Chris Columbus
Birthday:
10 September 1958, Spangler, Pennsylvania, USA
Birth Name:
Christopher Columbus
Height:
174 cm
Born in Pennsylvania and raised in Ohio, Chris Columbus was first inspired to make movies after seeing "The Godfather" at age 15. After enrolling at NYU film school, he sold his first screenplay (never produced) while a sophomore there. After graduation Columbus tried to sell his fourth script, "Gremlins", with no success, until...
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Born in Pennsylvania and raised in Ohio, Chris Columbus was first inspired to make movies after seeing "The Godfather" at age 15. After enrolling at NYU film school, he sold his first screenplay (never produced) while a sophomore there. After graduation Columbus tried to sell his fourth script, "Gremlins", with no success, until Steven Spielberg optioned it; Columbus moved to Los Angeles for a year during rewrites on the project in Spielberg's bungalow at Universal. After writing two more scripts for Spielberg, "The Goonies" and "Young Sherlock Holmes", Columbus' own directing career was launched a few years later with "Adventures in Babysitting". He is best known to audiences as the director of the runaway hit "Home Alone", written and produced by John Hughes its sequel "Home Alone 2", and most recently "Mrs. Doubtfire". Show less «
I was up on 140th Street in Harlem, in 1992. It was 3 in the morning, and I was walking back to get a cup of coffee. These two young kids ca...Show more »
I was up on 140th Street in Harlem, in 1992. It was 3 in the morning, and I was walking back to get a cup of coffee. These two young kids came up to me and said to me, "What movie is this?" I said, "Home Alone 2," and they said, "What do you do?" And I said, "I'm the director." They said, "Oh, you're John Hughes!" Show less «
I can understand the validity of showing people the ugliness of the world, but I also think there is a place for movies to leave people with...Show more »
I can understand the validity of showing people the ugliness of the world, but I also think there is a place for movies to leave people with a sense of hope. If your film isn't going to do that, I just don't think it's worth making. Show less «
[Macaulay Culkin] An incredibly charming kid.
[Macaulay Culkin] An incredibly charming kid.
[Robin Williams doing standup] I was just blown away at his energy. One of the most brilliant minds I have ever come across in terms of come...Show more »
[Robin Williams doing standup] I was just blown away at his energy. One of the most brilliant minds I have ever come across in terms of comedy. This ball of fire on stage. It was really impressive. Show less «
Becoming a writer and having films made is probably the best way to become a director.
Becoming a writer and having films made is probably the best way to become a director.
[reading Marvel comics as a child] It was the most magical time of my life. It represented to me everything that was exciting about life.
[reading Marvel comics as a child] It was the most magical time of my life. It represented to me everything that was exciting about life.
[Adventures in Babysitting, his directorial debut] It gave me the confidence to be back on the set again.
[Adventures in Babysitting, his directorial debut] It gave me the confidence to be back on the set again.
[Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid] I had never seen anything like it. It was just such a breath of fresh air. I loved being in that world.
[Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid] I had never seen anything like it. It was just such a breath of fresh air. I loved being in that world.
My first day being on a set was extremely intimidating and frightening. But after a couple of hours, I just eased into it. I felt very secur...Show more »
My first day being on a set was extremely intimidating and frightening. But after a couple of hours, I just eased into it. I felt very secure and comfortable and I realized this is where I really want to be. Show less «
Nobody does anything for free in Hollywood. They have to be paid for everything.
Nobody does anything for free in Hollywood. They have to be paid for everything.
[Robin Williams improvising in Mrs Doubtfire] Magical.
[Robin Williams improvising in Mrs Doubtfire] Magical.
[Steven Spielberg and George Lucas] Two of my cinematic heroes.
[Steven Spielberg and George Lucas] Two of my cinematic heroes.
Always listen to your own instincts. You can never be intimidated by the people you work with.
Always listen to your own instincts. You can never be intimidated by the people you work with.
[Robin Williams as Mrs Doubtfire] You never had any concept of where he was going. You just never knew.
[Robin Williams as Mrs Doubtfire] You never had any concept of where he was going. You just never knew.
[recommending Pierce Brosnan to play James Bond to MGM] My little contribution to the James Bond saga.
[recommending Pierce Brosnan to play James Bond to MGM] My little contribution to the James Bond saga.
Movies for adults are still great movies. Now we have a bigger genre of movies being made.
Movies for adults are still great movies. Now we have a bigger genre of movies being made.
[Pierce Brosnan] A phenomenal actor.
[Pierce Brosnan] A phenomenal actor.
[Sideways] A 70s movie made in contemporary times.
[Sideways] A 70s movie made in contemporary times.
[26th Street in Manhattan in the early 80s] Not a particularly great area.
[26th Street in Manhattan in the early 80s] Not a particularly great area.
There's still an audience for smaller movies.
There's still an audience for smaller movies.
Martin Scorsese was a master of visuals while John Ford and Frank Capra were masters of storytelling.
Martin Scorsese was a master of visuals while John Ford and Frank Capra were masters of storytelling.
Great comedy or dramas are made because someone is really passionate or obsessed by it. If not, it won't be a good film. Great filmmaking is...Show more »
Great comedy or dramas are made because someone is really passionate or obsessed by it. If not, it won't be a good film. Great filmmaking is something that can be esoteric which is all about the visual side of filmmaking or storytelling. When you develop a hunger for it, and there's something great out there, I want to see it before I find my great reward somewhere. Show less «
Chris Columbus's Photos
