Darren S. Aronofsky (born February 12, 1969) is an American film director, screenwriter and film producer. He attended Harvard University and AFI to study both live-action and animation film theory, where he met long-time collaborator Matthew Libatique. He won several film awards after completing his senior thesis film, "Supermarket Sweep", starring Sean Gullette, which went on to become a National Student Academy Award finalist.Aronofsky did not make a feature film until five years later, creating the concept for his debut feature, π, in February 1996. The low-budget, $60,000 production, starring Sean Gullette, was sold to Artisan Entertainment for $1 million, and grossed over $3 million; it won both a Sundance Film Festival award and an Independent Spirit Award. Aronofsky's followup, Requiem for a Dream, was based on the novel of the same name written by Hubert Selby, Jr. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Ellen Burstyn's performance. After turning down an opportunity to direct Batman Begins, Aronofsky began production on his third film, The Fountain. The film was released to mixed reviews and poor box office results.However, his next film, The Wrestler, rebounded with positive reviews and healthy box office. Both of the film's stars, Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei, received Academy Award nominations. Rourke also won a Golden Globe for Best Actor and Bruce Springsteen won for Best Original Song for his title song. Aronofsky's next film, Black Swan, received further critical acclaim and many accolades, being nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, four Golden Globes including Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, a record 12 BFCA nominations and a DGA nomination.
Attended Harvard University.
Attended Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn, New York. Marisa Tomei also attended this high school, but graduated earlier.
Attended the American Film Institute.
Has cast the following actors more than once: Sean Gullette , Mark Margolis (gv), Ben Shenkman (gv), Samia Shoaib (gv), Ajay Naidu (gv), Jennifer Connelly (gv), Ellen Burstyn (gv), Stanley B. Herman (gv) and Marcia Jean Kurtz (gv).
Was engaged to British actress Rachel Weisz.
Named among Fade In magazines 100 People in Hollywood You Need to Know in 2005.
During 2001/2002, he was attached to direct and co-write a screen adaption of Frank Miller s "Batman: Year One". Darrens co-writer was, of course, Frank Miller , who had also written "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" and the "Sin City" graphic novels.
2004: Lived in New York with actress Rachel Weisz.
He and his fiance, Rachel Weisz , became parents of a boy on May 31st, 2006. They named him Henry Chance.
His first computer was a TRS-80.
Member of the Dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 2001.
His parents and the parents of Vicki Roberts are neighbors; they live one house away from each other in a private community in Florida.
Split from Rachel Weisz [November, 2010].
Son of Abraham Aronofsky and Charlotte Aronofsky.
Directed 4 actors in Oscar nominated performances: Ellen Burstyn , Mickey Rourke , Marisa Tomei and Natalie Portman. Portman won for her performance in Black Swan .
In March 2011, Aronofsky announced he was leaving production of The Wolverine because it would require him to be filming outside of the United States for too long. He released a statement specifying, "I was not comfortable being away from my family for that length of time. I am sad that I wont be able to see the project through".
President of the Official Competition jury at the 68th Venice International Film Festival in 2011.
Contributed a message to the book Satoshi Anime Zen-Shigoto (Satoshi Kons Animation Works), a book dedicated to the works of Japanese animation director Satoshi Kon who died in 2011. Kon had personally met Aronofsky in 2001 shortly after the release of Aronfoskys Pi , and before the release of Kons Sennen joy .
He routinely does not shave or cut his hair while shooting a film.
(March 2004) Currently working on Lone Wolf and Cub (????) .
(December 2002) Working on Batman: Year One with Frank Miller.
(July 2006) Completed The Fountain , working on "Flicker" and "Lone Wolf and Cub" scripts.
Was considered to direct Man of Steel .
Was considered to direct Watchmen .
Was offered the directors chair for X-Men: The Last Stand .
Studied filmmaking at Harvard University under Mikls Jancs.
1983 graduate of the Mark Twain I.S. 239 for the Gifted & Talented in Brooklyn, NY. He was inducted into the schools "Alumni Hall of Fame" on March 26 2015.
Was considered to direct Gambit .
Cites Time Bandits as his desert island DVD choice.
Hes a fan of the Belgian film directors Jean-Pierre Dardenne ) and Luc Dardenne , aka the Dardennes brothers. He referred to them as "my heroes" in a post on his official Twitter account in 2014, after he attended the premiere of their film Deux jours, une nuit at the New York International Film Festival. And while promoting Black Swan in 2010, Aronofsky told Alistair Harkness from The Scotsman that he changed his entire directing style for The Wrestler after seeing their work for the first time.
Head of the Official Competition jury at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival in 2015.
He has expressed a desire to direct an adaptation of the DC Comics character Superman.
I try to live my life where I end up at a point where I have no regrets.
So I try to choose the road that I have the most passion on because,then you can never really blame yourself for making the wrong choices.
Filmmaking is barely an art. 99% of my job is bureaucracy.
I grew up in a family with two very strong women, my mother and my older sister, and they were big influences on my life.
