Curtis Hanson
Born: 24th March 1945
Where: Reno, Nevada, USA
The writer and director is probably best known for the Oscar-winning film noir LA Confidential.
However, the versatile film-maker has also enjoyed succeesful outings with Eminem (8 Mile) and Michael Douglas (The Wonder Boys).
The son of a teacher, Hanson dropped out of high school and became a photographer and freelance writer.
A keen cinephile, he also edited a US magazine called Cinema, for which he interviewed various legendary Hollywood figures including John Ford.
He was befriended by writer-director-actor John Cassavetes, who invited Hanson to his garage to watch him edit his films.
He debuted in 1970 as a co-writer on The Dunwich Horror as well as both writing and directing the cult flick Sweet Kill, and associate producing and writing The Silent Partner.
After trying his hand producing and directing the kids' adventure The Little Dragons, and the teen sex comedy Losin' It, Hanson came into his own as a suspense specialist in the late 1980s and early 90s.
He wrote and directed The Bedroom Window, a Hitchcock homage, and followed up by directing the suspense film Bad Influence with Rob Lowe and James Spader.
Hanson finally enjoyed a runaway box-office success with The Hand That Rocks the Cradle in 1992, a compelling nanny-from-hell thriller starring Rebecca De Mornay.
Curtis used his new-found clout in Hollywood to get L.A. Confidential made, its 80 speaking parts and 45 locations demanding the budget of a studio movie.
The result was a fast-paced tale of police corruption in L.A., circa 1950, with the movie receiving Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Director, and winning the award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
In 2000, he directed the screen adaptation of Michael Chabon's novel Wonder Boys, starring Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, and Fargo's Frances McDormand.
In 2002, he made the drama 8 Mile featuring rapper Eminem in his first starring role.
Recent work includes the above average chick-flick In Her Shoes, starring Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette.
