Martin Scorsese Biography

Hailing from Queens, New York, Martin Scorsese had initially intended to enter the Roman Catholic priesthood. But while working towards an English major he found himself drawn to the film arts department and decided to change his career goals. During his studies, he produced two short student films; both of which won awards from film foundations and in regional festivals.

After school, Scorsese started working as a film editor. But he soon realized that success as a director would most likely happen if he were in Hollywood, so he took the trek west. His first successful film, Mean Streets, was released in 1973. Starring Robert De Niro, it was an instant success and singled Scorsese out as 'the new young director to watch.'

He didn't disappoint the prediction as two years later, he released Taxi Driver. The film, which again starred De Niro and then unknown Jodie Foster, received the top award (Golden Palm) at the Cannes Film Festival, and considered by many film buffs to be a classic.

His next hit, Raging Bull (1980), gave Scorsese his first Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. It wasn't to be the last time he received a nomination, as throughout the '80s and '90s, he received Oscar nominations for three more films, The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Goodfellas (1990) (earning nominations for both Best Screenplay and Best Director), and The Age of Innocence (1993). In 2003, he received another Academy Award nomination, and finally, won his first Golden Globe award, this time for Gangs of New York (2003). Scorsese has also received the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute, and the Board of Governors Award from the American Society of Cinematographers for his vast amount of quality work.

Other noteworthy films include New York, New York (1977), The Color of Money (1986), and Cape Fear (1991), which was both controversial and one of the biggest hits of his career. For The Aviator, Scorsese received another Golden Globe nomination and his fifth Best Director Academy Award nomination. In 2007, he won his second Golden Globe award for his work in The Departed (2006) as well as his first Best Director Academy Award—an honor that many believed was long overdue. The awards didn't stop there. He received a third Golden Globe for directing Hugo—a film jokingly referred to as the first movie he's ever made that children can watch, as well as another Academy Award nomination for best director. Two years later, he helmed The Wolf of Wall Street (2014), which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill. The film scored Academy Award nominations for Best Achievement in Directing and Best Motion Picture of the Year.

In 2016 Martin directed the first episode of and executive produced the Emmy-nominated series Vinyl with Bobby Cannavale and Ray Romano, and directed the 17th century-set drama Silence with Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver.

While searching for funding for his next film, The Irishman (2019), Scorsese was approached by Netflix, which agreed to fund the production, including the de-aging process done on star Robert De Niro in post-production through Industrial Light & Magic. The movie played at film festivals and had a limited release in theaters before debuting on the streaming service. Scorsese received his ninth Academy Award nomination in the directing category, as well as his ninth nomination in the Best Director category at the Golden Globes.

His film, Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) received much critical acclaim for its depiction of how white men stole from and killed Indigenous people under the pretense of befriending them. Besides receiving a Oscar nomination for Best Picture, Scorsese earned another nomination in the directing category, becoming at 81, the oldest Best Director nominee in the history of the Academy Awards.

Besides directing, Scorsese has acted (mainly as himself) in a number of films and television specials.

Scorsese is one of the founders of the Film Foundation, which promotes the restoration of films, and in 1992 launched the Martin Scorsese Presents, a company dedicated to restoring and distributing classic films.

Although he never became a priest, Scorsese knows a thing or two about standing at the altar, having married five times. He is presently living with fifth wife, Helen, and their daughter. He has two daughters from two former wives.

Filmography:

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
The Irishman (2019)
Silence (2016)
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Hugo (2011)
Shutter Island (2010)
Shine a Light (2008)
The Departed (2006)
The Aviator (2004)
Gangs of New York (2002)
The Last Waltz (2002) (re-release)
Bringing Out the Dead (1999)
My Voyage to Italy (1999)
Kundun (1997)
Casino (1995)
The Age of Innocence (1993)
Cape Fear (1991)
Made in Milan (1990)
Goodfellas (1990)
New York Stories (1989) (segment 1)
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
Bad (1987) (V)
The Color of Money (1986)
After Hours (1985)
The King of Comedy (1983)
Raging Bull (1980)
American Boy: A Profile of: Steven Prince (1978)
The Last Waltz (1978)
New York, New York (1977)
Taxi Driver (1976)
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)
Italianamerican (1974)
Mean Streets (1973)
Badge 373 (1973)
Boxcar Bertha (1972)
Street Scenes (1970)
Who's That Knocking at My Door? (1968)
The Big Shave (1967)
It's Not Just You, Murray! (1964)
What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (1963)
Vesuvius VI (1959)