About

Known credits:
50
Birthday:
1958-08-20
Place of birth:
New York City, New York, USA
Website:
N/A

David O. Russell

Overview

David Owen Russell (born August 20, 1958) is an American film director and screenwriter. He has been praised for the loose, comic energy that characterizes his work, and is notorious for his explosive confrontations with cast members. He has won 2 Independent Spirit Awards for writing and directing as well as the Audience Award at Sundance, and a Writers Guild of America Award.

Russell was awarded Best First Screenplay and Best First Feature from the Independent Spirit Awards for his first work, the independent dark comedy “Spanking the Monkey” (1994).  In addition, the film won him the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. His work in the early 2010s, "The Fighter" (2010), "Silver Linings Playbook" (2012) and "American Hustle" (2013), was highly critically acclaimed, with each film racking up multiple Academy Award nominations, including for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, and Editing. The films had their best success in the acting categories, however, with Christian Bale and Melissa Leo winning the Supporting Actor & Actress Oscars for "The Fighter," and Jennifer Lawrence winning the award for Best Actress in "Silver Linings Playbook."

In December 2011, Russell's 19-year-old transgender niece, Nicole Peloquin, filed a police report alleging Russell had sexually assaulted her. The case was closed without any charges being filed because the alleged assault had no witnesses. According to the police report, Russell offered to help Peloquin with abdominal exercises, during which his hand hovered above her genitals. After inquiring about the hormones she used to increase breast size, Russell slipped his hands under her shirt and felt both breasts.

Russell confirmed that the incident happened, but told police that Peloquin was "acting very provocative toward him" and invited him to feel her breasts. He also admitted to being "curious about the breast enhancement." This incident was also directly mentioned in the 2014 Sony Pictures hack.

Known for

Acting
2019 Hal Actor Self 59
Average
2019 What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael Actor Self 59
Average
2007 Students of 'The Graduate' Actor Self N/A
N/A
2002 Adaptation. Actor Orlean Dinner Guest 71
Good
2000 Divine Trash Actor Self 59
Average

Directing
2022 Amsterdam Directing Director 60
Fair
2016 Past Forward Directing Director 59
Average
2016 Past Forward Directing Director N/A
N/A
2015 Joy Directing Director 64
Fair
2015 Accidental Love Directing Director 52
Average
2013 American Hustle Directing Director 68
Fair
2012 Silver Linings Playbook Directing Director 70
Good
2010 The Fighter Directing Director 72
Good
2004 Soldiers Pay Directing Director 58
Average
2004 I ♥ Huckabees Directing Director 61
Fair
1999 Three Kings Directing Director 65
Fair
1996 Flirting with Disaster Directing Director 59
Average
1994 Spanking the Monkey Directing Director 58
Average
1989 Hairway to the Stars Directing Director N/A
N/A
Madden Directing Director N/A
N/A
Untitled Linda Ronstadt Biopic Directing Director N/A
N/A
Super Toys Directing Director N/A
N/A

Writing
2022 Amsterdam Writing Writer 60
Fair
2016 Past Forward Writing Writer 59
Average
2016 Past Forward Writing Writer N/A
N/A
2015 Joy Writing Screenplay 64
Fair
2015 Joy Writing Story 64
Fair
2013 American Hustle Writing Writer 68
Fair
2012 Silver Linings Playbook Writing Screenplay 70
Good
2004 I ♥ Huckabees Writing Screenplay 61
Fair
1999 Three Kings Writing Screenplay 65
Fair
1996 Flirting with Disaster Writing Writer 59
Average
1994 Spanking the Monkey Writing Writer 58
Average
1989 Hairway to the Stars Writing Writer N/A
N/A
Sammy's Hill Writing Adaptation N/A
N/A
Super Toys Writing Writer N/A
N/A
Madden Writing Writer N/A
N/A

Production
2022 Amsterdam Production Producer 60
Fair
2015 Joy Production Producer 64
Fair
2004 Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie Production Executive Producer 59
Average
2004 Soldiers Pay Production Producer 58
Average
2004 I ♥ Huckabees Production Producer 61
Fair
2004 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Production Executive Producer 66
Fair
2002 The Slaughter Rule Production Producer 58
Average
1994 Spanking the Monkey Production Executive Producer 58
Average
1989 Hairway to the Stars Production Producer N/A
N/A
Madden Production Producer N/A
N/A
Not Fade Away Production Producer N/A
N/A

Camera
1983 Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble: Live at the El Mocambo Camera Camera Operator 59
Average

Crew
2009 Where the Wild Things Are Crew Thanks 63
Fair