Robert Altman
Directing Born Feb 20, 1925 Died Nov 20, 2006 Kansas City, Missouri, USA 205 credits
Biography
Robert Bernard Altman (February 20, 1925 – November 20, 2006) was an American film director and screenwriter noted for a highly naturalistic style presented through a distinctive, stylized perspective. Over a career that spanned several decades, Altman created a body of work that earned formal recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with an Academy Honorary Award in 2006. Three of his most influential films—MASH (1970), McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) and Nashville (1975)—have been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, underscoring their cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. His contributions continue to be studied for their innovative ensemble storytelling and layered sound design.
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Frequent co-stars
Danielle Petty
2 shared titles
Angela Nicholas
2 shared titles
Vanessa Matsui
2 shared titles
Gene Hackman
2 shared titles
Steven Spielberg
2 shared titles
Sydney Pollack
2 shared titles
Scott Alda Coffey
2 shared titles
Heather Vandeven
1 shared title
Mary LeGault
1 shared title
Brandin Rackley
1 shared title
Career timeline
Breakdown: 1975
Daedalus
Return to Sweethaven: A Look Back With Robin And The Altmans
Nothing Like a Dame
AltmanReturn to the 5 & Dime: An Interview with Ed Graczyk
What Is Cinema?
A Prairie Home Companion · DirectorA Prairie Home Companion · Producer
Elio Petri: Notes About a FilmmakerA Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin
Words in ProgressTanner on Tanner · Executive ProducerTanner on Tanner · DirectorTanner on Tanner · CreatorFact & Fiction
The Company · DirectorThe Company · ProducerEasy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved HollywoodA Decade Under the InfluenceTwentieth Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years
Robert Altman on 'Rashomon'Robert Altman in EnglandThe Making of Gosford ParkRip Van Marlowe
Gosford Park · ProducerGosford Park · DirectorGosford Park · IdeaHistory vs. Hollywood
BackstoryDr. T & the Women · DirectorDr. T & the Women · ProducerGun: Fatal Betrayal · ProducerTrixie · Producer
The DirectorsCookie's Fortune · ProducerCookie's Fortune · DirectorHitchcock: Shadow of a Genius
The Gingerbread Man · DirectorKiller App · Director
Gun · ProducerGun · DirectorFrank Capra's American DreamAfterglow · ProducerJazz '34 · Director
Kansas City · WriterKansas City · DirectorKansas City · ProducerRobert Altman: Giggle And Give In
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
American CinemaPrêt-à-Porter · ProducerPrêt-à-Porter · DirectorPrêt-à-Porter · WriterMrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle · Producer
Intimate PortraitShort Cuts · DirectorShort Cuts · ScreenplayLuck, Trust & Ketchup: Robert Altman in Carver CountryMade in the USA
The Player · DirectorRobert Altman's Players
Hollywood MavericksVincent & Theo · DirectorVincent & Theo · Director
Tanner '88 · Executive ProducerTanner '88 · DirectorTanner '88 · CreatorThe Caine Mutiny Court-Martial · DirectorThe Caine Mutiny Court-Martial · Producer
Basements · DirectorBasements · ProducerBeyond Therapy · ScreenplayBeyond Therapy · DirectorAria · Writer
The Laundromat · DirectorFool for Love · Director
Secret Honor · DirectorSecret Honor · Producer
Streamers · DirectorStreamers · Producer
Precious Blood · Executive ProducerPrecious Blood · DirectorCome Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean · DirectorBefore the Nickelodeon: The Cinema of Edwin S. PorterRattlesnake in a Cooler · Director
Endless Love
Popeye · DirectorHealtH · DirectorHealtH · ProducerHealtH · Writer
Full Filmography
205 titles- Breakdown: 1975 (2025) as Self - Director, M*A*S*H & Nashville (archive footage)
- Daedalus (2024) as Sampled Interview (voice) (uncredited)
- Return to Sweethaven: A Look Back With Robin And The Altmans (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- Nothing Like a Dame (2018) as Self (archive footage)
- Altman (2014) as Self (archive footage)
- Return to the 5 & Dime: An Interview with Ed Graczyk (2014) as Self (archive footage)
- What Is Cinema? (2013) as Self
- A Prairie Home Companion (2006) Director
- A Prairie Home Companion (2006) Producer
- Elio Petri: Notes About a Filmmaker (2005) as Self
- A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin (2005)
- Words in Progress (2004)
- Tanner on Tanner (2004) Executive Producer
- Tanner on Tanner (2004) Director
- Tanner on Tanner (2004) Creator
- Fact & Fiction (2004) as Self
- Looking for Sophia (2004) as Self
- Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) as Self
- On the Set: Loews Theater (2004) as Self
- On the Set: Alex’s Loft (2004) as Self
- The Politics of Docs (2004) as Self
- Why Tanner, Why Now? (2004) as Self
- Robert Altman and Garry Trudeau (2004) as Self
- What’s Happened Since ‘88 (2004) as Self
- The Company (2003) Director
- The Company (2003) Producer
- Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003) as Self
- A Decade Under the Influence (2003) as Self
- Twentieth Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years (2003) as Self
- Imagining Images (2003) as Self
- Robert Altman on 'Rashomon' (2002) as Self
- Robert Altman in England (2002) as Self
- The Making of Gosford Park (2002) as Self
- Rip Van Marlowe (2002) as Self
- Gosford Park (2001) Producer
- Gosford Park (2001) Director
- Gosford Park (2001) Idea
- History vs. Hollywood (2001) as Self
- Backstory (2000) as Self
- Dr. T & the Women (2000) Director
- Dr. T & the Women (2000) Producer
- Gun: Fatal Betrayal (2000) Producer
- Trixie (2000) Producer
- Altman on His Own Terms (2000) as Self
- Enlisted: The Story of 'M*A*S*H' (2000) as Self
- The Directors (1999) as Self
- Cookie's Fortune (1999) Producer
- Cookie's Fortune (1999) Director
- Hitchcock: Shadow of a Genius (1999) as Self
- The Gingerbread Man (1998) Director
- Killer App (1998) Director
- Gun (1997) Producer
- Gun (1997) Director
- Frank Capra's American Dream (1997) as Self
- Afterglow (1997) Producer
- Jazz '34 (1997) Director
- Jazz '34 (1997) Producer
- Kansas City (1996) Writer
- Kansas City (1996) Director
- Kansas City (1996) Producer
- Robert Altman: Giggle And Give In (1996) as Self
- The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995) as Self
- American Cinema (1994) as Self
- Prêt-à-Porter (1994) Producer
- Prêt-à-Porter (1994) Director
- Prêt-à-Porter (1994) Writer
- Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994) Producer
- Intimate Portrait (1993) as Self
- Short Cuts (1993) Director
- Short Cuts (1993) Screenplay
- Luck, Trust & Ketchup: Robert Altman in Carver Country (1993) as Self
- Made in the USA (1993) as Self
- Black and Blue: A Musical Revue (1993) Director
- The Player (1992) Director
- Robert Altman's Players (1992) as Self
- Hollywood Mavericks (1990) as Self
- Vincent & Theo (1990) Director
- Vincent & Theo (1990) Director
- Tanner '88 (1988) Executive Producer
- Tanner '88 (1988) Director
- Tanner '88 (1988) Creator
- The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (1988) Director
- The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (1988) Producer
- Basements (1987) Director
- Basements (1987) Producer
- Beyond Therapy (1987) Screenplay
- Beyond Therapy (1987) Director
- Aria (1987) Writer
- Aria (1987) Director
- O.C. and Stiggs (1987) Director
- O.C. and Stiggs (1987) Producer
- The Laundromat (1985) Director
- Fool for Love (1985) Director
- Secret Honor (1984) Director
- Secret Honor (1984) Producer
- Streamers (1983) Director
- Streamers (1983) Producer
- Precious Blood (1982) Executive Producer
- Precious Blood (1982) Director
- Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982) Director
- Before the Nickelodeon: The Cinema of Edwin S. Porter (1982) as Reader - 'Jack And The Beanstalk' Promo (voice)
- Rattlesnake in a Cooler (1982) Director
- Rattlesnake in a Cooler (1982) Executive Producer
- Endless Love (1981) as Hotel Manager
- Popeye (1980) Director
- HealtH (1980) Director
- HealtH (1980) Producer
- HealtH (1980) Writer
- Rich Kids (1979) Executive Producer
- A Perfect Couple (1979) Director
- A Perfect Couple (1979) Producer
- A Perfect Couple (1979) Writer
- Quintet (1979) Director
- Quintet (1979) Screenplay
- Quintet (1979) Producer
- Quintet (1979) Story
- The South Bank Show (1978) as Self
- Remember My Name (1978) Producer
- A Wedding (1978) Director
- A Wedding (1978) Screenplay
- A Wedding (1978) Story
- A Wedding (1978) Producer
- 3 Women (1977) Producer
- 3 Women (1977) Writer
- 3 Women (1977) Director
- The Late Show (1977) Producer
- Welcome to L.A. (1976) Producer
- Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976) Screenstory
- Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976) Director
- Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976) Producer
- Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976) Screenplay
- From the Prairie to the Palace (1976)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) Director
- Nashville (1975) Director
- Nashville (1975) Producer
- Thieves Like Us (1974) Director
- Thieves Like Us (1974) Screenplay
- California Split (1974) Director
- California Split (1974) Producer
- The Long Goodbye (1973) as Ambulance Driver (uncredited)
- The Long Goodbye (1973) Director
- Images (1972) Director
- Images (1972) Writer
- McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) Director
- McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) Screenplay
- Brewster McCloud (1971) Director
- M*A*S*H (1970) Director
- Events (1970) as Bob
- That Cold Day in the Park (1969) Director
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Premiere (1968) Director
- Omnibus (1967)
- The Happening (1967) Second Unit Director
- Countdown (1967) Director
- The Kathryn Reed Story (1965) as Himself
- The Kathryn Reed Story (1965) Director
- Nightmare in Chicago (1964) Director
- Nightmare in Chicago (1964) Producer
- Pot au feu (1964) Director
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) Director
- The Long Lost Life of Edward Smalley (1963) Director
- The Long Lost Life of Edward Smalley (1963) Writer
- The Long Lost Life of Edward Smalley (1963) Producer
- The Party (1963) Director
- Combat! (1962) Director
- The Gallant Men (1962) Director
- Cain's Hundred (1961) Director
- Bus Stop (1961) Director
- Kraft Mystery Theatre (1961) Director
- Route 66 (1960) Director
- Surfside 6 (1960) Director
- The Roaring 20's (1960) Director
- Bonanza (1959) Director
- Hawaiian Eye (1959) Director
- The Troubleshooters (1959) Director
- Lawman (1958) Director
- Bronco (1958) Director
- U.S. Marshal (1958) Director
- Maverick (1957) Director
- Sugarfoot (1957) Director
- M Squad (1957) Director
- Whirlybirds (1957) Director
- The Delinquents (1957) Director
- The Delinquents (1957) Writer
- The Delinquents (1957) Producer
- The James Dean Story (1957) Director
- The James Dean Story (1957) Editor
- The James Dean Story (1957) Producer
- The Gale Storm Show (1956) Director
- Corn's-a-Poppin' (1956) Writer
- The Magic Bond (1956) Director
- The Millionaire (1955) Director
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) Director
- The Perfect Crime (1955) Writer
- The Perfect Crime (1955) Director
- The Dirty Look (1954) Director
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Omnibus (1952)
- The Sound of Bells (1952) Director
- Modern Football (1951) Director
- Honeymoon for Harriet (1950) Writer
- Honeymoon for Harriet (1950) Editor
- Bodyguard (1948) Story
- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) as Man Drinking (uncredited)
- 24 Tracks: Robert Altman's Nashville as Himself
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Robert Altman best known for?
Robert Altman is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including A Prairie Home Companion (2006), A Prairie Home Companion (2006), The Company (2003), The Company (2003).
When and where was Robert Altman born?
Robert Altman was born on February 20, 1925 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. They passed away on November 20, 2006.
How many credits does Robert Altman have?
Robert Altman has accumulated over 205 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1947 to 2025.
What is Robert Altman's background in cinema and television?
Robert Bernard Altman (February 20, 1925 – November 20, 2006) was an American film director and screenwriter noted for a highly naturalistic style presented through a distinctive, stylized perspective. Over a career that spanned several decades, Altman created a body of work that earned formal recognition from the Acad...
Robert Altman by the numbers
205credits
162films
43TV series
1947–2025active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- American Cinema (1994) as Self — aged about 69
- The Long Goodbye (1973) as Ambulance Driver (uncredited) — aged about 48
- Omnibus (1967) — aged about 42
- The Oscars (1953) as Self — aged about 28
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest — aged about 43
- Omnibus (1952) — aged about 27
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