Des McAnuff

Born: 19th June 1952
Where: Princeton, Illinois

Musician and director Des, started his higher education at the Ryerson Polytechnical University in Toronto but dropped out after one year to pursue a career in the arts.

By this stage he had already begun composing music and had written and directed Urbania, a 26-song musical.

He began working in theatres around Canada and was soon working as a playwright and TV writer.

At the age of 23 he moved to New York and directed The Crazy Locomotive on stage. A few years later he co-founded the Dodger Theatre Company and directed the company's first production Gimme Shelter.

Des made his Broadway directorial debut in 1985's Big River, and finally received recognition for his theatre work in the form of seven Tony awards, including one for Best Director.

Then in 1998 Des had his feature film directorial debut with Cousin Bette, starring Hugh Laurie, followed with the live action animation The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle.