Samuel Fuller
Directing Born Aug 12, 1912 Died Oct 30, 1997 Worcester, Massachusetts, USA 158 credits
Biography
Samuel Fuller was an American screenwriter, novelist, and film director. He was born on August 12, 1912, in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. Fuller's father was a Jewish immigrant from Russia, and his mother was a Jewish immigrant from Poland. The family's surname was changed from Rabinovitch to Fuller, possibly inspired by a Doctor who arrived in America on the Mayflower. At the age of 12, Fuller began working in journalism as a newspaper copyboy, and at 17, he became a crime reporter in New York City for the New York Evening Graphic. Fuller is known for directing low-budget genre movies with controversial themes.
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Career overview
Samuel Fuller began his career in the film industry after working in journalism. At the age of 12, he started as a newspaper copyboy. He became a crime reporter in New York City at age 17, working for the New York Evening Graphic. Fuller's experience in journalism likely influenced his approach to storytelling in his future film career.
As a film director, Samuel Fuller is known for low-budget genre movies with controversial themes. His directing credits include a total of 106 films. Fuller's work often pushed boundaries and explored complex social issues, making him a notable figure in the film industry.
Fuller's directing career spanned many years, and he continued to work in the film industry until his death. He passed away on October 30, 1997, at the age of 85.
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Frequent co-stars
Alessandra Sublet
4 shared titles
Dennis Hopper
2 shared titles
Patrick Cohen
1 shared title
Anne-Élisabeth Lemoine
1 shared title
Pierre Lescure
1 shared title
Bertrand Chameroy
1 shared title
Émilie Tran Nguyen
1 shared title
Mohamed Bouhafsi
1 shared title
Matthieu Belliard
1 shared title
Lorrain Sénéchal
1 shared title
Career timeline
Films to Die For
A Fuller LifeA Fuller Life · Book
Scene Missing
Nuits transparentes
Sodankylä Forever
Carmel
Filmmakers in Action
The Big Red One: The ReconstructionThe Big Red One: The Reconstruction · DirectorThe Big Red One: The Reconstruction · WriterThe Real Glory: Reconstructing 'The Big Red One'
Necro not(to b)e
The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller
The End of Violence
The Typewriter, the Rifle & the Movie Camera
Rebel Highway · WriterSomebody to LoveGirls in Prison · WriterTigrero: A Film That Was Never MadeUn Américain en Normandie
Golem: The Petrified GardenAnything for John
Where Is Musette?La Vie de BohèmeGolem, the Spirit of ExileShock Corridor
Chillers · DirectorChillers · WriterSonsThe Day of Reckoning · DirectorThe Day of Reckoning · Screenplay
David LanskyStreet of No ReturnStreet of No Return · DirectorStreet of No Return · DialogueStreet of No Return · Screenplay
Falkenau, the ImpossibleMer de Chine: Le pays pour mémoire
A Return to Salem's LotMidnight Sun Film FestivalThe Bleeding StarHelsinki Napoli All Night Long
Let's Get Harry · StoryA Travelling is a Moral AffairHooray For Holyrood
Report from Hollywood
Thieves After DarkThieves After Dark · WriterThieves After Dark · DirectorSam Fuller & the Big Red One
White DogWhite Dog · ScreenplayWhite Dog · DirectorThe State of ThingsHammett
Sam Fuller: Writings with a Camera
The Big Red OneThe Big Red One · DirectorThe Big Red One · Writer
1941
CinématonThe Meanest Men in the West · DirectorThe Meanest Men in the West · Screenplay
The American FriendScott Joplin
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
The Klansman · Screenplay
Full Filmography
158 titles- Films to Die For (2025) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- A Fuller Life (2013) as Self
- A Fuller Life (2013) Book
- Scene Missing (2012) as Self
- Nuits transparentes (2011)
- Sodankylä Forever (2010) as Self
- Carmel (2009)
- Filmmakers in Action (2006) as Self (archive footage)
- The Big Red One: The Reconstruction (2005) as War Correspondent (uncredited)
- The Big Red One: The Reconstruction (2005) Director
- The Big Red One: The Reconstruction (2005) Writer
- The Real Glory: Reconstructing 'The Big Red One' (2005) as Himself (archive footage)
- Necro not(to b)e (2003) as Sé stesso
- The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller (2002) as Self
- The End of Violence (1997) as Louis
- The Typewriter, the Rifle & the Movie Camera (1996) as Self
- Rebel Highway (1994) Writer
- Somebody to Love (1994) as Sam Silverman
- Girls in Prison (1994) Writer
- Tigrero: A Film That Was Never Made (1994) as Self
- Un Américain en Normandie (1994) as Himself
- Golem: The Petrified Garden (1993) as Sam
- Anything for John (1993) as Self
- Where Is Musette? (1992) as Self
- La Vie de Bohème (1992) as Gassot
- Golem, the Spirit of Exile (1992) as Elimelek
- Shock Corridor (1992) as himself
- Chillers (1990) Director
- Chillers (1990) Writer
- Sons (1990) as Father
- The Day of Reckoning (1990) Director
- The Day of Reckoning (1990) Screenplay
- The Madonna and the Dragon (1990) as Chef de bureau Newsweek
- The Madonna and the Dragon (1990) Director
- The Madonna and the Dragon (1990) Screenplay
- Motion and Emotion: The Films of Wim Wenders (1990) as Self
- David Lansky (1989)
- Street of No Return (1989) as Police Commissioner
- Street of No Return (1989) Director
- Street of No Return (1989) Dialogue
- Street of No Return (1989) Screenplay
- Tell me Sam - Encounters with Sam Fuller (1989) as Himself
- Falkenau, the Impossible (1988) as Samuel Fuller
- Mer de Chine: Le pays pour mémoire (1988) as Le capitaine américain
- A Return to Salem's Lot (1987) as Van Meer
- Midnight Sun Film Festival (1987)
- The Bleeding Star (1987) as The Man in the Bar
- Helsinki Napoli All Night Long (1987) as Boss
- Let's Get Harry (1986) Story
- A Travelling is a Moral Affair (1986) as Himself
- Hooray For Holyrood (1986) as Self
- Report from Hollywood (1985)
- Thieves After Dark (1984) as Zoltan
- Thieves After Dark (1984) Writer
- Thieves After Dark (1984) Director
- Sam Fuller & the Big Red One (1984) as Self
- White Dog (1982) as Charlie Felton
- White Dog (1982) Screenplay
- White Dog (1982) Director
- The State of Things (1982) as Joe
- Hammett (1982) as Old Man in Pool Hall
- Slapstick of Another Kind (1982) as Colonel Sharp
- Sam Fuller: Writings with a Camera (1981) as Himself
- The Big Red One (1980) as War Correspondent (uncredited)
- The Big Red One (1980) Director
- The Big Red One (1980) Writer
- 1941 (1979) as Interceptor Commander
- Cinématon (1978) as N°602
- The Meanest Men in the West (1978) Director
- The Meanest Men in the West (1978) Screenplay
- The American Friend (1977) as The American
- Scott Joplin (1977) as Impresario
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975) as Self
- The Klansman (1974) Screenplay
- The Young Nurses (1973) as Doc Haskell
- The Deadly Trackers (1973) Story
- Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street (1972) Director
- Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street (1972) Writer
- The Last Movie (1971) as Sam
- Scene of the Crime (1970) Director
- Scene of the Crime (1970) Writer
- Shark (1969) Director
- Shark (1969) Screenplay
- Targets (1968) Screenplay
- Made in U.S.A (1967) Thanks
- The Cape Town Affair (1967) Writer
- Cinéastes de notre temps : Samuel Fuller (1967) as Interviewee
- Brigitte and Brigitte (1966) as Self
- Pierrot le Fou (1965) as Samuel Fuller (uncredited)
- The Naked Kiss (1964) Director
- The Naked Kiss (1964) Producer
- The Naked Kiss (1964) Writer
- Shock Corridor (1963) Director
- Shock Corridor (1963) Screenplay
- Shock Corridor (1963) Producer
- The Virginian (1962) Writer
- The Virginian (1962) Director
- Merrill's Marauders (1962) Screenplay
- Merrill's Marauders (1962) Director
- The Dick Powell Show (1961) Director
- Underworld U.S.A. (1961) Producer
- Underworld U.S.A. (1961) Director
- Underworld U.S.A. (1961) Writer
- Verboten! (1959) Writer
- Verboten! (1959) Director
- The Crimson Kimono (1959) Producer
- The Crimson Kimono (1959) Writer
- The Crimson Kimono (1959) Director
- Dogface (1959) Director
- Dogface (1959) Writer
- Dogface (1959) Producer
- China Gate (1957) Director
- China Gate (1957) Screenplay
- China Gate (1957) Producer
- Run of the Arrow (1957) Writer
- Run of the Arrow (1957) Director
- Run of the Arrow (1957) Producer
- Forty Guns (1957) Screenplay
- Forty Guns (1957) Director
- Forty Guns (1957) Producer
- House of Bamboo (1955) as Japanese policeman (uncredited)
- House of Bamboo (1955) Director
- House of Bamboo (1955) Additional Dialogue
- Hell and High Water (1954) Director
- Hell and High Water (1954) Screenplay
- The Command (1954) Writer
- Pickup on South Street (1953) Screenplay
- Pickup on South Street (1953) Director
- Scandal Sheet (1952) Novel
- Park Row (1952) Writer
- Park Row (1952) Director
- Park Row (1952) Producer
- The Steel Helmet (1951) Writer
- The Steel Helmet (1951) Director
- The Steel Helmet (1951) Producer
- Fixed Bayonets! (1951) Director
- Fixed Bayonets! (1951) Screenplay
- The Tanks Are Coming (1951) Story
- The Baron of Arizona (1950) Writer
- The Baron of Arizona (1950) Director
- Shockproof (1949) Writer
- I Shot Jesse James (1949) Director
- I Shot Jesse James (1949) Writer
- Gangs of the Waterfront (1945) Story
- V-E +1 (1945) Director
- Margin for Error (1943) Screenplay
- Power of the Press (1943) Story
- Confirm or Deny (1941) Story
- Bowery Boy (1940) Original Story
- Gangs of Chicago (1940) Screenplay
- She Married a Cop (1939) Writer
- Adventure in Sahara (1938) Story
- Gangs of New York (1938) Screenplay
- Gangs of New York (1938) Story
- Federal Man-Hunt (1938) Story
- It Happened in Hollywood (1937) Screenplay
- Hats Off (1936) Story
- Hats Off (1936) Screenplay
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Samuel Fuller best known for?
Samuel Fuller is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Filmmakers in Action (2006), Rebel Highway (1994), Chillers (1990), Chillers (1990).
When and where was Samuel Fuller born?
Samuel Fuller was born on August 12, 1912 in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. They passed away on October 30, 1997.
How many credits does Samuel Fuller have?
Samuel Fuller has accumulated over 158 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1936 to 2025.
What is Samuel Fuller's background in cinema and television?
Samuel Fuller was an American screenwriter, novelist, and film director. He was born on August 12, 1912, in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. Fuller's father was a Jewish immigrant from Russia, and his mother was a Jewish immigrant from Poland. The family's surname was changed from Rabinovitch to Fuller, possibly inspired...
Samuel Fuller by the numbers
158credits
147films
11TV series
1936–2025active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Pierrot le Fou (1965) as Samuel Fuller (uncredited) — aged about 52
- Filmmakers in Action (2006) as Self (archive footage) — aged about 93
- The American Friend (1977) as The American — aged about 64
- The Big Red One (1980) as War Correspondent (uncredited) — aged about 67
- White Dog (1982) as Charlie Felton — aged about 69
- The State of Things (1982) as Joe — aged about 69
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