Cameron Crowe - Details

Biography

CAMERON CROWE has previously enjoyed success with such films as Jerry Maguire (1996) for which he earned dual Academy Award® nominations, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

However, though best known today for his work in films, Crowe started out as a music journalist while still in his teens, much like the central character of William Miller in Almost Famous (2000) which he considers his most personal film to date.

Born in Palm Springs, California and raised in San Diego, Crowe began his career in journalism at the age of 15, writing for such publications as Creem, Rolling Stone, Playboy and The Los Angeles Times.

When he was only 16 years old, he joined the staff of Rolling Stone, where he was a contributing editor and later an associate editor. During his tenure, he profiled many of music's most influential artists, including Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, and Crosby, Stills & Nash, to name only a few.

In 1979, Crowe, then 22, returned to high school to research a book, which resulted in the best-selling novel Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Even before it was published, Crowe was tapped to write the screenplay adaptation, marking his screenwriting debut.

Directed by Amy Heckerling, the 1982 hit film became an instant classic and launched the careers of such actors as Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Forrest Whitaker, Nicolas Cage and Eric Stoltz. In addition, Crowe received a Writers Guild award nomination for Best Comedy Screenplay Adaptation.

In 1989, Crowe made his feature film directorial debut with Say Anything (1989) starring John Cusack and Ione Skye, which he also wrote. He subsequently wrote and directed the widely praised romantic comedy Singles (1992), starring Matt Dillon, Bridget Fonda and Kyra Sedgwick.

Crowe most recently wrote, directed and produced the runaway hit Jerry Maguire (1996) starring Tom Cruise in the title role of a sports agent whose "mission statement" changes the course of his life.

Crowe earned Academy Award® nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, as well as his second nomination from the Writers Guild for his work on the film. Jerry Maguire (1996) garnered a total of five Oscar® nominations, including a win for Cuba Gooding Jr. for Best Supporting Actor, and a nomination for Tom Cruise for Best Actor.

After Jerry Maguire (1996) Crowe spent a year and a half researching and writing the book Conversations With Wilder, a series of interviews conducted with the legendary filmmaker Billy Wilder, which was published by Knopf.

Events

  • 13th July 1957 - Birth