Gus Van Sant
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- July 24, 1952
- Birthplace
- Louisville, Kentucky, USA
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.
Filmography
- Untitled Hoyt Richards Film
Untitled Hoyt Richards Film TBA
Director
- Last Days
Last Days TBA
Original Film Writer
- Explain it Like I’m Five
Explain it Like I’m Five TBA
Director
- My Friend
My Friend TBA
Director
- Antinous
Antinous TBA
Producer
- Killing Gawker
Killing Gawker TBA
Director
- Nightmare Typhoon
Nightmare Typhoon TBA
as Gus, Director
Dead Man's Wire 2026
Director
The Trainer 2024
as Gus Van Sant
Nicole Kidman: Eyes Wide Open 2023
as Self (interview)
Andy by Gus 2023
Actor, Music
Joe Gives Up and Moves to Montana 2021
Producer
Ouverture of Something That Never Ended 2020
Director, Writer
At the Video Store 2019
as Self
Zeroville 2019
as Film Archive Curator
Illegal Civilization 3 2018
as Self
Age Out 2018
Executive Producer
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot 2018
as Willamette Week Editor, Director, Editor, Screenplay, Story
Thank You for Supporting the Arts 2018
Actor
Ain't It Funny 2017
as Dad
Certain Women 2016
Thanks
Xavier Dolan: Bound to Impossible 2016
as Self
The Sea of Trees 2016
Director
I Don't Belong Anywhere: The Cinema of Chantal Akerman 2015
as Self
About Cinema 2015
as Self
I Am Michael 2015
Executive Producer
The Canyons 2013
as Dr. Campbell
Strutter 2013
Thanks
Promised Land 2012
Director, Executive Producer
Reflecting on a Journey: Good Will Hunting 15 Years Later 2012
as Self
Laurence Anyways 2012
Executive Producer
A Special Day 2012
as Self
My Own Private River 2012
Director
The Advocate for Fagdom 2011
as Self
Restless 2011
Director, Producer
Two Films, One Legacy 2011
Actor
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within 2010
as Self
I'm Still Here 2010
Thanks
Howl 2010
Executive Producer
Virginia 2010
Executive Producer
Shit Year 2010
Thanks
Accidents Happen 2009
Thanks
Milk 2008
Director, Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Mansion on the Hill 2008
Director
8 2008
Director, Editor
Making Paranoid Park 2008
Actor
Critic 2008
as Self
To Each His Own Cinema 2007
Director
In the Mood for Doyle 2007
as Self
Paranoid Park 2007
as Guy Reading Newspaper (uncredited), Screenplay, Director, Editor
Here’s Looking at You, Boy 2007
as Self
Wild Tigers I Have Known 2006
Executive Producer
Le Marais 2006
Writer, Director
Paris Je T'aime 2006
Director, Writer
Cinema16: American Short Films 2006
Director
Best of Chris Isaak 2006
Director
Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema 2006
as Self
Last Days 2005
as Phone Voice (voice), Director, Screenplay, Editor
On the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time 2004
as Himself, Executive Producer
The Making of Last Days 2004
as Self
Saltlake Van Sant 2003
as Self
Tarnation 2003
Executive Producer
Elephant 2003
Screenplay, Editor, Director
About Elephant 2003
as Self
Gerry 2002
Editor, Director, Writer
David Bowie: Best of Bowie 2002
Director
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back 2001
as Gus Van Sant
Rescued from the Closet 2001
as Self
Finding Forrester 2000
as Library Assistant (uncredited), Director
- Easter
Easter 2000
Director
- De Witt Clinton Choir
De Witt Clinton Choir 2000
Director
The Making of Drugstore Cowboy 1999
as Self
Psycho Path 1999
as Self - Director, Executive Producer
Speedway Junky 1999
Executive Producer
Psycho 1998
as Man Talking to Man in Cowboy Hat (uncredited), Producer, Director
Strange Parallel 1998
as Self
The Director's Vision: Hollywood's Best Discuss Their Craft 1998
as himself
Good Will Hunting 1997
Director, Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Ballad of the Skeletons 1997
Writer, Director
Four Boys in a Volvo 1996
Director
To Die For 1995
Director
Kids 1995
Executive Producer
Guns on the Clackamas 1995
Actor
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues 1994
Director, Writer, Editor, Executive Producer
Made in the USA 1993
as Self
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Funky Monks 1991
as Self
My Own Private Idaho 1991
as Man Behind Hotel Counter (uncredited), Director, Screenplay
- Flea Sings
Flea Sings 1991
Director
Thanksgiving Prayer 1991
Director, Producer
Drugstore Cowboy 1989
as Himself (uncredited), Director, Screenplay
Ken Death Gets Out of Jail 1988
Director
Junior 1988
as Himself, Director
Mala Noche 1987
as Guy at Hotel (uncredited), Director, Screenplay, Producer, Editor
Five Ways to Kill Yourself 1987
Actor, Director, Writer
My New Friend 1987
Director
- Switzerland
Switzerland 1985
Director
The Discipline of D.E. 1982
Director
Property 1979
Sound
Psycho Shampoo 1979
Director
1/2 of a Telephone Conversation 1973
Director
Little Johnny 1972
Director
- The Happy Organ
The Happy Organ 1971
Director
Credits from TMDB.