Gus Van Sant
Known for: Directing
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
Series
Entourage
Gus Van Sant
2004
Series
Portlandia
Gus Van Sant
2011
Film
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Gus Van Sant
2001
Film
Finding Forrester
Library Assistant (uncredited)
2000
Series
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
Self
2011
Series
Leçon de Cinéma
Self
2004
Film
My Own Private Idaho
Man Behind Hotel Counter (uncredited)
1991
Film
Psycho
Man Talking to Man in Cowboy Hat (uncredited)
1998
Film
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Willamette Week Editor
2018
Film
I Don't Belong Anywhere: The Cinema of Chantal Akerman
Self
2015
Series
The Greatest Event in Television History
Self
2012
Film
Drugstore Cowboy
Himself (uncredited)
1989
Film
The Canyons
Dr. Campbell
2013
Film
Zeroville
Film Archive Curator
2019
Film
A Special Day
Self
2012
Series
Hi Octane
Self
1994
Film
Paranoid Park
Guy Reading Newspaper (uncredited)
2007
Film
Last Days
Phone Voice (voice)
2005
Film
Nicole Kidman: Eyes Wide Open
Self (interview)
2023
Film
The Trainer
Gus Van Sant
2024
Film
Mala Noche
Guy at Hotel (uncredited)
1987
Film
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Funky Monks
Self
1991
Film
Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema
Self
2006
Film
Illegal Civilization 3
Self
2018
Film
Xavier Dolan: Bound to Impossible
Self
2016
Film
Rescued from the Closet
Self
2001
Film
Here’s Looking at You, Boy
Self
2007
Film
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within
Self
2010
Film
Andy by Gus
2023
Nightmare Typhoon
Gus
Film
Reflecting On A Journey: Good Will Hunting 15 Years Later
Self
2012
Film
Made in the USA
Self
1993
Film
Critic
Self
2008
Film
Saltlake Van Sant
Self
2003
Film
Psycho Path
Self - Director
1999
Film
The Making of Drugstore Cowboy
1999
Film
Ain't It Funny
Dad
2017
Film
At the Video Store
Self
2019
Film
About Cinema
Self
2015
Film
Two Films, One Legacy
2011
Film
In the Mood for Doyle
Self
2007
Film
The Advocate for Fagdom
Self
2011
Film
The Making of Last Days
Himself
2004
Film
The Director's Vision: Hollywood's Best Discuss Their Craft
himself
1998
Film
Five Ways to Kill Yourself
1987
Film
Thank You for Supporting the Arts
2018
Film
Strange Parallel
Self
1998
Film
Guns on the Clackamas
1995
Film
Making Paranoid Park
2008
Film
On the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time
Himself
2004
Film
About Elephant
Self
2003
Film
Junior
Himself
1988