On This Day

Birthday of John Boorman

January 18th 1933

15:36 18 January 2025

British director, producer and screenwriter John Boorman was born on this day in 1933. Boorman's career as a filmmaker began in the first half of the 1960s working in British television documentaries before making his feature film debut with the Dave Clark Five vehicle 'Catch Us If You Can' (1965). Although not a commercial success, the movie caught Hollywood's attention and paved the way to him directing future lifelong friend Lee Marvin in 'Point Blank' (1967) and 'Hell in the Pacific' (1968).

'Deliverance' (1972) was Boorman's first big hit, grossing over $46 million at the US box office off a budget of just $2 million. Other notable credits include 'Zardoz' (1974), 'Exorcist II: The Heretic' (1977), 'Excalibur' (1981), 'The Emerald Forest' (1985), 'Hope and Glory' (1987), 'Where the Heart Is' (1990), 'Beyond Rangoon' (1995), Lumière and Company (1995), 'The General' (1998), 'The Tailor of Panama' (2001), 'The Tiger's Tail' (2006) and 'Queen & Country' (2014).

Recipient of five Academy Award, two BAFTA and three Golden Globe nominations, John Boorman remains a hugely respected and influential figure in cinema. Happy Birthday John.