Martin Brest

Martin Brest (born August 8, 1951) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer.

Education

Brest graduated from Stuyvesant High School in 1969, from New York University's School of the Arts in 1973^[2] and from the AFI Conservatory with an M.F.A. degree in 1977.

Career

His film debut as a director/writer was with 1979's Going in Style, which starred George Burns, Art Carney and Lee Strasberg. Brest was next hired to direct the film WarGames but was fired during production.^[1]

Brest's next project was his first major hit film 1984's Beverly Hills Cop, starring Eddie Murphy. The film earned well over $300 million and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay as well as earning Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Eddie Murphy.

Brest's next film was 1988's Midnight Run, starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin. The film became a huge hit, earning Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for De Niro and Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for Brest.

His work on 1992's Scent of a Woman earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Drama. The film also took home Golden Globes for Best Actor – Drama for Al Pacino and Best Screenplay for Bo Goldman. In addition, the film was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and gave Al Pacino an Oscar for Best Actor.

Six years later, Brest directed Meet Joe Black, a loose remake of Death Takes a Holiday, starring Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins.

Five years later, Brest wrote and directed Gigli, starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. His career subsequently ended.

Filmography

Director

• Hot Dogs for Gauguin (1972)
• Hot Tomorrows (1977)
• Going in Style (1979)
• WarGames (1983) (some scenes)
• Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
• Midnight Run (1988)
• Scent of a Woman (1992)
• Meet Joe Black (1998)
• Gigli (2003)

Producer

• Hot Tomorrows (1977)
• Midnight Run (1988)
• Scent of a Woman (1992)
• Josh and S.A.M. (1993)
• Meet Joe Black (1998)
• Gigli (2003)

Actor

• Hot Dogs for Gauguin (1972) - Man on ferry
• Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) - Dr. Miller
• Beverly Hills Cop (1984) (uncredited) - Hotel Check-out Clerk
• Spies Like Us (1985) - Drive-In Security
• Midnight Run (1988) (uncredited) - Airline Ticket Clerk

Writer

• Hot Dogs for Gauguin (1972)
• Hot Tomorrows (1977)
• Going in Style (1979)
• Gigli (2003)

Editor

• Hot Dogs for Gauguin (1972)
• Hot Tomorrows (1977)

Notes

References

^  "Martin Brest". Universal Studios. 2001. http://www.meetjoeblack.com/martinbrest.html. Retrieved 2006-01-21. 

External links

• Martin Brest at the Internet Movie Database