Ryan Coogler

Ryan Coogler
Coogler at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Ryan Kyle Coogler

(1986-05-23) May 23, 1986 (age 38)
Oakland, California, U.S.
EducationSt. Mary's College of California
California State University, Sacramento (BA)
University of Southern California (MFA)
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
Years active2009–present
Spouse
Zinzi Evans
​
(m. 2016)​

Ryan Kyle Coogler (born May 23, 1986)[1] is an American filmmaker. He is a recipient of four NAACP Image Awards and four Black Reel Awards, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Grammy Award.

He made his feature-length debut with the independent film Fruitvale Station (2013), which won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. It also won at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, for Best First Film.[2]

He has since co-written and directed films such as the Rocky series spinoff, Creed (2015), and the Marvel film Black Panther (2018), the latter of which broke numerous box office records and became the highest-grossing film of all time by an African American director.[3] Coogler also co-wrote and directed its sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).

Coogler's films have received widespread acclaim and commercial success.[4] His work has been hailed by critics for centering on often overlooked cultures and characters—most notably African Americans.[5][6] He frequently collaborates with actor Michael B. Jordan, who appeared in all five feature films directed by Coogler, as well as composer Ludwig Göransson, who has scored all of his films.[7]

In 2013, he was included on Time's list of the 30 people under 30 who are changing the world.[8] In 2018, Coogler was named the runner-up of Time's Person of the Year and he was included in the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world.[9] In 2021, Coogler, his wife, Zinzi Coogler, and Sev Ohanian founded multimedia company Proximity Media to create event-driven content across various platforms.[10]

  1. ^ "Ryan Kyle Coogler, Born 05/23/1986 in California". California Births Index. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  2. ^ Thompson, Anne (January 27, 2013). "Sundance Awards: Both Ryan Coogler Drama 'Fruitvale,' Doc 'Blood Brother' Nab Grand Jury and Audience Awards UPDATED". Indiewire. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  3. ^ Barnes, Brooks (February 18, 2018). "With $218 Million Haul, 'Black Panther' Smashes Box Office Records". The New York Times. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  4. ^ Kohn, Eric (February 16, 2018). "Ryan Coogler is the New Steven Spielberg: 'Black Panther' Cements the Rise of Hollywood's Commercial Auteur". IndieWire. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  5. ^ Joseph, Peniel E. (February 16, 2018). "Perspective | 'Black Panther' is a milestone in African Americans' search for home". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  6. ^ "'Black Panther's Ryan Coogler Might Soon Be Our Greatest Working American Director". Complex. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  7. ^ "The Ascent of 'Black Panther' Director Ryan Coogler". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  8. ^ Begley, Sarah (December 5, 2013). "These Are the 30 People Under 30 Changing the World Read more: Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler". Time. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  9. ^ "Ryan Coogler: The World's 100 Most Influential People". Time. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  10. ^ Jackson, Angelique (April 15, 2021). "Ryan and Zinzi Coogler, Ludwig Göransson Among Partners Expanding Proximity Media". Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2021.