Renny Harlin

Born: 15th March 1959
Where: Riihimäki, Finland

The film-maker is best known for action movies ranging from Die Hard 2 to the shark thriller Deep Blue Sea.

Harlin started his own production company while still a student at the University of Helsinki, and made numerous commercials, documentaries, and shorts.

Hold On won the Finish Film Board Award but he was unable to attract the capital in his home country that he needed to make the films he wanted.

After moving to American in the mid-1980s, he enjoyed success with the low-budget movies Born American and Prison.

However, it was A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master that attracted the attention of studios and audiences alike.

Bigger assignments followed with the hit Die Hard 2 with Bruce Willis and the Sylvester Stallone climbing adventure, Cliffhanger.

He also worked on Alien 3 for a year before leaving the project as he was dissatisfied with the script.

Harlin then debuted as producer on the low-budget Rambling Rose, which starred his then-girlfriend, Laura Dern.

The film was also the first feature from Renny's production company, Midnight Sun Pictures.

In 1993 he married actress Geena Davis, who he directed in the pirate adventure and box office flop Cutthroat Island.

They went on to make The Long Kiss Goodnight together before they divorced in 1998.

He followed this with a directing role in aquatic thriller Deep Blue Sea with Samuel L Jackson and the Stallone race car-themed film Driven.

Recent work includes the trouble sequel Exorcist: The Beginning, which he inherited off its previous director Paul Schrader.