About

Known credits:
141
Birthday:
1952-07-24
Place of birth:
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Website:
Click here

Gus Van Sant

Overview

Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. (born July 24, 1952) is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Achievement in Directing for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, and won the Palme d'Or at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival for his film Elephant. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

His early career was devoted to directing television commercials in the Pacific Northwest. In his films, he has dealt with themes concerning homosexuality and other marginalized subcultures.

His filmography as writer and director includes an adaptation of Tom Robbins' novel Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, which features a diverse cast (Keanu Reeves, Roseanne Barr, Uma Thurman, and k.d. lang, with cameos by William S. Burroughs and Heather Graham, among others); and My Own Private Idaho, also starring Reeves as well as River Phoenix.

He wrote the screenplays for most of his early movies, and wrote one novel, Pink. A book of his photography has also been published, called 108 Portraits.

Known for

Acting
2024 The Trainer Actor N/A
N/A
2024 who is Gus Van Sant? Actor Himself N/A
N/A
2023 The Trainer Actor N/A
N/A
2023 Nicole Kidman: Eyes Wide Open Actor Self (interview) 59
Average
2019 At the Video Store Actor Self 59
Average
2019 Zeroville Actor Film Archive Curator 57
Average
2018 Illegal Civilization 3 Actor Self 59
Average
2018 Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot Actor Willamette Week Editor 63
Fair
2016 Xavier Dolan: Bound to Impossible Actor Self 58
Average
2015 I Don't Belong Anywhere: The Cinema of Chantal Akerman Actor Self 59
Average
2015 About Cinema Actor Self 59
Average
2013 The Canyons Actor Dr. Campbell 53
Average
2012 A Special Day Actor Self 59
Average
2011 The Advocate for Fagdom Actor Self 59
Average
2010 William S. Burroughs: A Man Within Actor Self 59
Average
2008 Making Paranoid Park Actor N/A
N/A
2008 Crítico Actor Self 59
Average
2007 In the Mood for Doyle Actor Self 59
Average
2007 Paranoid Park Actor Guy Reading Newspaper (uncredited) 62
Fair
2007 Here’s Looking at You, Boy Actor Self 59
Average
2006 Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema Actor Self 58
Average
2005 Last Days Actor Phone Voice (voice) 57
Average
2005 The Making of ‘My Own Private Idaho’ Actor 59
Average
2004 On the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time Actor Himself N/A
N/A
2004 The Making of Last Days Actor Himself N/A
N/A
2003 Saltlake Van Sant Actor Self N/A
N/A
2003 About Elephant Actor Self N/A
N/A
2001 Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Actor Gus Van Sant 62
Fair
2001 Rescued from the Closet Actor Self 58
Average
2000 Finding Forrester Actor Library Assistant (uncredited) 67
Fair
2000 Psycho Path Actor Self - Director 59
Average
1999 The Making of Drugstore Cowboy Actor N/A
N/A
1998 Psycho Actor Man Talking to Man in Cowboy Hat (uncredited) 53
Average
1998 Strange Parallel Actor Self 58
Average
1995 Guns on the Clackamas Actor 59
Average
1993 Made in the USA Actor Self N/A
N/A
1991 Red Hot Chili Peppers: Funky Monks Actor Himself 59
Average
1991 My Own Private Idaho Actor Man Behind Hotel Counter (uncredited) 67
Fair
1989 Drugstore Cowboy Actor Himself (uncredited) 65
Fair
1988 Mala Noche Actor Guy at Hotel (uncredited) 59
Average
1988 Junior Actor Himself N/A
N/A
1987 Five Ways to Kill Yourself Actor 59
Average
Thank You for Supporting the Arts Actor N/A
N/A

Directing
2020 Ouverture of Something that Never Ended Directing Director 60
Fair
2018 Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot Directing Director 63
Fair
2016 The Sea of Trees Directing Director 60
Fair
2012 Promised Land Directing Director 61
Fair
2012 My Own Private River Directing Director 59
Average
2011 Restless Directing Director 61
Fair
2008 Milk Directing Director 69
Fair
2008 Mansion on the Hill Directing Director N/A
N/A
2008 8 Directing Director 58
Average
2007 To Each His Own Cinema Directing Director 60
Fair
2007 Paranoid Park Directing Director 62
Fair
2007 First Kiss Directing Director N/A
N/A
2006 Paris Je T'aime Directing Director 64
Fair
2006 Le Marais Directing Director 59
Average
2006 Cinema16: American Short Films Directing Director 59
Average
2006 Best of Chris Isaak Directing Director 58
Average
2005 Last Days Directing Director 57
Average
2003 Elephant Directing Director 68
Fair
2002 Gerry Directing Director 59
Average
2002 David Bowie: Best of Bowie Directing Director 59
Average
2000 Finding Forrester Directing Director 67
Fair
2000 Easter Directing Director N/A
N/A
2000 De Witt Clinton Choir Directing Director N/A
N/A
1998 Psycho Directing Director 53
Average
1997 Good Will Hunting Directing Script Supervisor 80
Very good
1997 Good Will Hunting Directing Director 80
Very good
1997 Ballad of the Skeletons Directing Director 59
Average
1996 Four Boys in a Volvo Directing Director 59
Average
1995 To Die For Directing Director 63
Fair
1994 Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Directing Director 55
Average
1991 My Own Private Idaho Directing Director 67
Fair
1991 Thanksgiving Prayer Directing Director 59
Average
1991 Flea Sings Directing Director N/A
N/A
1989 Drugstore Cowboy Directing Director 65
Fair
1988 Mala Noche Directing Director 59
Average
1988 Ken Death Gets Out of Jail Directing Director 58
Average
1988 Junior Directing Director N/A
N/A
1987 Five Ways to Kill Yourself Directing Director 59
Average
1987 My New Friend Directing Director N/A
N/A
1985 Switzerland Directing Director N/A
N/A
1982 The Discipline of D.E. Directing Director 59
Average
1979 Psycho Shampoo Directing Director N/A
N/A
1973 1/2 of a Telephone Conversation Directing Director N/A
N/A
1972 Little Johnny Directing Director N/A
N/A
1971 The Happy Organ Directing Director N/A
N/A
Killing Gawker Directing Director N/A
N/A
The Prince of Fashion Directing Director N/A
N/A

Writing
2020 Ouverture of Something that Never Ended Writing Writer 60
Fair
2018 Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot Writing Screenplay 63
Fair
2018 Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot Writing Story 63
Fair
2007 Paranoid Park Writing Screenplay 62
Fair
2006 Le Marais Writing Writer 59
Average
2006 Paris Je T'aime Writing Writer 64
Fair
2005 Last Days Writing Screenplay 57
Average
2003 Elephant Writing Screenplay 68
Fair
2002 Gerry Writing Writer 59
Average
1997 Ballad of the Skeletons Writing Writer 59
Average
1994 Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Writing Writer 55
Average
1991 My Own Private Idaho Writing Screenplay 67
Fair
1989 Drugstore Cowboy Writing Screenplay 65
Fair
1988 Mala Noche Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1987 Five Ways to Kill Yourself Writing Writer 59
Average
The Prince of Fashion Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A

Production
2021 Joe Gives Up and Moves to Montana Production Producer N/A
N/A
2018 Age Out Production Executive Producer 59
Average
2017 FEUD Production Executive Producer 76
Good
2017 When We Rise Production Executive Producer 68
Fair
2015 I Am Michael Production Executive Producer 57
Average
2012 Promised Land Production Executive Producer 61
Fair
2012 Laurence Anyways Production Executive Producer 69
Fair
2011 Restless Production Producer 61
Fair
2010 Howl Production Executive Producer 60
Fair
2010 Virginia Production Executive Producer 58
Average
2006 Wild Tigers I Have Known Production Executive Producer 58
Average
2004 On the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time Production Executive Producer N/A
N/A
2003 Tarnation Production Executive Producer 60
Fair
2000 Psycho Path Production Executive Producer 59
Average
1999 Speedway Junky Production Executive Producer 58
Average
1998 Psycho Production Producer 53
Average
1995 Kids Production Executive Producer 65
Fair
1994 Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Production Executive Producer 55
Average
1991 Thanksgiving Prayer Production Producer 59
Average
1988 Mala Noche Production Producer 59
Average

Sound
2008 Milk Sound Sound Re-Recording Mixer 69
Fair
1997 Good Will Hunting Sound Sound Re-Recording Mixer 80
Very good
1979 Property Sound Sound 59
Average

Crew
2013 Strutter Crew Thanks N/A
N/A
2010 I'm Still Here Crew Thanks 59
Average
2010 Shit Year Crew Thanks 59
Average
2009 Accidents Happen Crew Thanks 59
Average

Editing
2018 Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot Editing Editor 63
Fair
2008 8 Editing Editor 58
Average
2007 Paranoid Park Editing Editor 62
Fair
2005 Last Days Editing Editor 57
Average
2003 Elephant Editing Editor 68
Fair
2002 Gerry Editing Editor 59
Average
1994 Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Editing Editor 55
Average
1988 Mala Noche Editing Editor 59
Average