John Huston
Biography
John Huston was an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and visual artist. Born in Nevada, Missouri, USA, on August 5, 1906, he is known for directing 37 feature films, many of which are considered classics. Huston studied and worked as a fine art painter in Paris, and he explored the visual aspects of his films throughout his career. He wrote the screenplays for most of the films he directed. Huston's known credits include 164 titles, and he is also known as John Marcel. He passed away on August 28, 1987, at the age of 81.
Career overview
John Huston was a film director who directed 37 feature films throughout his career. Many of these films are considered classics and showcase his unique visual style. Before directing, Huston studied and worked as a fine art painter in Paris. This background in visual art likely influenced his approach to filmmaking, as he was known to sketch each scene on paper beforehand and carefully frame his characters during the shoot.
Huston's directing credits include a wide range of films, each showcasing his versatility as a director. His films often explored themes of adventure, drama, and the human condition. He was a skilled storyteller who was able to bring complex characters and stories to life on the big screen. Huston's visual style and attention to detail are evident in many of his films, which continue to be celebrated for their craftsmanship and artistry.
Huston's directing career spanned many years, during which he established himself as a master of the medium. His films have stood the test of time, and he remains one of the most respected and beloved directors in the history of cinema.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- 100 Years of Marilyn Monroe (2026) as (archive footage)
- The Myth of Marilyn Monroe (2023) as Self (voice)
- MCAINE: An Anagram of Cinema (2023) as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
- An Oral History of: The Name of the Rose (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- Morceaux de Cannes (2021)
- John Huston: Adventures of a Free Soul (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Babenco: Tell Me When I Die (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast (2019) as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
- They'll Love Me When I'm Dead (2018) as Self (archive footage)
- The Other Side of the Wind (2018) as J.J. 'Jake' Hannaford
- Five Came Back (2017) as Self (archive footage)
- Arthur Miller: Writer (2017) as Self (archive footage)
- Five Came Back (2017) as Self (archive footage)
- Anjelica Huston on James Joyce: A Shout in the Street (2017) as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
- Ava Gardner: Life Is Bigger Than the Movies (2017) as Self (archive footage)
- Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles (2014) as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
- Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe (2012) as Self (archive footage)
- Marilyn at the Movies (2011) as Self (archive footage)
- Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff (2010) as Self (archive footage)
- Embracing Chaos: Making The African Queen (2010) as Self (archive footage)
- Filmmakers vs. Tycoons (2005) as Self (archive footage)
- Pelé Forever (2004) as Self (archive footage)
- The Making of Rocky Road to Dublin (2004) as Self (Archive Footage)
- Discovering Treasure: The Story of 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre' (2003) as Self (archive footage)
- Making 'The Misfits' (2002) as Self - Director (archive footage)
- Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies (2001) as Self
- Federico Fellini's Autobiography (2000) as Self (archive footage)
- Intimate Portrait: Sean Connery (1998) as Self (archive footage)
- Bogart: The Untold Story (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- Bogart: Here's Looking at You, Kid (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- Orson Welles: The One-Man Band (1995)
- Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker (1991) as Glennon (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Welles' Language (1990) as Self
- Mr. North (1988) Screenplay
- Mr. North (1988) Executive Producer
- John Huston: The Man, the Movies, the Maverick (1988) as Self (archive footage)
- The Dead (1987) Director
- Mr. Corbett's Ghost (1987) as Soul Collector
- Momo (1986) as Meister Hora
- Directed by William Wyler (1986) as Self
- The Black Cauldron (1985) as Narrator (voice)
- Prizzi's Honor (1985) Director
- Epic (1985) as The Narrator (US version)
- Herman Melville: Damned in Paradise (1985) as Narrator
- George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey (1985) as Self
- Buñuel (1984) as Self
- Under the Volcano (1984) Director
- Notes from Under the Volcano (1984) as Self
- To The Western World (1984)
- Observations Under the Volcano (1984) as Self
- Lovesick (1983) as Larry Geller, M.D.
- A Minor Miracle (1983) as Father Cardenas
- American Caesar (1983) as Self - Host
- Errol Flynn: Portrait of a Swashbuckler (1983) as Self
- Annie (1982) as Actor on Radio (uncredited)
- Annie (1982) Director
- Cannery Row (1982) as Narrator
- The Orson Welles Story (1982) as Self
- Lights! Camera! Annie! The Making of a Major Hollywood Musical (1982) as Self
- Creativity with Bill Moyers: John Huston (1982) as Self - Interviewee
- Escape to Victory (1981) Director
- The Return of the King (1980) as Gandalf (voice)
- Phobia (1980) Director
- Happy Birthday, Marilyn! (1980) as Self
- Agee (1980) as Self
- Head On (1980) as Clarke Hill
- Winter Kills (1979) as Pa Kegan
- The Visitor (1979) as Jerzy Colsowicz
- Love and Bullets (1979) Director
- John Huston's Dublin (1979)
- Wise Blood (1979) as Grandfather
- Wise Blood (1979) Director
- Jaguar Lives! (1979) as Ralph Richards
- City Lights: John Huston (1979) as Self
- The Word (1978) as Nathan Randall
- The Biggest Battle (1978) as Sean O'Hara
- The Bermuda Triangle (1978) as Edward
- B.Traven: A Mystery Solved (1978) as Self
- The Hobbit (1977) as Gandalf the Grey (voice)
- Tentacles (1977) as Ned Turner
- The Rhinemann Exchange (1977) as Ambassador Henderson Granville
- Angela (1977) as Hogan
- Sherlock Holmes in New York (1976) as Professor James Moriarty
- Circasia (1976) as Ringmaster
- Hollywood on Trial (1976) as Narrator
- Independence (1976) Director
- The Man Who Would Be King (1975) Director
- The Man Who Would Be King (1975) Screenplay
- Breakout (1975) as Harris Wagner
- The Wind and the Lion (1975) as John Hay
- Spécial cinéma (1974) as Self
- Spécial cinéma (1974) as Self (archive footage)
- Chinatown (1974) as Noah Cross
- The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973) as Self
- Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) as The Lawgiver
- The MacKintosh Man (1973) Director
- The MacKintosh Man (1973) Producer
- The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972) as Grizzly Adams
- The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972) Director
- Fat City (1972) Producer
- Fat City (1972) Director
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- Film '72 (1971) as Self (archive footage)
- Man in the Wilderness (1971) as Captain Filmore Henry
- Appointment With Destiny (1971) as Narrator
- The Bridge in the Jungle (1971) as Sleigh
- Myra Breckinridge (1970) as Buck Loner
- The Kremlin Letter (1970) as Admiral
- The Kremlin Letter (1970) Director
- The Kremlin Letter (1970) Screenplay
- The Kremlin Letter (1970) Producer
- The Deserter (1970) as General Miles
- Ride This Way Grey Horse (1970) as Director
- The Unfinished Journey of Robert Kennedy (1970) as Narrator
- Sinful Davey (1969) Director
- Sinful Davey (1969) Executive Producer
- A Walk with Love and Death (1969) as Robert the Elder
- A Walk with Love and Death (1969) Director
- A Walk with Love and Death (1969) Producer
- De Sade (1969) as The Abbe
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Candy (1968) as Dr. Arnold Dunlap
- Rocky Road to Dublin (1968) as Self
- Casino Royale (1967) as M / General MacTarry
- Casino Royale (1967) Director
- Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967) Producer
- Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967) Director
- The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966) as Noah
- The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966) Director
- The Legend of Marilyn Monroe (1966) as Narrator
- National Geographic Specials (1965) as Narrator (voice)
- The Night of the Iguana (1964) Director
- The Night of the Iguana (1964) Screenplay
- On the Trail of the Iguana (1964) as Self
- The Cardinal (1963) as Kardinal Glennon
- The List of Adrian Messenger (1963) as Lord Ashton (uncredited)
- The List of Adrian Messenger (1963) Director
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- Freud: The Secret Passion (1962) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- Freud: The Secret Passion (1962) Director
- Freud: The Secret Passion (1962) Screenplay
- The Misfits (1961) as Extra in Blackjack Scene (uncredited)
- The Misfits (1961) Director
- The Misfits (1961) Producer
- The Unforgiven (1960) Director
- The Roots of Heaven (1958) Director
- The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958) Director
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) as Self
- Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957) Screenplay
- Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957) Director
- Moby Dick (1956) as Barman / Ship's Lookout (voice) (uncredited)
- Moby Dick (1956) Director
- Moby Dick (1956) Screenplay
- Moby Dick (1956) Producer
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Beat the Devil (1953) Screenplay
- Beat the Devil (1953) Director
- Beat the Devil (1953) Producer
- The African Queen (1952) Director
- The African Queen (1952) Screenplay
- Moulin Rouge (1952) Director
- Moulin Rouge (1952) Producer
- Moulin Rouge (1952) Screenplay
- The Red Badge of Courage (1951) as Grizzled Union Veteran (uncredited)
- The Red Badge of Courage (1951) Director
- The Red Badge of Courage (1951) Writer
- The Prowler (1951) Producer
- The Screen Director (1951) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Asphalt Jungle (1950) Director
- The Asphalt Jungle (1950) Screenplay
- The Asphalt Jungle (1950) Producer
- We Were Strangers (1949) as Señor Muñoz
- We Were Strangers (1949) Director
- We Were Strangers (1949) Screenplay
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) as American in Tampico in White Suit (uncredited)
- The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) Screenplay
- The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) Director
- Key Largo (1948) Screenplay
- Key Largo (1948) Director
- The Killers (1946) Writer
- The Killers (1946) Additional Writing
- The Stranger (1946) Producer
- The Stranger (1946) Co-Writer
- Let There Be Light (1946) Director
- Let There Be Light (1946) Writer
- Three Strangers (1946) Screenplay
- Know Your Enemy: Japan (1945) Writer
- The Battle of San Pietro (1945) as Narrator
- The Battle of San Pietro (1945) Director
- Tunisian Victory (1944) Director
- Report from the Aleutians (1943) as Narrator (voice)
- Report from the Aleutians (1943) Director
- Report from the Aleutians (1943) Writer
- Report from the Aleutians (1943) Editor
- Winning Your Wings (1942) Director
- Across the Pacific (1942) Director
- In This Our Life (1942) Director
- The Maltese Falcon (1941) Director
- The Maltese Falcon (1941) Screenplay
- Sergeant York (1941) Screenplay
- High Sierra (1941) Screenplay
- Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940) Screenplay
- Juarez (1939) Screenplay
- Jezebel (1938) Screenplay
- Jezebel (1938) Second Unit
- The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938) Screenplay
- It Happened in Paris (1935) Adaptation
- Death Drives Through (1935) Story
- Law and Order (1932) Adaptation
- Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) Additional Dialogue
- A House Divided (1931) Dialogue
- The Storm (1930) Dialogue
- Two Americans (1929)
- Hell's Heroes (1929) as Church Member (uncredited)