F Gary Gray
Born: 1970
Where: Highland Park, Illinois, USA
Gary Gray has proven himself a safe pair of hands in a business susceptible to financial disaster.
His debut feature Friday, starring Ice Cube and Christ Tucker, was budgeted at $2m but went on to gross $30m - one of the most profitable films of 1995.
Action drama Set It Off, starring Jade Pinkett and Queen Latifah, became New Line's highest grossing release of 1996.
Gary Gray also helmed the successful suspense thriller The Negotiator with Kevin Spacey and Samuel L Jackson and the American remake of The Italian Job.
Originally a freelance cameraman, he found himself directing music videos and bringing rap culture to the mainstream.
He went on to direct videos for artists including Whitney Houston, Mary J Blige and TLC while still working for the likes of Dr Dre and Coolio.
In 2003, he directed the lacklustre A Man Apart with Vin Diesel and also helmed the American remake of The Italian Job, with Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron.
Recent work includes the Get Short sequel Be Cool, with John Travolta reprising his role as mobster Chili Palmer.
