DOUG LIMAN
Date of Birth: 1965
American director Doug Liman was born and raised in New York where he
stumbled into film after his father's friend presented the family with a
movie camera. While still in junior high school, Liman began making short
films. He decided to pursue his hobby by studying at NYC's International
Center of Photography while attending Brown University. During his time at
Brown, he co-founded the student-run cable television station and served as
its first station manager. After receiving a BA from Brown University in
1988 he went on to graduate studies in film at USC.
His second feature, Swingers (1996), was a critical and financial hit. The
film about a group of Rat Pack-worshipping friends looking for a little
love was made with a budget of US $250,000 and garnered Liman MTV's Movie Award for Best New Filmmaker.
Following his debut feature film success, Liman went on to direct
commercials. The experience he gained by creating adverts for Levi's,VW,
Dockers, Sony, Mercedes, Budweiser, Fox Television, and Nike engrained
useful tools to help him film his next feature, Go (1999). The film, which
followed three interconnecting stories and featured an ensemble cast of
young hot stars, did well in theaters, making more than triple the cost.
After a short return to commercial work during which he earned awards for his Nike ad featuring Tiger Woods bouncing a golf ball on his club, Liman directed and executive-produced the action film The Bourne Identity (2002) based on a series of novels by Robert Ludlum. He then directed the critically-acclaimed pilot for Fox's hit series The O.C., for which he is also the executive producer. Impressed by the work of young actor Adam Brody in The O.C., Liman cast him in a supporting role when he helmed the major motion picture Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005), starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
Filmography:
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005)
The Bourne Identity (2002)
Go (1999)
Swingers (1996)
Getting In (1994)