn and Jack Black.