Gus Van Sant
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.
Acting
Movie
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
as Gus Van Sant
2001
Movie
My Own Private Idaho
as Man Behind Hotel Counter (uncredited)
1991
Movie
Finding Forrester
as Library Assistant (uncredited)
2000
Movie
Psycho
as Man Talking to Man in Cowboy Hat (uncredited)
1998
Movie
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
as Willamette Week Editor
2018
TV
Entourage
as Gus Van Sant
2004
Movie
Drugstore Cowboy
as Himself (uncredited)
1989
Movie
Paranoid Park
as Guy Reading Newspaper (uncredited)
2007
Movie
Last Days
as Phone Voice (voice)
2005
Movie
The Canyons
as Dr. Campbell
2013
TV
Portlandia
as Gus Van Sant
2011
Movie
Mala Noche
as Guy at Hotel (uncredited)
1987
Movie
Zeroville
as Film Archive Curator
2019
TV
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
as Self
2011
Movie
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within
as Self
2010
Movie
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Funky Monks
as Self
1991
Movie
Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema
as Self
2006
Movie
Critic
as Self
2008
Movie
I Don't Belong Anywhere: The Cinema of Chantal Akerman
as Self
2015
Movie
Nicole Kidman: Eyes Wide Open
as Self (interview)
2023
TV
The Greatest Event in Television History
as Self
2012
Movie
Strange Parallel
as Self
1998
Movie
About Cinema
as Self
2015
Movie
The Making of ‘My Own Private Idaho’
as Self
2005
Crew
Movie
Good Will Hunting
Director
1997
Movie
Milk
Director
2008
Movie
Elephant
Screenplay
2003
Movie
Kids
Executive Producer
1995
Movie
My Own Private Idaho
Director
1991
Movie
Finding Forrester
Director
2000
Movie
Psycho
Producer
1998
Movie
Laurence Anyways
Executive Producer
2012
Movie
To Die For
Director
1995
Movie
Paris Je T'aime
Director
2006
Movie
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Director
2018
Movie
Promised Land
Director
2012