Taylor Hackford

Taylor Edwin Hackford, born on December 31, 1944, is a distinguished American film director and served as a former president of the Directors Guild of America. He won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for 'Teenage Father' (1979). Hackford directed prominent feature films such as 'An Officer and a Gentleman' (1982) and 'Ray' (2004), the latter leading to his nomination for the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Picture.

In his early life, Hackford was a pre-law major with a specific focus on international relations and economics. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia, where he started his journey into filmmaking by experimenting with a Super 8 film camera. After his service in the Peace Corps, Taylor decided to abandon his law career and secured a position at KCET-TV. At KCET, he was the associate producer on the Leon Russell special 'Homewood' and produced a one-hour special Bukowski (1973). He made his directorial debut with 'The Idolmaker', and continued to create films that told the stories of working-class people. Hackford directed music videos including 'Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)' by Phil Collins and 'Say You, Say Me' by Lionel Richie.

In 1983, Hackford partnered with film producer, Keith Barish, to develop 'At Play in the Fields of the Lord'. One of his proudest moments came while filming the movie 'Ray', which encapsulated the energy and exuberance of Ray Charles's live performances. Interestingly, Hackford confirmed in an interview that he never watches his own films once completed. He was elected president of the Directors Guild of America in 2009, and re-elected in 2011. Hackford is currently attached to direct the neo-noir action thriller film 'Sniff'.