Morgan Neville Biography

Morgan Neville was born in Los Angeles, California, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania before starting his career in journalism. He transitioned into film production in 1993 at the age of 23.

After finding success with his music documentaries, Morgan expanded his focus to broader cultural themes, including politics and media. In 2014, he won an Oscar for his feature documentary 20 Feet From Stardom (2013), about backup singers. His 2015 film Best of Enemies explores the televised debates between Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, offering a timely reflection on the intersection of politics and broadcast media.

His documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim, centers on beloved television host Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and highlights the enduring impact of kindness and empathy within communities, both real and imagined. The film won several awards, including the Christopher Award, the Audience Award at the Gotham Awards and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary. 

Morgan lives in Pasadena, California with his wife and two children. ~Megan Parsons

Filmography:

Lorne (2026)
Breakdown: 1975 (2025)
Man on the Run (2025)
Everywhere Man: The Lives and Times of Peter Asher (2025)
BTS Army: Forever We Are Young (2025)
Leap of Faith (2024)
What’s Next: The Future with Bill Gates (2024)
Piece by Piece (2024)
Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces (2024)
The Saint of Second Chances (2023)
Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with Dave Letterman (2023)
Andy Kaufman in Thank You Very Much (2023)
Art for Everybody (2023)
The 12th Victim (2023)
Mickey: The Story of a Mouse (2022)
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021)
Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song (2021)
Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson (2021)
We Were There to Be There (2021)
Worn Stories (2021)
Song Exploder (2020)
The Painter and the Thief (2020)
Miss Americana (2020)
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (2019)
Shangri-La (2019)
Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10 (2019)
They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead (2018)
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018)
Chelsea Does (2016)
Keith Richards: Under the Influence (2015)
The Music of Strangers (2015)
Best of Enemies: Buckley vs. Vidal (2015)
20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
Burn (2012)
Beauty Is Embarrassing (2012)
Crossfire Hurricane (2012)
Pearl Jam Twenty (2011)
The Union (2011)
Search and Destroy: Iggy & The Stooges’ Raw Power (2010)
Ray Charles America (2010)
Johnny Cash’s America (2008)
The Night James Brown Saved Boston (2008)
The Joy of Lex (2008)
Great Performances (2007)
American Revolutions: The Highwaymen (2006)
Shakespeare Was a Big George Jones Fan (2005)
Dark Stars (2003)
The Songmakers Collection (2001)
Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ’n’ Roll (2000)
Brian Wilson: A Beach Boy’s Tale (1999)
The Hustons: Hollywood’s Maverick Dynasty (1998)
Gloria Swanson: The Greatest Star (1997)
Sidney Poitier: The Defiant One (1997)
Shotgun Freeway: Drives Through Lost L.A. (1995)