Robert Altman | |
|---|---|
 Altman in 1983 | |
| Born | Robert Bernard Altman February 20, 1925 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | November 20, 2006 (aged 81) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1947–2006 |
| Known for | Full list |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 6, including Stephen Altman |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service |  United States Army Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1943–1947 |
| Rank |  First lieutenant |
| Unit | Thirteenth Air Force 307th Bombardment Group |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards |  Army Air Force Pilot Badge Air Force Presidential Unit Citation American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal.svg){kind=small} Philippine Presidential Unit Citation |
Robert Bernard Altman (/ˈɔːltmən/ AWLT-mən; February 20, 1925 – November 20, 2006) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is considered an enduring figure from the New Hollywood era, known for directing subversive and satirical films with overlapping dialogue and ensemble casts. Over his career he received several awards including an Academy Honorary Award, two British Academy Film Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for seven competitive Academy Awards.
Altman was nominated for five Academy Awards for Best Director for the war comedy M*A*S*H (1970), the musical film Nashville (1975), the Hollywood satire The Player (1992), the dark comedy Short Cuts (1993), and the murder mystery Gosford Park (2001). He is also known for directing Brewster McCloud (1970), McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971), The Long Goodbye (1973), California Split (1974), Thieves Like Us (1974), 3 Women (1977), A Wedding (1978), Popeye (1980), Secret Honor (1984), The Company (2003), and A Prairie Home Companion (2006).
Also known for his work on television, he directed the HBO political mockumentary miniseries Tanner '88 (1988) for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series. He also directed the HBO television film The Laundromat (1985). On stage, he directed the Broadway revival of the Ed Graczyk play Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1981) and later the 1982 film of the same name. He directed the West End revival of Arthur Miller's penultimate play Resurrection Blues (2006).
In 2006, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized Altman's body of work with an Academy Honorary Award. He never won a competitive Oscar despite seven nominations. His films M*A*S*H, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, The Long Goodbye and Nashville have been selected for the United States National Film Registry. Altman is one of three filmmakers whose films have won the Golden Bear at Berlin, the Golden Lion at Venice, and the Palme d'Or at Cannes (the other two being Henri-Georges Clouzot and Michelangelo Antonioni).