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.

Known For

Entourage

Portlandia

Finding Forrester

The Story of Film: An Odyssey

Leçon de Cinéma

My Own Private Idaho

The Greatest Event in Television History

Psycho

All Movies (46)

• The Trainer2024 · as Gus Van Sant
• Nicole Kidman: Eyes Wide Open2023 · as Self (interview)
• Andy by Gus2023
• At the Video Store2019 · as Self
• Zeroville2019 · as Film Archive Curator
• Illegal Civilization 32018 · as Self
• Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot2018 · as Willamette Week Editor
• Thank You for Supporting the Arts2018
• Ain't It Funny2017 · as Dad
• Xavier Dolan: Bound to Impossible2016 · as Self
• I Don't Belong Anywhere: The Cinema of Chantal Akerman2015 · as Self
• About Cinema2015 · as Self
• The Canyons2013 · as Dr. Campbell
• Reflecting On A Journey: Good Will Hunting 15 Years Later2012 · as Self
• A Special Day2012 · as Self
• The Advocate for Fagdom2011 · as Self
• Two Films, One Legacy2011
• William S. Burroughs: A Man Within2010 · as Self
• Making Paranoid Park2008
• Critic2008 · as Self
• In the Mood for Doyle2007 · as Self
• Paranoid Park2007 · as Guy Reading Newspaper (uncredited)
• Here’s Looking at You, Boy2007 · as Self
• Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema2006 · as Self
• Last Days2005 · as Phone Voice (voice)
• On the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time2004 · as Himself
• The Making of Last Days2004 · as Himself
• Saltlake Van Sant2003 · as Self
• About Elephant2003 · as Self
• Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back2001 · as Gus Van Sant
• Rescued from the Closet2001 · as Self
• Finding Forrester2000 · as Library Assistant (uncredited)
• The Making of Drugstore Cowboy1999
• Psycho Path1999 · as Self - Director
• Psycho1998 · as Man Talking to Man in Cowboy Hat (uncredited)
• Strange Parallel1998 · as Self
• The Director's Vision: Hollywood's Best Discuss Their Craft1998 · as himself
• Guns on the Clackamas1995
• Made in the USA1993 · as Self
• Red Hot Chili Peppers - Funky Monks1991 · as Self
• My Own Private Idaho1991 · as Man Behind Hotel Counter (uncredited)
• Drugstore Cowboy1989 · as Himself (uncredited)
• Junior1988 · as Himself
• Mala Noche1987 · as Guy at Hotel (uncredited)
• Five Ways to Kill Yourself1987
• Nightmare Typhoon— · as Gus

All TV Shows (6)

• The Greatest Event in Television History2012 · as Self
• The Story of Film: An Odyssey2011 · as Self
• Portlandia2011 · as Gus Van Sant
• Entourage2004 · as Gus Van Sant
• Leçon de Cinéma2004 · as Self
• Hi Octane1994 · as Self