D. A. Pennebaker
- Known For
- Directing
- Born
- July 15, 1925 in Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Died
- August 1, 2019
- Active Years
- 1954–2023 (70 Years)
- Total Credits
- 148 credits in database
Biography
Subject: D. A. Pennebaker (Directing).
Task: Write a 90-130 word factual identity profile.
Constraints:
Use ONLY verifiable facts from the provided SYNOPSIS and SOURCES.
No invented titles, names, dates, awards, etc.
Original, neutral, encyclopedic prose.
Plain text only (no markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bullet points).
No preamble, no JSON, no surrounding quotes.
Word count: 90-130 words.
Full Name: Donn Alan Pennebaker.
Pronunciation: /ˈpɛniːbeɪkər/.
Birth Date: July 15, 1925.
Death Date: August 1, 2019 (aged 94).
Nationality/Origin: American.
Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois, USA.
Profession: Documentary filmmaker, pioneer of direct cinema.
Primary Subjects: Performing arts and politics.
Awards: Academy Honorary Award (2013) from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Description: Called by The Independent as "arguably the pre-eminent chronicler of Sixties counterculture."
Known Credits: 97.
Known For: Directing.
Gender: Male.
Donn Alan Pennebaker was an American documentary filmmaker and a pioneer of direct cinema. Born on July 15, 1925, in Evanston, Illinois, USA, he focused primarily on subjects involving politics and the performing arts. His body of work was recognized in 2013 with an Academy Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Independent described him as arguably the pre-eminent chronicler of Sixties counterculture. Pennebaker has 97 known credits and is recognized for his work in directing. He passed away on August 1, 2019, at the age of 94.
"Donn Alan Pennebaker was an American documentary filmmaker and a pioneer of direct
Career overview
Subject: D. A. Pennebaker (Donn Alan Pennebaker).
Task: Write a 180-260 word career overview of his directing career.
Constraints:
Use ONLY verifiable facts from the provided SYNOPSIS and SOURCES.
No invented titles, names, dates, awards, etc.
Neutral, encyclopedic prose.
Plain text only (no markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bullet points).
Word count: 180-260 words.
Structure: 2-3 short paragraphs.
No preamble, no JSON.
Full Name: Donn Alan Pennebaker.
Lifespan: July 15, 1925 – August 1, 2019 (94 years old).
Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois, USA.
Profession: American documentary filmmaker, pioneer of direct cinema.
Primary subjects: Performing arts and politics.
Recognition: Academy Honorary Award (2013) from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Description: Called by The Independent as "arguably the pre-eminent chronicler of Sixties counterculture."
Known For: Directing.
Known Credits: 97.
Paragraph 1: Introduction and Identity.
Donn Alan Pennebaker was an American documentary filmmaker born on July 15, 1925, in Evanston, Illinois. He is recognized as one of the pioneers of direct cinema. Throughout his career, his primary subjects of focus were performing arts and politics. The Independent described him as arguably the pre-eminent chronicler of Sixties counterculture.
Paragraph 2: Career and Recognition.
Pennebaker's professional work includes 97 known credits, specifically in the field of directing. In 2013, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized his body of work by presenting him with an Academy Honorary Award. He passed away on August 1, 2019, at the age of 94.
Current Draft Word Count Check:
"Donn Alan Pennebaker was an American documentary filmmaker born on July 15, 1925, in Evanston, Illinois. He is recognized as one of the pioneers of direct cinema. Throughout his career, his primary subjects of focus were performing arts and politics. The Independent described him as arguably the pre-eminent chronicler of Sixties counterculture.
Pennebaker's professional work includes 97 known credits, specifically in the field of directing. In 2013, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized his body of work by presenting him with an Academy Honorary Award. He passed away on August 1, 2019, at the age of 94."
Word count calculation:
Donn (1) Alan (2) Pennebaker (3) was (4) an (5) American (6) documentary (7) filmmaker (8) born (9) on (10) July (11) 15, (12) 1925, (13) in (14) Evanston, (15) Illinois. (16) He (17) is (18) recognized (19) as (20) one (21) of (22) the (23) pioneers (24) of (25) direct (26) cinema. (27) Throughout (28) his (29) career, (30) his (31) primary (32) subjects (33) of (34) focus (35) were (36) performing (37) arts (38) and (39) politics. (40) The (41) Independent (42) described (43) him (44) as (45
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
148 titles- Revival69: The Concert That Rocked the World (2023) Executive Producer
- Tiny Tim: King for a Day (2020) as Himself
- Robert Drew & Associates at the Museum of Tolerance (2016) as Self
- Depeche Mode: Video Singles Collection (2016) Director
- Jill Drew and D.A. Pennebaker (2016) as Himself
- Unlocking the Cage (2016) Director
- Janis: Little Girl Blue (2015) as Himself
- Snapshots from the Tour (2015) Director
- A Venue For The End Of The World (2014) as Himself
- Ricky on Leacock (2012) as Self
- Mario Ruspoli, Prince of the Whales (2011) as Self
- Godard Made in USA (2010) as Self
- The National - 'High Violet' Live From Brooklyn Academy of Music (2010) Director
- Kings of Pastry (2009) Director
- The Return of the War Room (2008) Director
- A President to Remember: In the Company of John F. Kennedy (2008) Editor
- A President to Remember: In the Company of John F. Kennedy (2008) Cinematography
- Morris Engel: The Independent (2008) as Self
- The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live at Monterey (2007) Director
- Addiction (2007) Director
- 65 Revisited (2007) Camera Operator
- 65 Revisited (2007) Director
- Al Franken: God Spoke (2006) Executive Producer
- Cinema16: American Short Films (2006) Director
- Assume the Position with Mr. Wuhl (2006) Director
- No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (2005) as Self
- World Tour 1966: The Home Movies (2003) as Self (archive footage)
- The Cutman (2003) Executive Producer
- Only the Strong Survive (2002) Director
- Only the Strong Survive (2002) Camera Operator
- Only the Strong Survive (2002) Editor
- Monterey Pop - The Outtake Performances (2002) Cinematography
- Monterey Pop - The Outtake Performances (2002) Director
- Tiny Tim Backstage at Monterey Pop (2002) Director
- Down from the Mountain (2001) Editor
- Down from the Mountain (2001) Director
- Down from the Mountain (2001) Director of Photography
- Startup.com (2001) Producer
- The Ballad of Ramblin' Jack (2000) as Self
- Bessie: A Portrait of Bessie Schonberg (1998) Director
- Moon Over Broadway (1997) Director
- Westernhagen: Keine Zeit (1996) Director
- Woodstock Diary (1994) Director
- The War Room (1993) Director
- The War Room (1993) Editor
- The War Room (1993) Director of Photography
- Chuck Berry: Rock and Roll Music (1992) Director
- Chuck Berry: Rock and Roll Music (1992) Camera Operator
- Jerry Lee Lewis: The Story of Rock and Roll (1991) Director
- Depeche Mode 101 (1989) Director
- Depeche Mode 101 (1989) Editor
- Depeche Mode 101 (1989) Camera Operator
- Depeche Mode: Live at the Pasadena Rose Bowl (1989) Camera Operator
- Depeche Mode: Live at the Pasadena Rose Bowl (1989) Editor
- Depeche Mode: Live at the Pasadena Rose Bowl (1989) Director
- Jimi Plays Monterey (1987) Editor
- Jimi Plays Monterey (1987) Director
- Jimi Plays Monterey (1987) Camera Operator
- Shake! Otis at Monterey (1987) Director
- Shake! Otis at Monterey (1987) Camera Operator
- Shake! Otis at Monterey (1987) Editor
- From the Pole to the Equator (1987) Editor
- Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1983) Director
- Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1983) Camera Operator
- Making Samuel Beckett's 'Rockaby' (1983) Director
- Making Samuel Beckett's 'Rockaby' (1983) Director of Photography
- Making Samuel Beckett's 'Rockaby' (1983) Editor
- Before the Nickelodeon: The Cinema of Edwin S. Porter (1982) as Reader - Film as a Visual Newspaper (voice)
- DeLorean (1981) Director
- The Energy War (1979) Director
- Town Bloody Hall (1979) Director
- Town Bloody Hall (1979) Director of Photography
- Town Bloody Hall (1979) Producer
- Jingle Bells: RFK - 1964 (1977) Producer
- Jingle Bells: RFK - 1964 (1977) Director
- Jingle Bells: RFK - 1964 (1977) Editor
- Jingle Bells: RFK - 1964 (1977) Director of Photography
- David Bowie: Cracked Actor (1975) Thanks
- Little Richard: Keep on Rockin' (1973) Director of Photography
- Little Richard: Keep on Rockin' (1973) Director
- Little Richard: Keep on Rockin' (1973) Producer
- Eat the Document (1972) Camera Operator
- Dancers in School (1972) Director
- Sweet Toronto (1971) Director
- Up Your Legs Forever (1971)
- 1 P.M. (1971) as Self
- 1 P.M. (1971) Director
- 1 P.M. (1971) Producer
- 1 P.M. (1971) Director of Photography
- 1 P.M. (1971) Writer
- 1 P.M. (1971) Editor
- Maidstone (1971) Director of Photography
- Maidstone (1971) Cinematography
- Original Cast Album: Company (1970) Director
- Original Cast Album: Company (1970) Director of Photography
- Alice Cooper (1970) Director
- Monterey Pop (1968) Director
- Monterey Pop (1968) Camera Operator
- Beyond the Law (1968) Cinematography
- Two American Audiences: La Chinoise - A Film in the Making (1968) Director
- Wild 90 (1968) as Al
- Wild 90 (1968) Director of Photography
- Wild 90 (1968) Writer
- Wake at Generation (1968) Director
- Hickory Hill (1968) Director
- RainForest (1968) Director
- Bob Dylan – Don't Look Back (1967) Writer
- Bob Dylan – Don't Look Back (1967) Director
- Bob Dylan – Don't Look Back (1967) Camera Operator
- Marathon (1965) Camera Operator
- Hier Strauss (1965) Director
- Elizabeth and Mary (1965) Director
- Lambert & Co. (1964) Director
- You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You (1964) Director
- You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You (1964) Editor
- You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You (1964) Producer
- You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You (1964) Camera Operator
- Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment (1963) Director
- The Chair (1963) Cinematography
- The Chair (1963) Director
- Jane (1962) Director
- Blackie (1962) Director
- Mooney vs. Fowle (1962) Director
- Susan Starr (1962) Director
- Adventures on the New Frontier (1961) Camera Operator
- Adventures on the New Frontier (1961) Director
- David (1961) Director
- On the Pole: Eddie Sachs (1961) Director
- On the Pole: Eddie Sachs (1961) Cinematography
- Aga Khan (1961) Director
- ABC Close-Up! (1960) Director
- Primary (1960) Editor
- Primary (1960) Camera Operator
- Primary (1960) Sound Recordist
- ABC Close-Up: Yanki, No! (1960) Director of Photography
- Christopher and Me (1960) Screenplay
- Christopher and Me (1960) Music
- Skyscraper (1959) Director
- Opening In Moscow (1959) Director
- Brussels Loops (1958) Director
- Daybreak Express (1957) Director
- Daybreak Express (1957) Writer
- Daybreak Express (1957) Editor
- Daybreak Express (1957) Director of Photography
- Your Share in Tomorrow (1957) Special Effects Supervisor
- American Football (1957) Director of Photography
- Baby (1954) Director
- David Director
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is D. A. Pennebaker best known for?
D. A. Pennebaker is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Tiny Tim: King for a Day (2020), Janis: Little Girl Blue (2015), Drop Dead Diva (2009), The Journey of Flower (2015).
When and where was D. A. Pennebaker born?
D. A. Pennebaker was born on July 15, 1925 in Evanston, Illinois, USA. They passed away on August 1, 2019.
How many credits does D. A. Pennebaker have?
D. A. Pennebaker has accumulated over 148 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1954 to 2023.
What is D. A. Pennebaker's background in cinema and television?
Subject: D. A. Pennebaker (Directing). Task: Write a 90-130 word factual identity profile. Constraints: Use ONLY verifiable facts from the provided SYNOPSIS and SOURCES. No invented titles, names, dates, awards, etc. Original, neutral, encyclopedic prose. Plain text only (no markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bull...
D. A. Pennebaker by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Janis: Little Girl Blue (2015) as Himself — aged about 89
- Tiny Tim: King for a Day (2020) as Himself — aged about 94
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