Michael Anderson (director)

Michael Anderson

Anderson at left with Mike Todd and Frank Sinatra on the set of Around the World in 80 Days.
Born Michael Joseph Anderson, Sr.
30 January 1920
London, England, UK
Occupation Film director
Years active 1949–1999
Spouse(s) Betty Jordan (1939–?)
Vera Carlsilse (1969–?; divorced)
Adrienne Ellis (since 1977)
Children Michael Anderson Jr.
David Anderson
Relatives Laurie Holden
(stepdaughter)
Christopher Holden (stepson)

Michael Joseph Anderson, Sr. (born 30 January 1920) is an English film director, best known for directing the WW II film The Dam Busters (1955), the epic Around the World in 80 Days (1956) and the dystopian sci-fi film Logan's Run (1976). His son is actor Michael Anderson Jr.. His stepdaughter is actress Laurie Holden.

Early life

He was born in London, England: Anderson's was a theatrical family. His parents were the actors Lawrence and Beatrice Anderson. His great-aunt was Mary Anderson of Louisville, Kentucky, who became one of the first American Shakespearian actresses; the Mary Anderson Theatre in Louisville was dedicated to her.

Career

Anderson appeared in two films as an actor: as Oily Boyd in Housemaster (1938); and as Marine Albert Fosdick in Noël Coward's In Which We Serve (1942)

After serving in the Second World War, Anderson first developed his career in British films, becoming a director in 1949 and enjoying his first success with the war film The Dam Busters (1955). He directed the first cinema adaptation of George Orwell's 1984 (1956) and Around the World in 80 Days (1956), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his direction. He also directed the 1968 film The Shoes of the Fisherman starring Anthony Quinn, Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud.

He settled in Hollywood, making such science fiction offerings as Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975) and Logan's Run (1976). Logan's Run was an expensive box-office success, contributing a box office of $50 million worldwide and boosting sales for its distributor, Metro Goldwyn Mayer. He also directed Orca (1977). Anderson's later work was mostly made-for-television miniseries, including The Martian Chronicles (1980), Sword of Gideon (1986) and Young Catherine (1991).

In 1988, he directed Bottega dell'orefice (The Jeweler's Shop), based on the 1960 play written by Karol Wojtyła (later Pope John Paul II). Other films he has directed include All the Fine Young Cannibals (1960), Flight from Ashiya (1964), The Quiller Memorandum (1966), Yangtse Incident (1957) and a film adaptation of Conduct Unbecoming (1975).

He is fluent in French, Italian, and German.

In 2012, Michael Anderson received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Directors Guild of Canada.

Anderson is currently the oldest living nominee for an Academy Award for Best Director, and the only living director whose film won a Best Picture award in the 1950s.

Personal life

He has been married three times:

  1. Betty Jordan 1939; five children
  2. Vera Carlisle 1969; one child
  3. Adrienne Ellis 1977 to date; two stepchildren; stepfather of actress Laurie Holden (The X-Files, Silent Hill, The Mist, The Walking Dead) and Christopher Holden.

His son Michael Anderson, Jr., is an actor who appeared in Logan's Run; another son David Anderson, is a film producer.

Filmography

References

    External links