MICHAEL APTED
Date of Birth: February 10, 1941
Born in Buckinghamshire, England, Apted attended Cambridge University to
study history and law. Following his education, he began working at Granada
Television as a researcher. The job soon led to opportunities in directing
and investigative reporting, both of which Apted took advantage of and
became well-established in. Over the years, Apted worked on a number of
popular shows including the long-running Coronation Street, won
several BAFTA's for his work on The Lovers and Folly Foot, and
compiled scores of credits.
In 1972, he made his feature film directorial debut with the war drama
Triple Echo, followed by such features as Stardust (1974),
The Squeeze (1977) and Agatha (1979). By the '80s, Apted
crossed the pond to create his first American film. He released the
international hit, Coal Miner's Daughter (1980), which became one
of his most acclaimed films to date earning seven Academy Awards. As a
result, he earned access to bigger stars and bigger budgets.
For the next two decades, Apted tackled a variety of films, but tried to
alternate Hollywood movies with smaller, more personal projects and
documentaries. His larger projects ranged from Continental Divide,
the four-time Oscar nominated, Gorilla's in the Mist (1988),
Thunderheart (1992), Nell (1994) to the 19th Bond film,
The World is Not Enough (1999). His smaller projects include the
adolescent comedy gem Kipperbang (1982), and the documentary
Bring on the Night (1985).
Not confined to the film industry, Apted made a large mark in the
British television industry with his powerful unique series of
documentaries - 7 Up, 7 Plus 7, 21, 28 Up,
35 Up, and 42 Up - which have followed the lives of 14
Britons since the age of seven - in seven-year increments. The most recent one is 56 Up, which was released in December 2012. He also recently co-directed the film Chasing Mavericks (2012), a surfing movie starring Gerard Butler and Jonny Weston.
Filmography (director):
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader(2010)
Chasing Mavericks(2012)
56 Up(2012)
The Power of the Game (2007)
Amazing Grace(2006)
Enough(2002)
Enigma(2001)
The World Is Not Enough(1999)
Me & Isaac Newton (1999)
42: Forty Two Up (1998)
Inspirations (1997)
Extreme Measures (1996)
Nell (1994)
Moving the Mountain (1994)
Blink (1994)
Incident at Oglala (1992)
Thunderheart (1992)
35 Up (1991)
Class Action (1991)
Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey (1988)
Critical Condition (1987)
28 Up (1985)
Bring on the Night (1985)
Firstborn (1984)
Gorky Park (1983)
Continental Divide (1981)
Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
Agatha (1979)
The Squeeze (1977)
Stardust(1974)
Triple Echo (1973)
Filmography (producer):
It's a Shame About Ray (2000)
14 Up in America (1998)
42: Forty Two Up (1998)
Inspirations (1997)
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
35 Up (1991)
28 Up (1985)
The River Rat (1984)