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David Cronenberg

Directing Born Mar 15, 1943 Toronto, Ontario, Canada 233 credits

Biography

David Paul Cronenberg is a Canadian film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor born on March 15, 1943, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Known primarily for directing, he is recognized in the film industry with a total of 153 known credits. His work encompasses a prominent role in the body horror genre, with films that explore visceral bodily transformations, infectious diseases, and the intersection of the psychological, physical, and technological. Among his well known science fiction and horror directorial works are Shivers from 1975, Scanners from 1981, Videodrome from 1983, and The Fly from 1986. In addition to these genres, his directing career also includes dramas, psychological thrillers, and gangster films that have sparked both critical acclaim and controversy for their depictions of gore.

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Career

Career overview

David Paul Cronenberg is a Canadian film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor born on March 15, 1943, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is recognized as a principal originator of the body horror genre. His films are known for exploring visceral bodily transformation, infectious diseases, and the intertwining of the psychological, physical, and technological.

Cronenberg is best known for exploring these themes through science fiction horror films such as Shivers released in 1975, Scanners released in 1981, Videodrome released in 1983, and The Fly released in 1986. Alongside these science fiction horror works, he has also directed dramas, psychological thrillers, and gangster films.

His films have polarized critics and audiences alike. Throughout his career, he has earned critical acclaim and sparked controversy for his depictions of gore. With a career spanning numerous known credits in directing, Cronenberg remains a notable figure in cinema for his distinct thematic explorations.

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Frequent co-stars

Career timeline

Ready or Not: Here I ComeMusic, Fashion, Film
The Shrouds · DirectorThe Shrouds · WriterCronenberg, à corps ouvertSangre del ToroThe Hanging of Stuart Cornfeld
Humane
Faut Voir - L'Hebdo cinémaLeo · Original Film WriterRoom 999Four Unloved Women, Adrift on a Purposeless Sea, Experience the Ecstasy of Dissection · DirectorFour Unloved Women, Adrift on a Purposeless Sea, Experience the Ecstasy of Dissection · Writer
Crimes of the Future · DirectorCrimes of the Future · Writer
Slasher: Flesh & BloodThe Death of David CronenbergThe Death of David Cronenberg · DirectorThe Death of David Cronenberg · Writer
FallingDisappearance at Clifton Hill
The Dead Don't Die · ThanksRabid · Original Film WriterL’inquiétante absenceThe Drema · ThanksPass the Warning: Reflecting on Nic Roeg's Masterpiece
Star Trek: DiscoveryAlias Grace
SlasherApe SodomApe Sodom · Additional DialogueTomorrow's Shadows
Pig Goat Banana Cricket
Maps to the Stars · DirectorThe Double · ThanksMental Saboteur · ThanksThe Scanners Way: Creating the Special Effects in 'Scanners' · ThanksNosferatu vs. Father Pipecock & Sister Funk · Thanks
Pacific Rim · ThanksTales from the Organ TradeThe NestThe Nest · DirectorThe Nest · Writer
A Special DayCosmopolis · DirectorCosmopolis · ScreenplayCosmopolis · ProducerCitizens of Cosmopolis
A Dangerous Method · DirectorCronenberg: The Early YearsProduce Your Own Damn Movie!Acid Head: The Buzzard Nuts County Slaughter · ThanksDown to Sleep · Thanks
Tub · ThanksSecret Origin: The Story of DC ComicsBarney's VersionHappy TownWilliam S. Burroughs: A Man Within
On Screen!: ShiversThe Plan · Executive Producer
Eastern Promises · DirectorAt the Suicide of the Last Jew in the World in the Last Cinema in the WorldAt the Suicide of the Last Jew in the World in the Last Cinema in the World · DirectorAt the Suicide of the Last Jew in the World in the Last Cinema in the World · WriterTo Each His Own Cinema
Shortbus · ThanksSkinwalkers · ThanksToo Commercial for CannesActs of ViolenceThe Politics of the Dead Zone
A History of Violence · DirectorLe CercleThe Best of Secter & the Rest of SecterFear of the Flesh: The Making of The Fly · Thanks
Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic PsycheVideodrome: Forging the New Flesh
100 Greatest Sexy Moments
Spider · DirectorSpider · ProducerMasters of HorrorBy Any Means Necessary: The Making of "Jason X"
AliasJason XThe JudgeResolving Power · ThanksThe Judge
The American NightmarePreludes · DirectorCamera · DirectorCamera · WriterFrame by Frame: The Invisible Art of Production Designer Carol Spier
eXistenZ · DirectoreXistenZ · ScreenplayeXistenZ · ProducerResurrectionDavid Cronenberg: I Have to Make the Word Be Flesh
SexTVSexTVI'm Losing You · Executive ProducerLast NightThe Grace of God
David Cronenberg and the Cinema of the Extreme
CrashCrash · DirectorCrash · ProducerCrash · WriterThe Newsroom
KulturzeitScanner Cop II · CharactersTo Die ForBlood & Donuts

Full filmography

  • Ready or Not: Here I Come (2026) as Chester Danforth
  • Music, Fashion, Film (2026) as Self
  • The Shrouds (2025) Director
  • The Shrouds (2025) Writer
  • Cronenberg, à corps ouvert (2025)
  • Sangre del Toro (2025) as Self (archive footage)
  • The Hanging of Stuart Cornfeld (2025)
  • Humane (2024) as D.O.C.S. Commercials Narrator
  • Faut Voir - L'Hebdo cinéma (2023) as Self - Guest
  • Leo (2023) Original Film Writer
  • Room 999 (2023) as Self
  • Four Unloved Women, Adrift on a Purposeless Sea, Experience the Ecstasy of Dissection (2023) Director
  • Four Unloved Women, Adrift on a Purposeless Sea, Experience the Ecstasy of Dissection (2023) Writer
  • Crimes of the Future (2022) Director
  • Crimes of the Future (2022) Writer
  • Slasher: Flesh & Blood (2021) as Spencer Galloway
  • The Death of David Cronenberg (2021) as David Cronenberg
  • The Death of David Cronenberg (2021) Director
  • The Death of David Cronenberg (2021) Writer
  • Falling (2020) as Dr. Klausner
  • Disappearance at Clifton Hill (2020) as Walter
  • The Dead Don't Die (2019) Thanks
  • Rabid (2019) Original Film Writer
  • L’inquiétante absence (2019) as Self
  • The Drema (2019) Thanks
  • Pass the Warning: Reflecting on Nic Roeg's Masterpiece (2019) as Self
  • A Kaleidoscope of Meaning: Colour in Don't Look Now (2019) as Self
  • Star Trek: Discovery (2017) as Dr. Kovich
  • Alias Grace (2017) as Reverend Verrenger
  • Slasher (2016) as Spencer
  • Ape Sodom (2016) as Narrator
  • Ape Sodom (2016) Additional Dialogue
  • Tomorrow's Shadows (2016) as G.O.D. (voice)
  • Pig Goat Banana Cricket (2015) as Dr. Cronenbird (voice)
  • Maps to the Stars (2014) Director
  • The Double (2014) Thanks
  • Mental Saboteur (2014) Thanks
  • The Scanners Way: Creating the Special Effects in 'Scanners' (2014) Thanks
  • Nosferatu vs. Father Pipecock & Sister Funk (2014) Thanks
  • Pacific Rim (2013) Thanks
  • Tales from the Organ Trade (2013) as Narrator
  • The Nest (2013) as Dr. Molnar (voice)
  • The Nest (2013) Director
  • The Nest (2013) Writer
  • Rewind (2013) as Rourke
  • Candy (2013) Thanks
  • A Special Day (2012) as Self
  • Cosmopolis (2012) Director
  • Cosmopolis (2012) Screenplay
  • Cosmopolis (2012) Producer
  • Citizens of Cosmopolis (2012) as Self
  • Citizens of Cosmopolis (2012) Thanks
  • A Dangerous Method (2011) Director
  • Cronenberg: The Early Years (2011) as Self
  • Produce Your Own Damn Movie! (2011) as Self
  • Acid Head: The Buzzard Nuts County Slaughter (2011) Thanks
  • Down to Sleep (2011) Thanks
  • Tub (2010) Thanks
  • Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics (2010) as Self (archive footage)
  • Barney's Version (2010) as O'Malley Director #2
  • Happy Town (2010) as Dr. Leichman
  • William S. Burroughs: A Man Within (2010) as Self
  • Crank Up (2010) Thanks
  • On Screen!: Shivers (2008) as himself
  • The Plan (2008) Executive Producer
  • Eastern Promises (2007) Director
  • At the Suicide of the Last Jew in the World in the Last Cinema in the World (2007) as The Last Jew
  • At the Suicide of the Last Jew in the World in the Last Cinema in the World (2007) Director
  • At the Suicide of the Last Jew in the World in the Last Cinema in the World (2007) Writer
  • To Each His Own Cinema (2007) as The Suicidal Man (segment "At the suicide of the last Jew ...")
  • To Each His Own Cinema (2007) Director
  • Karim (2007) Thanks
  • Shortbus (2006) Thanks
  • Skinwalkers (2006) Thanks
  • Too Commercial for Cannes (2006) as Self
  • Acts of Violence (2006) as Self
  • The Politics of the Dead Zone (2006) as Self
  • A History of Violence (2005) Director
  • Le Cercle (2005)
  • The Best of Secter & the Rest of Secter (2005) as Self
  • Fear of the Flesh: The Making of The Fly (2005) Thanks
  • Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche (2004) as Duncan (archive footage)
  • Videodrome: Forging the New Flesh (2004) as Self
  • 100 Greatest Sexy Moments (2003) as Self
  • Spider (2002) Director
  • Spider (2002) Producer
  • Masters of Horror (2002) as Self
  • By Any Means Necessary: The Making of "Jason X" (2002) as Self (archive footage)
  • Alias (2001) as Dr. Brezzel
  • Jason X (2001) as Dr. Wimmer
  • The Judge (2001) as Det. Stobel
  • Resolving Power (2001) Thanks
  • The Judge (2001) as Det. Stobel
  • Imagining 'Total Recall' (2001) Thanks
  • The American Nightmare (2000) as Self
  • Preludes (2000) Director
  • Camera (2000) Director
  • Camera (2000) Writer
  • Frame by Frame: The Invisible Art of Production Designer Carol Spier (2000) as Self
  • eXistenZ (1999) Director
  • eXistenZ (1999) Screenplay
  • eXistenZ (1999) Producer
  • Resurrection (1999) as Father Rousell
  • David Cronenberg: I Have to Make the Word Be Flesh (1999)
  • SexTV (1998) as Self
  • SexTV (1998)
  • I'm Losing You (1998) Executive Producer
  • Last Night (1998) as Duncan
  • The Grace of God (1998) as Psychiatrist
  • David Cronenberg and the Cinema of the Extreme (1997) as Himself
  • Crash (1996) as Auto Wreck Salesman (voice) (uncredited)
  • Crash (1996) Director
  • Crash (1996) Producer
  • Crash (1996) Writer
  • The Newsroom (1996) as Himself
  • Extreme Measures (1996) as Hospital Lawyer
  • Moonshine Highway (1996) as Clem Clayton
  • The Stupids (1996) as Postal Supervisor
  • Kulturzeit (1995) as self
  • Scanner Cop II (1995) Characters
  • To Die For (1995) as Man at Lake
  • Blood & Donuts (1995) as Crime Boss
  • Scanner Cop (1994) Characters
  • Trial by Jury (1994) as Director
  • Henry & Verlin (1994) as Doc Fisher
  • Boozecan (1994) as Stan Coleburn
  • M. Butterfly (1993) Director
  • Naked Making Lunch (1992) as Self
  • Scanners III: The Takeover (1992) Characters
  • Blue (1992)
  • Naked Lunch (1991) Director
  • Naked Lunch (1991) Writer
  • Scanners II: The New Order (1991) Characters
  • Highway 61 (1991) Thanks
  • Nightbreed (1990) as Dr. Philip K. Decker
  • Scales of Justice (1990) Director
  • Moving Pictures: J.G. Ballard (1990) as Self
  • Prisoners of Gravity (1989) as Self
  • Dead Ringers (1988) as Obstetrician (uncredited)
  • Dead Ringers (1988) Director
  • Dead Ringers (1988) Writer
  • Dead Ringers (1988) Producer
  • The Making of Dead Ringers (1988) as Self - Writer/Director
  • Friday the 13th: The Series (1987) Director
  • Long Live the New Flesh: The Films of David Cronenberg (1987) as Self
  • The Fly (1986) as Gynecologist
  • The Fly (1986) Director
  • The Fly (1986) Screenplay
  • Into the Night (1985) as Group Supervisor
  • Videodrome (1983) as Max Renn (Helmet Scenes) (uncredited)
  • Videodrome (1983) Director
  • Videodrome (1983) Writer
  • The Dead Zone (1983) Director
  • Late Night with David Letterman (1982) as Self - Guest
  • Take One: Fear on Film (1982) as Self
  • The Making of David Cronenberg's Videodrome (1982) as Interviewee
  • Escape from New York (1981) Thanks
  • Scanners (1981) Director
  • Scanners (1981) Writer
  • The Brood (1979) Director
  • The Brood (1979) Writer
  • Fast Company (1979) Director
  • Fast Company (1979) Screenplay
  • Rabid (1977) Director
  • Rabid (1977) Writer
  • Cérémonie des César (1976) as Self - Presenter
  • Teleplay (1976) Director
  • Teleplay (1976) Writer
  • Peep Show (1975) Director
  • Shivers (1975) as Infected Crowd Member (uncredited)
  • Shivers (1975) Director
  • Shivers (1975) Writer
  • Across This Land with Stompin' Tom Connors (1973) Production Manager
  • Fort York (1972) Director
  • Fort York (1972) Writer
  • Fort York (1972) Editor
  • Fort York (1972) Director of Photography
  • Don Valley (1972) Director
  • Don Valley (1972) Writer
  • Don Valley (1972) Editor
  • Don Valley (1972) Director of Photography
  • Winter Garden (1972) Director
  • Winter Garden (1972) Editor
  • Winter Garden (1972) Director of Photography
  • In the Dirt (1972) Director
  • In the Dirt (1972) Writer
  • In the Dirt (1972) Editor
  • In the Dirt (1972) Director of Photography
  • Lakeshore (1972) Director
  • Lakeshore (1972) Writer
  • Lakeshore (1972) Editor
  • Lakeshore (1972) Director of Photography
  • Scarborough Bluffs (1972) Director
  • Scarborough Bluffs (1972) Writer
  • Scarborough Bluffs (1972) Editor
  • Scarborough Bluffs (1972) Director of Photography
  • Letter from Michelangelo (1971) Director
  • Letter from Michelangelo (1971) Writer
  • Letter from Michelangelo (1971) Director of Photography
  • Letter from Michelangelo (1971) Editor
  • Jim Ritchie Sculptor (1971) Director
  • Jim Ritchie Sculptor (1971) Writer
  • Jim Ritchie Sculptor (1971) Producer
  • Jim Ritchie Sculptor (1971) Editor
  • Jim Ritchie Sculptor (1971) Director of Photography
  • Programme X (1971) Director
  • Tourrettes (1971) Director
  • Tourrettes (1971) Writer
  • Tourrettes (1971) Editor
  • Tourrettes (1971) Director of Photography
  • Crimes of the Future (1970) Director
  • Crimes of the Future (1970) Producer
  • Crimes of the Future (1970) Writer
  • Crimes of the Future (1970) Editor
  • Crimes of the Future (1970) Director of Photography
  • Stereo (Tile 3B of a CAEE Educational Mosaic) (1969) Director
  • Stereo (Tile 3B of a CAEE Educational Mosaic) (1969) Writer
  • Stereo (Tile 3B of a CAEE Educational Mosaic) (1969) Producer
  • Stereo (Tile 3B of a CAEE Educational Mosaic) (1969) Director of Photography
  • Stereo (Tile 3B of a CAEE Educational Mosaic) (1969) Editor
  • From the Drain (1967) Director of Photography
  • From the Drain (1967) Director
  • From the Drain (1967) Writer
  • From the Drain (1967) Editor
  • Palace of Pleasure (1967)
  • Buffalo Airport Visions (1967)
  • Transfer (1966) Director of Photography
  • Transfer (1966) Director
  • Transfer (1966) Writer
  • Transfer (1966) Editor
  • Transfer (1966) Sound
  • Transfer (1966) Producer
  • David Cronenberg, en chair et en os as Himself