Gus Van Sant

Gus Van Sant

Birthdate
July 24, 1952 (72 years old)
Place of Birth
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Known For
Directing

Details

Birthdate
July 24, 1952 (72 years old)
Place of Birth
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Known For
Directing

Biography

Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. (born July 24, 1952) is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Achievement in Directing for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, and won the Palme d'Or at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival for his film Elephant. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

His early career was devoted to directing television commercials in the Pacific Northwest. In his films, he has dealt with themes concerning homosexuality and other marginalized subcultures.

His filmography as writer and director includes an adaptation of Tom Robbins' novel Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, which features a diverse cast (Keanu Reeves, Roseanne Barr, Uma Thurman, and k.d. lang, with cameos by William S. Burroughs and Heather Graham, among others); and My Own Private Idaho, also starring Reeves as well as River Phoenix.

He wrote the screenplays for most of his early movies, and wrote one novel, Pink. A book of his photography has also been published, called 108 Portraits.

Gus Van Sant's LGBTQ+ Titles

My Own Private Idaho
My Own Private Idaho
Man Behind Hotel Counter (uncredited)
Kids
Kids
Executive Producer
Tarnation
Tarnation
Executive Producer
I Am Michael
I Am Michael
Executive Producer
Milk
Milk
Director
Howl
Howl
Executive Producer
Laurence Anyways
Laurence Anyways
Executive Producer
Speedway Junky
Speedway Junky
Executive Producer
The Advocate for Fagdom
The Advocate for Fagdom
Self

Acting (47)

Thank You for Supporting the Arts
2024
The Trainer
2024
who is Gus Van Sant? as Himself
2023
Nicole Kidman: Eyes Wide Open as Self (interview)
2019
At the Video Store as Self
2019
Zeroville as Film Archive Curator
2018
Illegal Civilization 3 as Self
2018
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot as Willamette Week Editor
2016
Xavier Dolan: Bound to Impossible as Self
2015
I Don't Belong Anywhere: The Cinema of Chantal Akerman as Self
2015
About Cinema as Self
2013
The Canyons as Dr. Campbell
2012
The Greatest Event in Television History as Self (1 episode)
2012
A Special Day as Self
2011
The Story of Film: An Odyssey as Self (1 episode)
2011
Portlandia as Gus Van Sant (1 episode)
2010
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within as Self
2008
Making Paranoid Park
2008
Crítico as Self
2007
In the Mood for Doyle as Self
2007
Paranoid Park as Guy Reading Newspaper (uncredited)
2007
Here’s Looking at You, Boy as Self
2006
Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema as Self
2005
Last Days as Phone Voice (voice)
2005
The Making of ‘My Own Private Idaho’ as Self
2004
On the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time as Himself
2004
Leçon de Cinéma as Self (1 episode)
2004
The Making of Last Days as Himself
2003
Saltlake Van Sant as Self
2003
About Elephant as Self
2001
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back as Gus Van Sant
2001
Rescued from the Closet as Self
2000
Finding Forrester as Library Assistant (uncredited)
2000
Psycho Path as Self - Director
1999
The Making of Drugstore Cowboy
1998
Psycho as Man Talking to Man in Cowboy Hat (uncredited)
1998
Strange Parallel as Self
1995
Guns on the Clackamas
1994
Hi Octane as Self (1 episode)
1993
Made in the USA as Self
1991
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Funky Monks as Himself
1991
My Own Private Idaho as Man Behind Hotel Counter (uncredited)
1989
Drugstore Cowboy as Himself (uncredited)
1988
Mala Noche as Guy at Hotel (uncredited)
1988
Junior as Himself
1987
Five Ways to Kill Yourself

Directing (47)

The Prince of Fashion • Director
• Director
Killing Gawker • Director
• Director
2018
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot • Director
• Director
2017
FEUD • Director (5 episodes)
• Director (5 episodes)
2017
When We Rise • Director (1 episode)
• Director (1 episode)
2016
The Sea of Trees • Director
• Director
2012
Promised Land • Director
• Director
2012
My Own Private River • Director
• Director
2011
Restless • Director
• Director
2008
Milk • Director
• Director
2008
8 • Director
• Director
2008
Mansion on the Hill • Director
• Director
2007
To Each His Own Cinema • Director
• Director
2007
Paranoid Park • Director
• Director
2006
Paris Je T'aime • Director
• Director
2006
Le Marais • Director
• Director
2006
Cinema16: American Short Films • Director
• Director
2006
Best of Chris Isaak • Director
• Director
2005
Last Days • Director
• Director
2003
Elephant • Director
• Director
2002
Gerry • Director
• Director
2002
David Bowie: Best of Bowie • Director
• Director
2000
Finding Forrester • Director
• Director
2000
Easter • Director
• Director
2000
De Witt Clinton Choir • Director
• Director
1998
Psycho • Director
• Director
1997
Good Will Hunting
• Director
• Script Supervisor
1997
Ballad of the Skeletons • Director
• Director
1996
Four Boys in a Volvo • Director
• Director
1995
To Die For • Director
• Director
1994
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues • Director
• Director
1991
• Director
1991
Thanksgiving Prayer • Director
• Director
1991
Flea Sings • Director
• Director
1989
Drugstore Cowboy • Director
• Director
1988
Mala Noche • Director
• Director
1988
Ken Death Gets Out of Jail • Director
• Director
1988
Junior • Director
• Director
1987
Five Ways to Kill Yourself • Director
• Director
1987
My New Friend • Director
• Director
1985
Switzerland • Director
• Director
1982
The Discipline of D.E. • Director
• Director
1979
Psycho Shampoo • Director
• Director
1973
1/2 of a Telephone Conversation • Director
• Director
1972
Little Johnny • Director
• Director
1971
The Happy Organ • Director
• Director

Production (20)

2021
Joe Gives Up and Moves to Montana • Producer
• Producer
2018
Age Out • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
2017
FEUD • Executive Producer (8 episodes)
• Executive Producer (8 episodes)
2017
When We Rise • Executive Producer (4 episodes)
• Executive Producer (4 episodes)
2015
I Am Michael • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
2012
Promised Land • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
2012
Laurence Anyways • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
2011
Restless • Producer
• Producer
2010
Howl • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
2010
Virginia • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
2006
Wild Tigers I Have Known • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
2004
On the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
2003
Tarnation • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
2000
Psycho Path • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
1999
Speedway Junky • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
1998
Psycho • Producer
• Producer
1995
Kids • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
1994
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
1991
Thanksgiving Prayer • Producer
• Producer
1988
Mala Noche • Producer
• Producer

Editing (8)

2018
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot • Editor
• Editor
2008
8 • Editor
• Editor
2007
Paranoid Park • Editor
• Editor
2005
Last Days • Editor
• Editor
2003
Elephant • Editor
• Editor
2002
Gerry • Editor
• Editor
1994
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues • Editor
• Editor
1988
Mala Noche • Editor
• Editor

Creator (1)

2020
Ouverture Of Something That Never Ended • Creator
• Creator

Writing (15)

The Prince of Fashion • Screenplay
• Screenplay
2018
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
• Screenplay
• Story
2007
Paranoid Park • Screenplay
• Screenplay
2006
Paris Je T'aime • Writer
• Writer
2006
Le Marais • Writer
• Writer
2005
Last Days • Screenplay
• Screenplay
2003
Elephant • Screenplay
• Screenplay
2002
Gerry • Writer
• Writer
1997
Ballad of the Skeletons • Writer
• Writer
1994
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues • Writer
• Writer
1991
My Own Private Idaho • Screenplay
• Screenplay
1989
Drugstore Cowboy • Screenplay
• Screenplay
1988
Mala Noche • Screenplay
• Screenplay
1987
Five Ways to Kill Yourself • Writer
• Writer

Sound (3)

2008
Milk • Sound Re-Recording Mixer
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer
1997
Good Will Hunting • Sound Re-Recording Mixer
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer
1979
Property • Sound
• Sound

Crew (4)

2013
Strutter • Thanks
• Thanks
2010
I'm Still Here • Thanks
• Thanks
2010
Shit Year • Thanks
• Thanks
2009
Accidents Happen • Thanks
• Thanks