Curtis Hanson

Curtis Lee Hanson was an esteemed American film director, screenwriter, and producer whose career spanned from 1970 to 2012. He famously directed an array of thrillers and received several accolades including an Academy Award and multiple nominations such as for the Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or, British Academy Film Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and Primetime Emmy Awards. Originally from Reno, Nevada, Hanson spent his formative years in Los Angeles where, following his high school years, pursued his fascination in film by working as a photographer and editor for Cinema magazine. His filmmaking journey began in the 1970s starting with his participation in the creation of the horror film 'The Dunwich Horror' (1970) and his directorial debut 'Sweet Kill' (1973) was made under the B-Movie category. Hanson's connectivity with audiences stemmed from his natural ability to inject depth and relatability into the characters he represented on-screen. From his directorial debut to directing the acclaimed neo-noir crime film 'L.A. Confidential' (1997) which won him an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Hanson's works remain influential in the film industry. He passed away in 2016 due to natural causes after battling a rare terminal condition known as Frontotemporal Degeneration.