Directors Who've Worked With John Travolta

1. John Woo

Born in southern China, John Woo grew up in Hong Kong, where he began his film career as an assistant director in 1969, working for Shaw Brothers Studios. He directed his first feature in 1973 and has been a prolific director ever since, working in a wide variety of genres before A Better Tomorrow ...

2. Quentin Tarantino

Writer | Reservoir Dogs

Quentin Jerome Tarantino was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. His father, Tony Tarantino, is an Italian-American actor and musician from New York, and his mother, Connie (McHugh), is a nurse from Tennessee. Quentin moved with his mother to Torrance, California, when he was four years old.

In January of...

3. Dominic Sena

Director | Kalifornia

Dominic Sena was born on April 26, 1949 in Niles, Ohio, USA. He is a director and cinematographer, known for Kalifornia (1993), Whiteout (2009) and Swordfish (2001).

4. Randal Kleiser

Director | Grease

Randal Kleiser has been an internationally known film director since the release of his first feature, Grease (1978). Other features include The Blue Lagoon (1980) with Brooke Shields, Summer Lovers (1982) starring Peter Gallagher and Daryl Hannah, Grandview, U.S.A. (1984) with Jamie Lee Curtis, ...

5. John Badham

Director | WarGames

English-born "Army brat" John Badham is the son of English actress Mary Hewitt and the stepson of an American Army general. Raised in Alabama and schooled at Yale, he cut his teeth producing and directing for TV before making his feature debut with The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor ...

6. Sylvester Stallone

Actor | Rocky

Sylvester Stallone is an athletically built, dark-haired American actor/screenwriter/director/producer, the movie fans worldwide have been flocking to see Stallone's films for over 40 years, making "Sly" one of Hollywood's biggest-ever box office draws.

Sylvester Stallone was born on July 6, 1946, ...

7. Adam Shankman

Producer | Hairspray

Adam Shankman was born on November 27, 1964 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Hairspray (2007), A Walk to Remember (2002) and Disenchanted (2022).

8. Kevin Connolly

Actor | Entourage

Kevin Connolly was born on March 5, 1974 in New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and director, known for Entourage (2004), The Notebook (2004) and John Q (2002).

9. James Bridges

Writer | The China Syndrome

James Bridges was born on February 3, 1936 in Paris, Arkansas, USA. He was a writer and actor, known for The China Syndrome (1979), Perfect (1985) and The Paper Chase (1973). He died on June 6, 1993 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

10. Amy Heckerling

Writer | Clueless

Amy Heckerling studied Film and TV at New York University and got a Masters Degree in Film from The American Film Institute. Despite this education she couldn't get a break in Hollywood. However, in 1982, she made Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), and people started to take notice. In 1985, ...

11. Fred Durst

Director | The Fanatic

Fred was born and raised in Gastonia, North Carolina. He moved to Jacksonville in his late teens and served time in the US Navy. Fred later married at age 20 and had a daughter name Adriana Durst. The marriage was turbulent - after one altercation, Durst spent a month behind bars.

12. Roger Christian

Set_decorator | Star Wars

Academy Award winner Roger Christian has had an extensive film career. He won an Academy Award for set decoration on director George Lucas's Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), which began a long collaboration between the filmmakers. Christian subsequently worked with Lucas on Star Wars: ...

13. Walt Becker

Director | Old Dogs

Walt Becker was born on September 16, 1968 in Hollywood, California, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Old Dogs (2009), Wild Hogs (2007) and National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002). He has been married to Lindsay Becker since 2005. They have two children.

14. Tony Scott

Producer | Domino

Tony Scott was a British-born film director and producer. He was the youngest of three brothers, one of whom is fellow film director Ridley Scott. He was born in North Shields, Northumberland, England to parents Jean and Colonel Francis Percy Scott. As a result of his father's career in the British...

15. Jonathan Hensleigh

Writer | Armageddon

One of the most prolific screenwriters in the action/adventure genre, Jonathan started his career writing episodes of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992) for George Lucas and ABC. He wrote Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), re-conceived from his original spec script "Simon Says". He followed ...

16. Brian De Palma

Director | Body Double

Brian De Palma is one of the well-known directors who spear-headed the new movement in Hollywood during the 1970s. He is known for his many films that go from violent pictures, to Hitchcock-like thrillers. Born on September 11, 1940, De Palma was born in Newark, New Jersey in an Italian-American ...

17. Barry Sonnenfeld

Director | Men in Black

Barry Sonnenfeld was born and raised in New York City. He graduated from New York University Film School in 1978. He started work as director of photography on the Oscar-nominated In Our Water (1982). Then Joel Coen and Ethan Coen hired him for Blood Simple (1984). This film began his collaboration...

18. Pierre Morel

Director | Banlieue 13

Pierre Morel was born on May 12, 1964 in France. He is a cinematographer and director, known for District B13 (2004), Taken (2008) and The Gunman (2015).

19. Jon Turteltaub

Director | Cool Runnings

Jon Turteltaub was born on August 8, 1963 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Cool Runnings (1993), While You Were Sleeping (1995) and Phenomenon (1996). He has been married to Amy Eldon since July 6, 2006. They have three children.

20. Simon West

Director | Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Simon West is a British born and Hollywood based film director and producer. His films include CON AIR starring Nicholas Cage, "THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER" starring John Travolta and "LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER" starring Angelina Jolie. West is the only live action director ever whose first three 3 films ...

21. Chuck Russell

Director | The Scorpion King

Graduating from the University of Illinois, Russell left Chicago to begin work in film production in Los Angeles. He worked his way up, assistant directing and production managing independent films while writing screenplays. Russell made his directorial debut in 1987 with A Nightmare on Elm Street ...

22. James Bridges

Writer | The China Syndrome

James Bridges was born on February 3, 1936 in Paris, Arkansas, USA. He was a writer and actor, known for The China Syndrome (1979), Perfect (1985) and The Paper Chase (1973). He died on June 6, 1993 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

23. George Gallo

Writer | Bad Boys

George Gallo moved from Mamaroneck, New York and relocated in Los Angeles in 1982. After 4 years, he got the film "Wise Guys" produced with Danny Devito and Joe Piscopo. The classic buddy/cops and robbers picture "Midnight Run" came next with Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin. Then in 1990, he ...

24. Francesco Cinquemani

Director | Andròn: The Black Labyrinth

He became author, screenwriter and director after a long career as a journalist and director of magazines. He is working on the movie The Poison Rose with John Travolta, Morgan Freeman, Forest Withaker and on Trinity of the Soul, a series of documentary-films shot in Italy and India. His latest ...

25. Nora Ephron

Writer | Julie & Julia

Nora Ephron was educated at Wellesley College, Massachusetts. She was an acclaimed essayist (Crazy Salad 1975), novelist (Heartburn 1983), and had written screenplays for several popular films, all featuring strong female characters, such as anti-nuclear activist Karen Silkwood (Silkwood (1983), ...

26. Mike Nichols

Director | The Graduate

He, along with the other members of the "Compass Players" including Elaine May, Paul Sills, Byrne Piven, Joyce Hiller Piven and Edward Asner helped start the famed "Second City Improv" company. They used the games taught to them by fellow cast mate, Paul Sills 's mother, Viola Spolin. He later ...

27. Mark Steven Johnson

Director | Finding Steve McQueen

Mark Steven Johnson is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. He is known for writing and directing the hit Marvel films "Daredevil" and "Ghost Rider" as well as writing "Grumpy Old Men" and its successful sequel "Grumpier Old Men." Johnson recently wrote, directed and produced "Love...

28. Oliver Stone

Director | JFK

Oliver Stone has become known as a master of controversial subjects and a legendary film maker. His films are filled with a variety of film angles and styles, he pushes his actors to give Oscar-worthy performances, and despite his failures, has always returned to success.

William Oliver Stone was ...

29. John McTiernan

Director | Die Hard

John McTiernan was born on January 8, 1951 in Albany, New York, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Die Hard (1988), Rollerball (2002) and Last Action Hero (1993). He has been married to Gail Sistrunk since 2012. He was previously married to Kate Harrington, Donna Dubrow and Carol Land.

30. F. Gary Gray

Director | Set It Off

Felix Gary Gray is an African-American music video director, film producer and film director from New York City known for directing films such as Friday, Men in Black: International, Be Cool, The Fate of the Furious, Set It Off, The Negotiator, Straight Outta Compton and The Italian Job. He ...

31. Steven Zaillian

Writer | Searching for Bobby Fischer

Steven Zaillian was born on January 30, 1953 in Fresno, California, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993), The Irishman (2019) and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011). He is married to Elizabeth Zaillian. They have two children.

32. Jodi Scurfield

Director | Speed Kills

Jodi Scurfield is known for Speed Kills (2018).

33. Jay Russell

Director | My Dog Skip

Best known for Directing critically acclaimed audience pleasing fare, filmmaker Jay Russell has an impressive track record of telling compelling stories with emotional resonance.

Russell completed his postgraduate studies at Columbia University in New York City, where he studied under the tutelage ...

34. John Herzfeld

Director | Don King: Only in America

John Herzfeld won the Directors Guild of America Award and Emmy nomination for his HBO film, "Don King: Only in America," starring Ving Rhames. The film was nominated for two Golden Globes, won the Critics Choice Award, the Writers Guild of America Award and the coveted Peabody Award, the ...

35. Harold Becker

Director | Malice

American director Harold Becker was born on September 25, 1928 in New York City, New York. He began his career as a still photographer and later on moved to direct TV commercials and short films. His directorial debut conducting a feature film was with the drama The Ragman's Daughter (1972). His ...

36. David Hackl

Director | Saw V

David Hackl is known for Saw V (2008), Into the Grizzly Maze (2015) and Life on the Line (2015).

37. Philip Martin

Director | Prime Suspect: The Final Act

Philip Martin is known for Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act (2006), Wallander (2008) and Mo (2010).

38. Ti West

Director | Pearl

Ti West is most notable for directing horror films, as well as being an actor, writer, producer, and editor. Ti broke out, after directing various projects, in 2009, when he directed two feature films - 2009's The House Of The Devil and Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever. Ti later directed, with his ...

39. Shainee Gabel

Director | A Love Song for Bobby Long

Shainee Gabel was born in 1969 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Shainee is a director and writer, known for A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004), Anthem (1997) and A Love Song for Bobby Long: Deleted Scenes (2004).

40. Robert Fuest

Director | The Final Programme

Well regarded for his stylish genre work of the 1970s, Robert Fuest may not have a very extensive list of feature film credits, but the quality of his output is what matters, not the quantity.

He certainly came to the business with a real talent for art. Born in London in 1927, he would spend some ...

41. Karzan Kader

Director | Bekas

Karzan Kader was nine years old when his family fled Kurdistan during the Iraq War in 1990. They settled in Sweden where Kader and his siblings were raised. In 2007 he enrolled in Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts (SADA) to study directing. His short film "Bekas" eventually won a Student Oscar and...

42. Jackie Earle Haley

Actor | Little Children

Jackie Earle Haley is an American actor who started his career with The Bad News Bears. He had more adult roles in Little Children, the cult classic Zack Snyder film Watchmen, Alita: Battle Angel, and Freddy Krueger from a remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street. He has been married three times and has...

43. Jane Wagner

Writer | The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe

Jane Wagner was born on February 26, 1935 in Morristown, Tennessee, USA. She is a writer and producer, known for The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe (1991), Moment by Moment (1978) and The Lily Tomlin Special (1975). She has been married to Lily Tomlin since December 31, 2013.

44. Desmond Nakano

Writer | American Pastime

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Desmond Nakano yearned to be a rock musician, he jammed with neighborhood bands while attending North Hollywood High School, and by the time he was an underclassman studying Philosophy and English at UCLA, he had written several rock operas, after a year ...

45. Costa-Gavras

Director | Z

Costa-Gavras was born on February 12, 1933 in Loutra-Iraias, Greece. He is a director and writer, known for Z (1969), Missing (1982) and Amen. (2002). He has been married to Michèle Ray-Gavras since 1968. They have two children.

46. Todd Robinson

Writer | The Last Full Measure

Todd Robinson is known for The Last Full Measure (2019), White Squall (1996) and Lonely Hearts (2006). He has been married to Elizabeth A. Robinson since September 1, 1990. They have two children.

47. Nick Cassavetes

Actor | Face/Off

Nick Cassavetes was born in New York City, the son of actress Gena Rowlands and Greek-American actor and film director John Cassavetes. As a child, he appeared in two of his father's films: Husbands (1970) and A Woman Under the Influence (1974). After spending so much of his youth surrounded by the...

48. Eric Appel

Director | Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

Eric Appel was born in 1980 in New York. He is a director and writer, known for Silicon Valley (2014), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013), New Girl (2011), and Son of Zorn (2016), which he also served as an Executive Producer. He has a background in animation, sketch comedy, and studied improv at the ...

49. David Rousseau

Director | Spin

David Rousseau is a Miami-based director known for his highly popular music videos. With over five billion combined views on YouTube. His 2014 music video for MAGIC! "Rude" alone has nearly 2 billion views. He has been nominated for five MTV music video awards. He is now taken his creativity and ...

50. Ryan Murphy

Producer | Glee

Born November 9, 1965 in Indianapolis, Indiana, US as Ryan Patrick Murphy, he is an American writer, director, and producer, responsible for creating such hits as Nip/Tuck (2003), Glee (2009) and American Horror Story (2011). His mother, J. Andy Murphy, was a writer and communications worker and ...

51. Anthony Hemingway

Director | Red Tails

Anthony Hemingway is known for Red Tails (2012), Underground (2016) and American Crime Story (2016).

52. John Singleton

Writer | Boyz n the Hood

Son of Danny Singleton, a mortgage broker, and Sheila Ward, a pharmaceutical company sales executive, and raised in separate households by his unmarried parents, John Singleton attended the Film Writing Program at USC, after graduating from high school in 1986. While studying there, he won three ...

53. Gaetano Morbioli

Director | Zucchero: Fiore di maggio

Gaetano Morbioli was born on March 2, 1967 in Verona, Veneto, Italy. He is a director and cinematographer, known for Zucchero: Fiore di maggio (2022), Christmas with the Chosen: Holy Night (2023) and The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli (2023).

54. Andy Cadiff

Director | Spin City

Andy Cadiff was born on May 27, 1955 in Newton, Massachusetts, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Spin City (1996), Chasing Liberty (2004) and Young & Hungry (2014). He was previously married to Susan Diol and Kay Walbye.

55. Rav Holly

Finch

Rav Holly is a visionary creative whose journey from the expansive ranches of West Texas to the bustling streets of Hollywood is as inspiring as the stories he tells. Born and raised in the small west Texas town of Lubbock, Texas, Rav's unique background, coupled with his immense talent, has made ...

56. Corey Molina

Producer | I Am DB Cooper

Corey Molina is known for I Am DB Cooper (2022), SkyFly (2024) and John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John: I Think You Might Like It (2012).

57. Byron Howard

Director | Zootopia

Byron Howard was born on December 26, 1968 in Misawa, Japan. He is a director and producer, known for Zootopia (2016), Encanto (2021) and Tangled (2010).

58. Chris Williams

Actor | Frozen

Chris Williams was born on April 23, 1968 in Missouri, USA. He is a writer and actor, known for Frozen (2013), Big Hero 6 (2014) and The Sea Beast (2022). He has been married to Astrid Sealey since July 10, 2004. They have two children.

59. Mark Cowen

Producer | We Stand Alone Together

Mark Cowen was born on June 28, 1962 in San Marino, California, USA. He was a producer and director, known for We Stand Alone Together (2001), Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon (2005) and Everybody Loves Raymond: The Last Laugh (2005). He was married to Katie Cowen. He died on September ...

60. Jay Roach

Director | Trumbo

Jay Roach was born on June 14, 1957 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Trumbo (2015), Bombshell (2019) and Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997). He has been married to Susanna Hoffs since April 17, 1993. They have two children.

61. Vincenzo Trippetti

Art_department | Dino-Riders

Vincenzo Trippetti is known for Dino-Riders (1988), Our Friend, Martin (1999) and Men in Black: The Series (1997).

62. Robert Brousseau

Visual_effects | Argylle

Robert Brousseau is known for Argylle (2024), John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023).

63. Terrence Malick

Writer | Days of Heaven

Terrence Malick was born in Ottawa, Illinois. His family subsequently lived in Oklahoma and he went to school in Austin, Texas. He did his undergraduate work at Harvard, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in philosophy in 1965.

A member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society, he attended Magdalen ...

64. Tony Markes

Actor | Welcome to Hollywood

Tony Markes is known for Welcome to Hollywood (1998), Bikini Island (1991) and Detroit Rock City (1999).

65. Adam Rifkin

Writer | Dog Years

Adam Rifkin is a Writer/Director whose eclectic career ranges from broad family comedies to cult classics to dark and gritty dramas. Most recently, Rifkin Wrote and Directed THE LAST MOVIE STAR, a poignant drama starring Burt Reynolds, Ariel Winter and Chevy Chase. The critically acclaimed film ...

66. Charles Martin Smith

Director | Dolphin Tale

Charles Martin Smith is an American film actor, writer, and director. Born in Van Nuys, California, Smith was discovered by a talent agent while acting in a school play. After a few years of working in film, he landed the role of Terry "Toad" Fields in George Lucas' 1973 film, American Graffiti (...

67. Jeffrey Hornaday

Romancing the Stone

Jeffrey Hornaday was born on May 3, 1956 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a director and actor, known for Romancing the Stone (1984), Tango & Cash (1989) and Dick Tracy (1990).

68. Robert Harmon

Director | The Hitcher

Robert Harmon attended film school at Boston University and worked for many years as a still photographer prior to embarking on a film career. Harmon worked as a still photographer on the movies "Roller Boogie," "Fade to Black," and "Hell Night." He was a second unit camera operator on "They Call ...

69. Rod Holcomb

Director | ER

Rod Holcomb was born on May 28, 1943 in San Francisco, California, USA. He was a director and producer, known for ER (1994), China Beach (1988) and The Six Million Dollar Man (1974). He was married to Jane Lucille Brackman, Suellen Maclean and Sandra Lavonne Avakian. He died on January 24, 2024 in ...

70. James Yukich

Director | Phil Collins: No Jacket Required

James "Jim" Yukich is a television and film director who has done everything from variety/comedy specials to live concerts to music videos to talk shows to movies. He graduated from Purdue University's Brian Lamb School of Communication in 1978 with a BA in Film/TV and began his career in the mail ...

71. Dave Thomas

Writer | The Blacklist

Born in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, Dave was the eldest son of John and Moreen Thomas. John Thomas (deceased) was a PHD in Philosophy (Duke), noted medical ethicist, head of Philosophy Department at McMaster University, and author of several books including: "Matters of Life and Death," "Well ...

72. Robert Altman

Director | Gosford Park

Robert Altman was born on February 20th, 1925 in Kansas City, Missouri, to B.C. (an insurance salesman) and Helen Altman. He entered St. Peters Catholic school at the age six, and spent a short time at a Catholic high school. From there, he went to Rockhurst High School. It was then that he started...

73. Brian Grant

Director | Tina Turner: Private Dancer

Brian Grant has been directing mainstream drama and music documentaries since 1990. After directing and producing over 200 music videos and commercials during the 1980s, he secured a "first look" deal with Universal Studios, where he directed many high-profile TV films and mini-series. Returning to...

74. David Mallet

Director | The Kenny Everett Video Show

David Mallet is known for The Kenny Everett Video Show (1978), U2: Zoo TV Live from Sydney (1994) and Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of 'The War of the Worlds' (2006).

75. James Sheldon

Director | The Twilight Zone

James Sheldon was born on November 12, 1920 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was a director and producer, known for The Twilight Zone (1959), Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) and The Equalizer (1985). He was married to Dr. Eleanor Harriet Bernert. He died on March 12, 2016 in ...

76. Charles S. Dubin

Director | Kojak

Charles S. Dubin was born on February 1, 1919 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He was a director and producer, known for Kojak (1973), Square One Television (1987) and M*A*S*H (1972). He was married to Mary Lou Chayes (Mary Louise Ansley), Yula Gavala and Daphne Elliott Smith. He died on ...

77. Earl Bellamy

Assistant_director | From Here to Eternity

Directed more than 1,600 episodes of television. Graduated from Hollywood High School in 1935 and got a job as a messenger at Columbia Studios, working his way up to second assistant director by 1939. Served in the U.S. Navy's photographic unit near the end of World War II.

78. William Hale

Director | The Time Tunnel

William Hale was born on July 11, 1931 in Rome, Georgia, USA. He was a director and cinematographer, known for The Time Tunnel (1966), The Invaders (1967) and Night Gallery (1969). He was married to Trudy. He died on June 10, 2020 in Woodland Hills, California, USA.

79. Harry Falk

Director | The Streets of San Francisco

Harry Falk was born on March 15, 1933 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a director and assistant director, known for The Streets of San Francisco (1972), Get Smart (1965) and Tales of the Unexpected (1977). He was married to Candace Sue Wiesner and Patty Duke. He died on April 29, 2016 in ...

80. Georg Fenady

Director | Garrison's Gorillas

Georg Fenady was born on July 29, 1930 in Toledo, Ohio, USA. He was a director and producer, known for Garrison's Gorillas (1967), Combat! (1962) and Knight Rider (1982). He was married to Katherine Matthews. He died on May 29, 2008 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

81. Bob LaHendro

Director | All in the Family

Bob LaHendro was born on February 9, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is a director and assistant director, known for All in the Family (1971), Welcome Back, Kotter (1975) and Detective School (1979).

82. James Komack

Producer | The Courtship of Eddie's Father

James Komack was born on August 3, 1924 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a producer and writer, known for The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969), Chico and the Man (1974) and Welcome Back, Kotter (1975). He was married to Marilyn Cluny Cohen. He died on December 24, 1997 in Los Angeles, ...

83. Bill Hobin

Director | The Bill Cosby Special

Bill Hobin was born in 1924 in Evanston, Illinois, USA. Bill was a director and producer, known for The Bill Cosby Special (1968), Maude (1972) and The CBS Newcomers (1971). Bill died on February 15, 1998 in Tucson, Arizona, USA.

84. Bill Persky

Writer | Kate & Allie

Bill Persky was born on September 9, 1931 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Kate & Allie (1984), The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) and Lotsa Luck! (1973). He was previously married to Betty L. Reisberg and Suzanne Taylor.

85. Bill Davis

Director | The Julie Andrews Hour

Bill Davis was born on September 29, 1931 in Belleview, Ontario, Canada. He was a director and producer, known for The Julie Andrews Hour (1972), An Evening with John Denver (1975) and Rocky Mountain Christmas (1975). He was married to Brenda Baldwin-Davis, Marilyn Procell and Laurie Rose. He died ...