Chris Columbus
American filmmaker and director behind some of Hollywood's most beloved family blockbusters, from Home Alone to the Harry Potter series.
What do we know about Chris Columbus?
Here are the key biographical details about Chris Columbus:
- Name: Chris Columbus
- Also Known As: Christopher Joseph Columbus
- Date of Birth: September 10, 1958
- Place of Birth: Spangler, Pennsylvania, USA
- Gender: Male
- Job Title: Director
- Crew Jobs: Producer, Director, Executive Producer, Screenplay, Writer
Who is Chris Columbus?
Christopher Joseph Columbus (born September 10, 1958) is an American filmmaker. Born in Spangler, Pennsylvania, Columbus studied film at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts where he developed an interest in filmmaking. After writing screenplays for several teen comedies in the mid-1980s, including Gremlins, The Goonies, and Young Sherlock Holmes, he made his directorial debut with a teen adventure, Adventures in Babysitting (1987). Columbus gained recognition soon after with the highly successful Christmas comedy Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992).
The comedy Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), starring Robin Williams, was another box-office success for Columbus. He went on to direct several other films throughout the 1990s, which were mostly met with lukewarm reception. However, he found commercial success again by directing the film adaptations of J. K. Rowling's novels Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) and its sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). In addition to directing, Columbus was a producer for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), as well as the drama The Help (2011). He also directed the fantasy Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) and the 3D action comedy Pixels (2015).
Columbus is the co-founder of 1492 Pictures, a film production company that has produced some of his films since 1995. More recently, he co-founded another production firm with his daughter in 2014 called Maiden Voyage Pictures. In 2017, he launched ZAG Animation Studios, alongside Michael Barnathan, Haim Saban, and Jeremy Zag. Columbus is also known for his collaboration with composer John Williams, with whom he had worked on the film Home Alone and the film series Harry Potter.
What is Chris Columbus known for?
Chris Columbus is an American director and producer whose notable works include:
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001, Movie)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002, Movie)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004, Movie)
- Home Alone (1990, Movie)
- Night at the Museum (2006, Movie)
- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992, Movie)
- Fantastic Four (2005, Movie)
- The Help (2011, Movie)
- Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007, Movie)
- Pixels (2015, Movie)
External Links
Explore more about Chris Columbus through these authoritative sources.