Cameron Bruce Crowe is an Academy Award winning American writer and film director. Before moving into the film industry, Crowe was contributing editor at Rolling Stone magazine, for which he still frequently writes.Crowe has made his mark with character-driven, personal films that have been generally hailed as refreshingly original and void of cynicism. Michael Walker in the New York Times called Crowe "something of a cinematic spokesman for the post-baby boom generation" because his first few films focused on that specific age group, first as high schoolers and then as young adults making their way in the world.Crowe's debut screenwriting effort, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, grew out of a novel he wrote while posing for one year undercover as a student at Clairemont High School in San Diego, California, USA. Later, he wrote and directed one more high school saga, Say Anything, and then Singles, a story of Seattle twentysomethings that was woven together by a soundtrack centering on that city's burgeoning grunge music scene. Crowe landed his biggest hit, though, with the feel-good Jerry Maguire. After this, he was given a green light to go ahead with a pet project, the autobiographical effort Almost Famous. Centering on a teenage music journalist on tour with an up-and-coming band, it gave insight to his life as a 15-year-old writer for Rolling Stone. Also, in late 1999, Crowe released his second book, Conversations with Billy Wilder, a question and answer session with the legendary director.
Early career as a journalist included 4 years as the rock music critic for the San Diego Union (the citys major daily).
Former journalist for Rolling Stone magazine.
Son of Alice Marie Crowe.
Attended University of San Diego High School.
Attended Indio High School.
Attended San Diego City College.
His wife is Nancy Wilson from the rock group Heart.
Wrote liner notes for Peter Frampton s breakthrough album "Frampton Comes Alive".
Wrote liner notes for Led Zeppelin s "The Song Remains The Same" live record.
Often refers to the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" in his films.
Steven Spielberg did a cameo in Crowes Vanilla Sky and Crowe did a cameo in Spielbergs Minority Report ; both films starred Tom Cruise.
Admires Billy Wilder very much and uses a lot of what Wilder taught him in his films. In addition, his favorite movie is Wilders The Apartment .
He and his wife have 4 springer spaniels.
He wrote the screenplay to Fast Times at Ridgemont High based on his book. He wrote the book after posing as a student at Hollywood High School, the school that everyone from his side of the tracks wanted to attend.
Five of the films that he directed ( Say Anything... , Singles , Jerry Maguire , Almost Famous and Elizabethtown ) have scenes with characters on airplanes or walking through airports.
Wrote the liner notes for "Anthology: Through the Years" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Wrote the liner notes for "Biograph" by Bob Dylan.
Wrote the foreword for "Ready When You Are, Mr. Coppola, Mr. Spielberg, Mr. Crowe" by Jerry Ziesmer (Scarecrow Press, 2003).
Ex-brother-in-law of Ann Wilson and Lynn Wilson.
Member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 2006.
Wrote the liner notes for Lynyrd Skynyrd s "One More From the Road" album.
When he won his Oscar for Almost Famous , he dedicated the award to "Audrey and Billy". Most people assumed this was for Audrey Hepburn and Billy Wilder but, in fact, it was for Billy Wilder and his wife Audrey Young , who were close personal friends of Cameron.
Father of twins, William James Crowe and Curtis Wilson Crowe born on January 23, 2000.
Directed four actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Tom Cruise , Cuba Gooding Jr. , Kate Hudson , and Frances McDormand. Gooding Jr. won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance for Jerry Maguire .
(Late September 2010) Nancy Wilson filed for divorce citing "irreconcilable differences". She listed June 15, 2008, as their date of separation.
(July 2002) Writing his next movie, with an ensemble cast of eight lead roles. That script is still as-yet "Untitled". Also, writing a biopic of music producer Phil Spector , which he and Tom Cruise have long been planning to make.
Frequently collaborates with set decorator and production designer, Clay A. Griffith. They have worked together on Say Anything... , Singles , Jerry Maguire , Almost Famous , Elizabethtown , We Bought a Zoo , Aloha and "Roadies" .
Despite being a successful author, screenwriter, journalist, producer and director, did not complete college. Dropped out of San Diego city college to pursue his career.
His father was from Stanton, Kentucky and his mother is from San Bernardino, California. His father had English and Scottish ancestry, while Camerons mother is of half Greek and half Spanish descent.
Making a big Hollywood film that really affects people is as hard as,making a small movie on a credit card.
Stars arrive on their own timetable.
Adolescence is a marketing tool.
I will tell you in another life when we are both cats.
