F. Gary Gray

F. Gary Gray

Birthdate
July 17, 1969 (55 years old)
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
Known For
Directing

Details

Birthdate
July 17, 1969 (55 years old)
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
Known For
Directing

Biography

Felix Gary Gray (born July 17, 1969) is an American filmmaker, music video director, and actor. Gray directed Friday, Set It Off, The Negotiator, and Straight Outta Compton, as well as the remake of The Italian Job.

Gray was born in New York. He began his career in 1989 when he appeared uncredited in the satire comedy film Major League. Three years later, he directed the music video for Ice Cube's "It Was a Good Day." The video is a literal adaptation of the lyrics. He would go on to direct subsequent videos for Ice Cube, as well as artists such as Cypress Hill, Outkast, Dr. Dre, and Queen Latifah.

At 24, Gray directed his first film, the urban comedy Friday with rapper-producer Ice Cube and Chris Tucker. Next he directed the film, Set It Off, with Jada Pinkett and Queen Latifah. He then went on to direct The Negotiator. The film starred Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey and Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson, and earned Gray both Best Film and Best Director awards at the 1998 Acapulco Film Festival.

Gray is also known for The Italian Job, an action-thriller starring Academy Award winner Charlize Theron and Oscar nominee Mark Wahlberg. Gray garnered the Best Director award at the 2004 Black American Film Festival for his work on the film, which surpassed the $100 million mark in the domestic box office.

His next film was A Man Apart, a violent action thriller starring Vin Diesel. He would later direct Be Cool, an adaptation of Elmore Leonard's novel of the same name. The John Travolta vehicle was a critical flop, but made $95.2 million worldwide.

His next film was the thriller Law Abiding Citizen, starring Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler. Scripted by Kurt Wimmer, it grossed over $100 million worldwide.

Gary is also responsible for directing many music videos. He has worked with artists like TLC, Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, Babyface, and Jay-Z, among others.

Gray received The Ivan Dixon Award of Achievement from the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center and was named one of the “50 Best and Brightest African Americans Under 40” by Black Enterprise magazine. He was honored by the African American Film Critics Association with their 2004 Special Achievement Award and was recognized by the Artist Empowerment Coalition with the Artist Empowerment Award that same year. He also received the Pioneer Director award from the Pan-African Film and Arts Festival in 2010.

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F. Gary Gray's LGBTQ+ Titles

Set It Off
Set It Off
Guy Driving Low Rider (uncredited)

Acting (6)

2015
Straight Outta Compton as Greg Mack
2009
Setting it Straight: Making ‘Set it Off’
2007
On the Lot (1 episode)
2003
Punk'd as Self (1 episode)
1996
Set It Off as Guy Driving Low Rider (uncredited)
1995
Friday as Black Man at Store

Directing (15)

M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand • Director
• Director
Saints Row • Director
• Director
2024
Lift • Director
• Director
2019
Men in Black: International • Director
• Director
2017
The Fate of the Furious • Director
• Director
2015
Straight Outta Compton • Director
• Director
2015
Assassin’s Creed - Syndicate • Director
• Director
2009
Law Abiding Citizen • Director
• Director
2005
Be Cool • Director
• Director
2003
R. Kelly: The R. in R&B - The Video Collection • Director
• Director
2003
The Italian Job • Director
• Director
2003
A Man Apart • Director
• Director
1998
The Negotiator • Director
• Director
1996
Set It Off • Director
• Director
1995
Friday • Director
• Director

Production (9)

M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand • Producer
• Producer
Saints Row • Producer
• Producer
2024
Lift • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
2016
The Sea of Trees • Producer
• Producer
2015
Straight Outta Compton • Producer
• Producer
2005
Be Cool • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
2003
A Man Apart • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
1999
Ryan Caulfield: Year One • Executive Producer (8 episodes)
• Executive Producer (8 episodes)
1996
Set It Off • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer