John Schlesinger
Biography
John Schlesinger was an English film and stage director, and actor. He was born in London, England, UK, on February 16, 1926. Schlesinger began his directorial career in 1956 with the short documentary Sunday in the Park about London's Hyde Park. He also created a documentary on Benjamin Britten and the Aldeburgh Festival for the BBC's Monitor TV programme, including rehearsals of the children's opera Noye's Fludde. Schlesinger won an Academy Award for Best Director for Midnight Cowboy, and was nominated for two other films, Darling and Sunday Bloody Sunday. He directed a total of 64 films and television productions throughout his career.
Career overview
John Schlesinger began his directorial career in 1956 with the short documentary Sunday in the Park about London's Hyde Park. He also created a documentary on Benjamin Britten and the Aldeburgh Festival for the BBC's Monitor TV programme in 1958, including rehearsals of the children's opera Noye's Fludde.
Schlesinger's directorial career spanned multiple mediums, including film, television, and theater. He is known to have directed numerous films and television productions, with 64 known credits. Some of his notable films include Midnight Cowboy, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Director, and other films such as Darling and Sunday Bloody Sunday, for which he received nominations.
Schlesinger's work also includes directing for television and theater productions. His filmography includes a variety of genres and styles, showcasing his versatility as a director.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
83 titles- Innes Lloyd: The Producer (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- The ROH Live: The Tales of Hoffmann (2016) Director
- Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film (2002) as Self (uncredited)
- The Next Best Thing (2000) Director
- The Tale of Sweeney Todd (1998) Director
- Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs (1998) as Self
- Eye for an Eye (1996) Director
- The Celluloid Closet (1996) as Self
- The Twilight of the Golds (1996) as Dr. Adrian Lodge
- Cold Comfort Farm (1995) Director
- Hollywood U.K.: British Cinema in the Sixties (1993) as Self
- The Innocent (1993) Director
- The Lost Language of Cranes (1992) as Derek Moulthorp
- A Question of Attribution (1991) Director
- Pacific Heights (1990) as Man in Elevator (uncredited)
- Pacific Heights (1990) Director
- Waldo Salt: A Screenwriter's Journey (1990) as Self
- Verdi: Un ballo in maschera (1990) Director
- Screen One (1989) Director
- Madame Sousatzka (1988) Director
- Madame Sousatzka (1988) Screenplay
- The Believers (1987) Director
- The Believers (1987) Producer
- The Falcon and the Snowman (1985) Director
- The Falcon and the Snowman (1985) Producer
- Der Rosenkavalier (1985) Director
- An Englishman Abroad (1983) Director
- Separate Tables (1983) Director
- Honky Tonk Freeway (1981) Director
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann (1981) Director
- Yanks (1979) Director
- Marathon Man (1976) Director
- The Magic of Hollywood... Is the Magic of People (1976) as Self
- The Day of the Locust (1975) Director
- Flick Flack (1974)
- Visions of Eight (1973) as Narrator
- Visions of Eight (1973) Director
- The Big Screen (1973) as Self
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971) Director
- Midnight Cowboy (1969) Director
- The Crowd Around the Cowboy (1969) as Self
- Far from the Madding Crowd (1967) Director
- Location: Far from the Madding Crowd (1967) as Himself
- Days in the Trees (1967) Director
- Speaking of Britain (1967) as Self
- Darling (1965) as Theatre Director (uncredited)
- Darling (1965) Director
- Darling (1965) Idea
- The Wednesday Play (1964) Director
- Billy Liar (1963) as Officer in Dream (uncredited)
- Billy Liar (1963) Director
- A Kind of Loving (1962) Director
- Terminus (1961) as Passenger (uncredited)
- Terminus (1961) Writer
- Terminus (1961) Director
- Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years (1960) Director
- The Four Just Men (1959) Second Unit Director
- Monitor (1958) Director
- Ivanhoe (1958) as Jack Ludlow
- Stormy Crossing (1958) as Mechanic
- Brothers in Law (1957) as Assize Court Solicitor
- Seven Thunders (1957) as German Soldier
- Wakes Week in Blackburn (1957) Director
- The Buccaneers (1956) as Pigtail
- The Battle of the River Plate (1956) as Lieutenant, Graf Spee (uncredited)
- The Last Man to Hang (1956) as Dr. Goldfinger
- Sunday in the Park (1956) Director of Photography
- Sunday in the Park (1956) Director
- Sunday in the Park (1956) Producer
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955) as Hale
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955) as Alan-a-Dale
- The Divided Heart (1954) as Ticket Collector
- The Starfish (1952) Writer
- The Starfish (1952) Director
- The Starfish (1952) Director of Photography
- Sunday Night Theatre (1950) as Amiens
- Sunday Night Theatre (1950) as An innkeeper
- Black Legend (1949) as The Judge
- Black Legend (1949) Director
- Black Legend (1949) Writer
- Black Legend (1949) Producer
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is John Schlesinger best known for?
John Schlesinger is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Grand Designs (1999), Eye for an Eye (1996), Casa Vianello (1988), Pacific Heights (1990).
When and where was John Schlesinger born?
John Schlesinger was born on February 16, 1926 in London, England, UK. They passed away on July 25, 2003.
How many credits does John Schlesinger have?
John Schlesinger has accumulated over 83 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2025.
What is John Schlesinger's background in cinema and television?
John Schlesinger was an English film and stage director, and actor. He was born in London, England, UK, on February 16, 1926. Schlesinger began his directorial career in 1956 with the short documentary Sunday in the Park about London's Hyde Park. He also created a documentary on Benjamin Britten and the Aldeburgh Festi...
John Schlesinger by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Visions of Eight (1973) as Narrator — aged about 47
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee — aged about 18
- Billy Liar (1963) as Officer in Dream (uncredited) — aged about 37
- The Divided Heart (1954) as Ticket Collector — aged about 28
- Darling (1965) as Theatre Director (uncredited) — aged about 39
- Ivanhoe (1958) as Jack Ludlow — aged about 32
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