Steven Spielberg

December 18, 2024

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Steven Allan Spielberg, born on December 18, 1946, is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is the all-time most commercially successful director and a key figure in the New Hollywood movement. Spielberg has received numerous honors, including two Best Director Oscars, three Academy Awards, a Kennedy Center Award, a Cecil B. DeMille Award, and an A.F.I. Life Achievement Award. He was also listed among the 100 Most Important People of the Century in 2013 by “Time” magazine. Today, on his birthday, he deserves all of our focus.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Steven Allan Spielberg

Nickname:

The King of Entertainment

Birth date:

December 18, 1946

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Sagittarius

Height:

5' 7"

Relationship Status:

Married

Net Worth:

$3.7 billion

Background

Spielberg was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to Leah Frances and Arnold Spielberg. He was raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and later relocated to California, where he attended college to study film. After directing various episodes of T.V. series such as “Night Gallery” and “Columbo,” he directed the T.V. movie “Duel” (1971), which won praise from reviewers and viewers. Then, in 1974, he made his feature film directing debut with “The Sugarland Express.” After directing the summer smash “Jaws” in 1975, he became well-known. Following that, he was the director of the commercially successful films “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977), “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982), and the “Indiana Jones” franchise. Later, in “The Color Purple” (1985) and “Empire of the Sun” (1987), Spielberg explored drama.

After a brief hiatus, he directed the Holocaust drama “Schindler’s List” and the science-fiction thriller “Jurassic Park” (both in 1993). The former became the highest-grossing movie ever at the time, and the latter has been hailed as one of the best movies ever produced. In 1998, he oversaw the production of the WWII epic “Saving Private Ryan.” In the 2000s, Spielberg continued to produce science fiction, including “War of the Worlds,” “Minority Report,” and “A.I. Artificial Intelligence” (2005). Along with the historical dramas “Amistad” (1997), “Munich” (2005), “War Horse” (2011), “Lincoln” (2012), “Bridge of Spies” (2015), “The Post” (2017), and the musical “West Side Story,” he also directed the children’s adventure movies “The Adventures of Tintin” (2011), “The B.F.G.” (2016), and “Ready Player One” (2018). He also co-founded DreamWorks and Amblin Entertainment and has produced several movies and television shows.

Several of Spielberg’s productions rank among the highest-grossing movies ever. The Library of Congress recognized nine of his films as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically important” and added them to the National Film Registry. Between 1985 and 1989, Spielberg was married to actress Amy Irving, but they divorced. He later married actress Kate Capshaw on October 12, 1991. He has seven children.

Career timeline

1974

He Makes His Directorial Debut

“The Sugarland Express” is released as Spielberg’s feature film directing debut.

1975

He Breaks Into the Industry

After directing “Jaws,” he becomes well-known in the industry.

1984

Spielberg Establishes a Production Company

He co-founds DreamWorks and Amblin Entertainment.

1993

His Two Big Projects Make it Big

After a brief hiatus, he directs the Holocaust drama “Schindler’s List” and the science-fiction thriller “Jurassic Park.”

1994

He Wins Academy Awards

Spielberg is awarded the title of Best Director and Best Picture for “Schindler’s List.”

2013

Spielberg is Honored in “Time” Magazine

“Time” magazine lists him as one of the 100 Most Important People of the Century.

Why We Love Steven Spielberg

He’s made three of the highest-grossing movies
Not once, not twice, but three times, he has directed films with the largest global box office take of all time. In 1975, “Jaws” more than tripled the previous record and made $470 million. Then, in 1982, “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” brought in $792 million, knocking “Star Wars” from the number-one spot. “Jurassic Park,” which made $914 million worldwide in 1993, then surpassed “E.T.”
He has created a great legacy
Spielberg was chosen as the most influential person of his generation in 1996 by “Life” magazine. Spielberg was placed first in the “Forbes” magazine list of the Most Influential Celebrities of 2014.
He is charitable
“Schindler’s List” was a big hit at the box office, earning $322 million against a $22 million budget, but Spielberg never received anything. Spielberg gave the Shoah Foundation, which preserves testimonials from Holocaust survivors, all of the money owed to him. Additionally, Spielberg still won’t sign any “Schindler’s List”-related items, preventing anyone from making money from it.

5 Surprising Facts

He earned $1 for his first film
Spielberg made his first film at 16, a science-fiction film called “Firelight,” for which he received $1.
No dime for “Schindler’s List”
Being Jewish, the holocaust-themed film was a personal project for him, and he donated all the proceeds to charity.
“James Bond” producer turned him down
Barbara Broccoli told Spielberg he needed more experience before taking on the role of a “James Bond” director when he approached her about directing one of the films.
He was diagnosed with dyslexia
Spielberg experienced bullying during his school years because no one was aware that he had dyslexia at the time and was struggling to read.
He’s a dog lover
Spielberg has a great love for dogs — one of his dogs was even cast in several of his films.