Gus Van Sant
Directing
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
Directing52
movieDead Man's Wire
2026
Director
tvFEUD
2017
Director
tvWhen We Rise
2017
Director
movieThe Sea of Trees
2016
Director
moviePromised Land
2012
Director
movieMy Own Private River
2012
Director
tvBoss
2011
Director
movieRestless
2011
Director
movieMilk
2008
Director
movie8
2008
Director
movieTo Each His Own Cinema
2007
Director
movieParanoid Park
2007
Director
movieParis Je T'aime
2006
Director
movieLe Marais
2006
Director
movieBest of Chris Isaak
2006
Director
movieLast Days
2005
Director
movieElephant
2003
Director
movieGerry
2002
Director
movieFinding Forrester
2000
Director
Easter
2000
Director
moviePsycho
1998
Director
movieGood Will Hunting
1997
Director
movieBallad of the Skeletons
1997
Director
movieFour Boys in a Volvo
1996
Director
movieTo Die For
1995
Director
movieMy Own Private Idaho
1991
Director
movieThanksgiving Prayer
1991
Director
Flea Sings
1991
Director
movieDrugstore Cowboy
1989
Director
movieJunior
1988
Director
movieMala Noche
1987
Director
movieMy New Friend
1987
Director
Switzerland
1985
Director
movieThe Discipline of D.E.
1982
Director
moviePsycho Shampoo
1979
Director
movieLittle Johnny
1972
Director
My Friend
Director
Acting52
movieThe Trainer
2024
Gus Van Sant
movieNicole Kidman: Eyes Wide Open
2023
Self (interview)
movieZeroville
2019
Film Archive Curator
movieDon't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
2018
Willamette Week Editor
movieThe Canyons
2013
Dr. Campbell
tvPortlandia
2011
Gus Van Sant
movieCritic
2008
Self
movieParanoid Park
2007
Guy Reading Newspaper (uncredited)
movieLast Days
2005
Phone Voice (voice)
tvEntourage
2004
Gus Van Sant
movieJay and Silent Bob Strike Back
2001
Gus Van Sant
movieFinding Forrester
2000
Library Assistant (uncredited)
moviePsycho Path
1999
Self - Director
moviePsycho
1998
Man Talking to Man in Cowboy Hat (uncredited)
tvHi Octane
1994
Self
movieMy Own Private Idaho
1991
Man Behind Hotel Counter (uncredited)
movieDrugstore Cowboy
1989
Himself (uncredited)
movieJunior
1988
Himself
movieMala Noche
1987
Guy at Hotel (uncredited)
Production22
movieAge Out
2018
Executive Producer
tvFEUD
2017
Executive Producer
tvWhen We Rise
2017
Executive Producer
movieI Am Michael
2015
Executive Producer
moviePromised Land
2012
Executive Producer
movieLaurence Anyways
2012
Executive Producer
tvBoss
2011
Executive Producer
movieRestless
2011
Producer
movieHowl
2010
Executive Producer
movieVirginia
2010
Executive Producer
movieWild Tigers I Have Known
2006
Executive Producer
movieOn the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time
2004
Executive Producer
movieTarnation
2003
Executive Producer
moviePsycho Path
1999
Executive Producer
movieSpeedway Junky
1999
Executive Producer
moviePsycho
1998
Producer
movieKids
1995
Executive Producer
movieEven Cowgirls Get the Blues
1994
Executive Producer
movieThanksgiving Prayer
1991
Producer
movieMala Noche
1987
Producer
Antinous
Producer
Writing15
movieDon't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
2018
Screenplay, Story
movieParanoid Park
2007
Screenplay
movieLe Marais
2006
Writer
movieParis Je T'aime
2006
Writer
movieLast Days
2005
Screenplay
movieElephant
2003
Screenplay
movieGerry
2002
Writer
movieMy Own Private Idaho
1991
Screenplay
movieDrugstore Cowboy
1989
Screenplay
movieMala Noche
1987
Screenplay
Last Days
Original Film Writer
Editing8
movie8
2008
Editor
movieParanoid Park
2007
Editor
movieLast Days
2005
Editor
movieElephant
2003
Editor
movieGerry
2002
Editor
movieMala Noche
1987
Editor
Crew5
movieCertain Women
2016
Thanks
movieStrutter
2013
Thanks
movieI'm Still Here
2010
Thanks
movieShit Year
2010
Thanks
Sound4
movieAndy by Gus
2023
Music
movieMilk
2008
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
movieGood Will Hunting
1997
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
movieProperty
1979
Sound
