David Owen Russell is an American film writer, director, and producer, known for a cinema of intense, tragi-comedic characters whose love of life can surpass dark circumstances faced in very specific worlds. His films address such themes as mental illness as stigma or hope; invention of self and survival; the family home as nexus of love, hate, transgression, and strength; women of power and inspiration; beauty and comedy found in twisted humble circumstances; the meaning of violence, war, and greed; and the redemptive power of music above all. Russell has been nominated for five Academy Awards® and four Golden Globes®. He has won four Independent Spirit Awards and two BAFTA Awards. He has been nominated for three WGA awards and two DGA awards. He has collaborated with actors 'Bradley Cooper .
Honored at Manhattans Museum of Modern Art in April 2002 by guests such as Lily Tomlin , Mark Wahlberg and Sandra Bernhard. Ironic site for tribute, since Russell once served as a waiter at parties there, to the likes of Martin Scorsese.
Graduated from Amherst College 1981, majoring in English and Political Science.
Former Son-in-law of Angela Grillo
Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 2003.
Went to Mamaroneck High School in Mamaroneck, New York with Bennett Miller and Dan Futterman.
Father of actor Matthew Antonio Grillo Russell with producer/actress Janet Grillo.
Directed 7 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Christian Bale (twice), Amy Adams (twice), Melissa Leo , Bradley Cooper (twice), Jennifer Lawrence (three times), Robert De Niro , and Jacki Weaver. Bale and Leo won Oscars for their performances in The Fighter ; Lawrence won for her performance in Silver Linings Playbook .
His father was of Russian Jewish descent and his mother was of Italian ancestry.
The only director to helm two consecutively-released films ( Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle ) that were nominated for Academy Awards in all acting categories.
Finally exited his directorial project Accidental Love (then still titled "Nailed") in June 2010 after many financial and legal troubles during the shooting of the film and negotiations with film financier Ron Tutor eventually broke down. The movie was shelved ever since ending principal photography in November 2008. It was rumored that the film was never fully finished and that crucial parts of the plot were never shot. It was eventually released in 2015. However, Russells name is no longer associated with the film. Therefore, he receives directing credit as "Stephen Greene" (similar to the old "Alan Smithee" pseudonym used by directors who disown the final product of a film they may have directed at one point but eventually were not able to exercise creative control over (due to producers or financiers interference, for example)).
Wrote the screenplay adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies , with the intention of directing it. After he dropped out, Burr Steers revised and polished the script and directed it. In the end, Russell didnt receive any credit.
Did uncredited rewrites on the script for Meet the Fockers .
Wrote early drafts of the screenplay for Stuart Little , but didnt earn any credit.
Cousin of Matthew Muzio.
Appetite has a lot to do with it. And she has an enormous appetite.
I make every movie and scene as if it could be my last.
Strong women are, to me, the secret to great cinema.
