Robert Altman
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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Full filmography
- 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