Gus Van Sant
Biography
Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. (born July 24, 1952) is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Achievement in Directing for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, and won the Palme d'Or at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival for his film Elephant. He lives in Portland, Oregon. His early career was devoted to directing television commercials in the Pacific Northwest. In his films, he has dealt with themes concerning homosexuality and other marginalized subcultures. His filmography as writer and director includes an adaptation of Tom Robbins' novel Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, which features a diverse cast (Keanu Reeves, Roseanne Barr, Uma Thurman, and k.d. lang, with cameos by William S. Burroughs and Heather Graham, among others); and My Own Private Idaho, also starring Reeves as well as River Phoenix. He wrote the screenplays for most of his early movies, and wrote one novel, Pink. A book of his photography has also been published, called 108 Portraits.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (44)
Dead Man's Wire
Director (Directing)
2026
The Trainer
as Gus Van Sant
2024
Nicole Kidman: Eyes Wide Open
as Self (interview)
2023
Andy by Gus
2023
Joe Gives Up and Moves to Montana
Producer (Production)
2021
Ouverture of Something That Never Ended
Director (Directing)
2020
At the Video Store
as Self
2019
Zeroville
as Film Archive Curator
2019
Illegal Civilization 3
as Self
2018
Age Out
Executive Producer (Production)
2018
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
as Willamette Week Editor
2018
Thank You for Supporting the Arts
2018
Xavier Dolan: Bound to Impossible
as Self
2016
The Sea of Trees
Director (Directing)
2016
I Don't Belong Anywhere: The Cinema of Chantal Akerman
as Self
2015
About Cinema
as Self
2015
I Am Michael
Executive Producer (Production)
2015
The Canyons
as Dr. Campbell
2013
Strutter
Thanks (Crew)
2013
Promised Land
Director (Directing)
2012
Reflecting On A Journey: Good Will Hunting 15 Years Later
as Self
2012
Laurence Anyways
Executive Producer (Production)
2012
A Special Day
as Self
2012
My Own Private River
Director (Directing)
2012
The Advocate for Fagdom
as Self
2011
Restless
Director (Directing)
2011
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within
as Self
2010
I'm Still Here
Thanks (Crew)
2010
Howl
Executive Producer (Production)
2010
Virginia
Executive Producer (Production)
2010
Shit Year
Thanks (Crew)
2010
Accidents Happen
Thanks (Crew)
2009
Milk
Director (Directing)
2008
8
Director (Directing)
2008
Mansion on the Hill
Director (Directing)
2008
Making Paranoid Park
2008
Critic
as Self
2008
To Each His Own Cinema
Director (Directing)
2007
In the Mood for Doyle
as Self
2007
Paranoid Park
as Guy Reading Newspaper (uncredited)
2007
First Kiss
Director (Directing)
2007
Here’s Looking at You, Boy
as Self
2007
Wild Tigers I Have Known
Executive Producer (Production)
2006
Paris Je T'aime
Director (Directing)
2006
