Michael Anderson

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Michael Joseph Anderson (born 30 January 1920) is an English film director.

Early life

Anderson's was a theatrical family. His parents were the actors Lawrence and Beatrice Anderson. His great-aunt was Mary Anderson of Louisville, Kentucky, who became one of the first American Shakespearian actresses; the Mary Anderson Theatre in Louisville was dedicated to her.

Career

After serving in the Second World War, Anderson first developed his career in British films, becoming a director in 1949 and enjoying his first success with the war movie The Dam Busters (1954). The Dam Busters made good use of limited special effects and is often cited as an inspiration for the climax of the first Star Wars film. He directed the first cinema adaptation of George Orwell's 1984 (1956) and Around the World in Eighty Days (1956), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his direction. He also directed the 1968 film The Shoes of the Fisherman starring Anthony Quinn, Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud.

He settled in Hollywood, California, making such science fiction offerings as Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975) and Logan's Run (1976). Logan's Run was an expensive box-office success, contributing a box office of $50 million worldwide and boosting sales for its distributor, Metro Goldwyn Mayer. It has gone on to enjoy a cult status. He also directed Orca (1977). Anderson's later work was mostly made-for-television miniseries, including The Martian Chronicles (1980) and Sword of Gideon (1986). In 1988, he directed Bottega dell'orefice (The Jeweler's Shop), based on the 1960 play written by Karol Wojtyła (later Pope John Paul II). Other films he has directed include All The Fine Young Cannibals (1960), Flight from Ashiya (1964), The Quiller Memorandum (1966), The Yangtse Incident (1956) and a film adaptation of Conduct Unbecoming (1975). His latest film Tenderloin is in post-production.

He is fluent in French, Italian, and German.

Personal life

He has been married three times:

1. Betty Jordan 1939; five children
2. Vera Carlisle 1969; one child
3. Adrianne Ellis 1977 to date; two stepchildren (stepfather of actress Laurie Holden and Christopher Holden)

His son Michael Anderson, Jr., is an actor who appeared in Logan's Run; another son David Anderson, is a film producer.

References

External links

• Michael Anderson (director) at the Internet Movie Database
• Michael Anderson biography at BFI Screenonline

Persondata
NAME	Anderson, Michael
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Film director
DATE OF BIRTH	January 30, 1920
PLACE OF BIRTH	London  United Kingdom
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH