Brian De Palma Biography

Date of Birth: September 11, 1940

The director known for raw psychological suspense was born in Newark, New Jersey. The son of a surgeon, Brian De Palma started his academic career studying physics, winning a top regional prize for his science project "An Analog Computer to Solve Differential Equations."

But De Palma's intense love of film soon changed his direction, prompting him to make a number of films before attracting attention with Sisters in 1973.

Three years later, he became widely known for directing Sissy Spacek in Carrie. In 1987, he made The Untouchables, a film based upon the television series. He also did some video work, directing Bruce Springsteen for his song Dancing in the Dark.

More recently, his film Femme Fatale (2000) starring Rebecca Romijn and Antonio Banderas was nominated for Best Film at the Sitges Catalonian Film Festival, while The Black Dahlia, starring Josh Hartnett and Scarlett Johansson, received a Golden Lion nomination at the Venice Film Festival.

De Palma is known for a directorial style that pays homage to the master of the thriller, Alfred Hitchcock. Always borrowing from the best, the scene where the baby carriage rolls down the train station steps in The Untouchables is a direct lift from film pioneer Sergei Eisenstein's 1925 silent class The Battleship Potemkin.

De Palma has remarked: "The camera lies all the time. It lies twenty-four times a second."

Filmography

Toyer (2007)
The Black Dahlia (2006)
Femme Fatale (2002)
Mission to Mars (2000)
Mr. Hughes (2000)
Snake Eyes (1998)
Ambrose Chapel (1998)
Falling Sky (1998)
Mission: Impossible (1996)
Carlito's Way (1993)
Raising Cain (1992)
The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
Casualties of War (1989)
The Untouchables (1987)
Wise Guys (1986)
Body Double (1984)
Scarface (1983)
Blow Out (1981)
Dressed to Kill (1980)
Home Movies (1979)
The Fury (1978)
Carrie (1976)
Obsession (1976)
Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
Sisters (1973)
Get to Know Your Rabbit (1972)
Dionysus (1970)
Hi, Mom! (1970)
The Wedding Party (1969)
Greetings (1968)