Gus Van Sant
Directing Born Jul 24, 1952 Louisville, Kentucky, USA 160 credits
Biography
Gus Van Sant is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. Born on July 24, 1952, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Achievement in Directing for his films Good Will Hunting and Milk. Van Sant won the Palme d'Or at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival for his film Elephant. His early career involved directing television commercials in the Pacific Northwest. His films often explore themes concerning marginalized subcultures, including homosexuality. Van Sant has adapted Tom Robbins' novel Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, featuring a diverse cast. He resides in Portland, Oregon.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Dead Man's Wire · Director
The Trainer
Andy by GusAndy by Gus · MusicNicole Kidman: Eyes Wide Open
Joe Gives Up and Moves to Montana · Producer
Ouverture Of Something That Never Ended · CreatorOuverture of Something That Never Ended · DirectorOuverture of Something That Never Ended · Writer
ZerovilleAt the Video Store
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on FootDon't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot · DirectorDon't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot · EditorDon't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot · ScreenplayDon't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot · Story
FEUD · Executive ProducerFEUD · DirectorWhen We Rise · Executive ProducerWhen We Rise · DirectorAin't It Funny
Certain Women · ThanksThe Sea of Trees · DirectorXavier Dolan: Bound to Impossible
I Don't Belong Anywhere: The Cinema of Chantal AkermanI Am Michael · Executive ProducerAbout Cinema
Strutter · ThanksThe Canyons
A Special DayThe Greatest Event in Television HistoryPromised Land · DirectorPromised Land · Executive ProducerLaurence Anyways · Executive Producer
PortlandiaBoss · Executive ProducerBoss · DirectorThe Story of Film: An OdysseyRestless · Director
I'm Still Here · ThanksShit Year · ThanksHowl · Executive ProducerVirginia · Executive ProducerWilliam S. Burroughs: A Man Within
Accidents Happen · Thanks
Milk · DirectorMilk · Sound Re-Recording Mixer8 · Director8 · EditorCritic
Paranoid ParkParanoid Park · ScreenplayParanoid Park · DirectorParanoid Park · EditorTo Each His Own Cinema · Director
Paris Je T'aime · DirectorParis Je T'aime · WriterLe Marais · WriterLe Marais · DirectorWild Tigers I Have Known · Executive Producer
Last DaysLast Days · DirectorLast Days · ScreenplayLast Days · Editor
EntourageLeçon de CinémaThe Making of Last DaysOn the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through TimeOn the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time · Executive Producer
Elephant · ScreenplayElephant · EditorElephant · DirectorSaltlake Van SantTarnation · Executive Producer
Gerry · EditorGerry · DirectorGerry · WriterDavid Bowie: Best of Bowie · Director
Jay and Silent Bob Strike BackRescued from the Closet
Finding ForresterFinding Forrester · DirectorDe Witt Clinton Choir · DirectorEaster · Director
Psycho PathPsycho Path · Executive ProducerSpeedway Junky · Executive ProducerThe Making of Drugstore Cowboy
PsychoPsycho · ProducerPsycho · DirectorThe Director's Vision: Hollywood's Best Discuss Their CraftStrange Parallel
Good Will Hunting · DirectorGood Will Hunting · Sound Re-Recording MixerBallad of the Skeletons · WriterBallad of the Skeletons · Director
Four Boys in a Volvo · Director
Kids · Executive ProducerTo Die For · DirectorGuns on the Clackamas
Hi OctaneEven Cowgirls Get the Blues · DirectorEven Cowgirls Get the Blues · WriterEven Cowgirls Get the Blues · EditorEven Cowgirls Get the Blues · Executive Producer
Full filmography
- Dead Man's Wire (2026) Director
- The Trainer (2024) as Gus Van Sant
- Andy by Gus (2023)
- Andy by Gus (2023) Music
- Nicole Kidman: Eyes Wide Open (2023) as Self (interview)
- Joe Gives Up and Moves to Montana (2021) Producer
- Ouverture Of Something That Never Ended (2020) Creator
- Ouverture of Something That Never Ended (2020) Director
- Ouverture of Something That Never Ended (2020) Writer
- Zeroville (2019) as Film Archive Curator
- At the Video Store (2019) as Self
- Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018) as Willamette Week Editor
- Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018) Director
- Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018) Editor
- Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018) Screenplay
- Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018) Story
- Age Out (2018) Executive Producer
- Illegal Civilization 3 (2018) as Self
- Thank You for Supporting the Arts (2018)
- FEUD (2017) Executive Producer
- FEUD (2017) Director
- When We Rise (2017) Executive Producer
- When We Rise (2017) Director
- Ain't It Funny (2017) as Dad
- Certain Women (2016) Thanks
- The Sea of Trees (2016) Director
- Xavier Dolan: Bound to Impossible (2016) as Self
- I Don't Belong Anywhere: The Cinema of Chantal Akerman (2015) as Self
- I Am Michael (2015) Executive Producer
- About Cinema (2015) as Self
- Strutter (2013) Thanks
- The Canyons (2013) as Dr. Campbell
- A Special Day (2012) as Self
- The Greatest Event in Television History (2012) as Self
- Promised Land (2012) Director
- Promised Land (2012) Executive Producer
- Laurence Anyways (2012) Executive Producer
- My Own Private River (2012) Director
- Reflecting On A Journey: Good Will Hunting 15 Years Later (2012) as Self
- Portlandia (2011) as Gus Van Sant
- Boss (2011) Executive Producer
- Boss (2011) Director
- The Story of Film: An Odyssey (2011) as Self
- Restless (2011) Director
- Restless (2011) Producer
- Two Films, One Legacy (2011)
- The Advocate for Fagdom (2011) as Self
- I'm Still Here (2010) Thanks
- Shit Year (2010) Thanks
- Howl (2010) Executive Producer
- Virginia (2010) Executive Producer
- William S. Burroughs: A Man Within (2010) as Self
- Accidents Happen (2009) Thanks
- Milk (2008) Director
- Milk (2008) Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- 8 (2008) Director
- 8 (2008) Editor
- Critic (2008) as Self
- Mansion on the Hill (2008) Director
- Making Paranoid Park (2008)
- Paranoid Park (2007) as Guy Reading Newspaper (uncredited)
- Paranoid Park (2007) Screenplay
- Paranoid Park (2007) Director
- Paranoid Park (2007) Editor
- To Each His Own Cinema (2007) Director
- In the Mood for Doyle (2007) as Self
- Here’s Looking at You, Boy (2007) as Self
- Paris Je T'aime (2006) Director
- Paris Je T'aime (2006) Writer
- Le Marais (2006) Writer
- Le Marais (2006) Director
- Wild Tigers I Have Known (2006) Executive Producer
- Best of Chris Isaak (2006) Director
- Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema (2006) as Self
- Cinema16: American Short Films (2006) Director
- Last Days (2005) as Phone Voice (voice)
- Last Days (2005) Director
- Last Days (2005) Screenplay
- Last Days (2005) Editor
- Entourage (2004) as Gus Van Sant
- Leçon de Cinéma (2004) as Self
- The Making of Last Days (2004) as Himself
- On the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time (2004) as Himself
- On the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time (2004) Executive Producer
- Elephant (2003) Screenplay
- Elephant (2003) Editor
- Elephant (2003) Director
- Saltlake Van Sant (2003) as Self
- Tarnation (2003) Executive Producer
- About Elephant (2003) as Self
- Gerry (2002) Editor
- Gerry (2002) Director
- Gerry (2002) Writer
- David Bowie: Best of Bowie (2002) Director
- Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) as Gus Van Sant
- Rescued from the Closet (2001) as Self
- Finding Forrester (2000) as Library Assistant (uncredited)
- Finding Forrester (2000) Director
- De Witt Clinton Choir (2000) Director
- Easter (2000) Director
- Psycho Path (1999) as Self - Director
- Psycho Path (1999) Executive Producer
- Speedway Junky (1999) Executive Producer
- The Making of Drugstore Cowboy (1999)
- Psycho (1998) as Man Talking to Man in Cowboy Hat (uncredited)
- Psycho (1998) Producer
- Psycho (1998) Director
- The Director's Vision: Hollywood's Best Discuss Their Craft (1998) as himself
- Strange Parallel (1998) as Self
- Good Will Hunting (1997) Director
- Good Will Hunting (1997) Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- Ballad of the Skeletons (1997) Writer
- Ballad of the Skeletons (1997) Director
- Four Boys in a Volvo (1996) Director
- Kids (1995) Executive Producer
- To Die For (1995) Director
- Guns on the Clackamas (1995)
- Hi Octane (1994) as Self
- Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1994) Director
- Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1994) Writer
- Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1994) Editor
- Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1994) Executive Producer
- Made in the USA (1993) as Self
- My Own Private Idaho (1991) as Man Behind Hotel Counter (uncredited)
- My Own Private Idaho (1991) Director
- My Own Private Idaho (1991) Screenplay
- Thanksgiving Prayer (1991) Director
- Thanksgiving Prayer (1991) Producer
- Flea Sings (1991) Director
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Funky Monks (1991) as Self
- Drugstore Cowboy (1989) as Himself (uncredited)
- Drugstore Cowboy (1989) Director
- Drugstore Cowboy (1989) Screenplay
- Junior (1988) as Himself
- Junior (1988) Director
- Ken Death Gets Out of Jail (1988) Director
- Mala Noche (1987) as Guy at Hotel (uncredited)
- Mala Noche (1987) Director
- Mala Noche (1987) Screenplay
- Mala Noche (1987) Producer
- Mala Noche (1987) Editor
- My New Friend (1987) Director
- Five Ways to Kill Yourself (1987)
- Five Ways to Kill Yourself (1987) Director
- Five Ways to Kill Yourself (1987) Writer
- Switzerland (1985) Director
- The Discipline of D.E. (1982) Director
- Property (1979) Sound
- Psycho Shampoo (1979) Director
- 1/2 of a Telephone Conversation (1973) Director
- Little Johnny (1972) Director
- The Happy Organ (1971) Director
- Nightmare Typhoon as Gus
- Nightmare Typhoon Director
- Last Days Original Film Writer
- Killing Gawker Director
- Untitled Hoyt Richards Film Director
- Explain it Like I’m Five Director
- My Friend Director
- Antinous Producer