Highest rated as cast or director
Biography
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.
Directed 42
2020s
- 2026
- 2020
Ouverture of Something That Never Ended
Director
2010s
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2012
My Own Private River
Director
- 2011
Restless
Director
2000s
- 2008
8
Director
Mansion on the Hill
Director
- 2007
- 2006
Le Marais
Director
Cinema16: American Short Films
Director
Best of Chris Isaak
Director
- 2005
- 2003
- 2002
David Bowie: Best of Bowie
Director
- 2000
1990s
- 1998
- 1997
Ballad of the Skeletons
Director
- 1996
Four Boys in a Volvo
Director
- 1995
- 1994
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
Director
- 1991
Thanksgiving Prayer
Director
1980s
- 1989
- 1988
Ken Death Gets Out of Jail
Director
Junior
Director
- 1987
Mala Noche
Director
Five Ways to Kill Yourself
Director
My New Friend
Director
- 1982
The Discipline of D.E.
Director
1970s
- 1979
Psycho Shampoo
Director
- 1973
1/2 of a Telephone Conversation
Director
- 1972
Little Johnny
Director
Produced 21
2020s
- 2021
Joe Gives Up and Moves to Montana
Producer
2010s
- 2018
- 2017
- 2015
- 2012
- 2011
Restless
Producer
- 2010
Howl
Executive Producer
Virginia
Executive Producer
2000s
- 2006
Wild Tigers I Have Known
Executive Producer
- 2004
On the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time
Executive Producer
- 2003
Tarnation
Executive Producer
1990s
- 1999
Psycho Path
Executive Producer
- 1998
- 1995
- 1994
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
Executive Producer
- 1991
Thanksgiving Prayer
Producer
1980s
- 1987
Mala Noche
Producer
Acted in 20
2020s
- 2024
The Trainer
Gus Van Sant
- 2023
Andy by Gus
Movie
2010s
- 2019
- 2018
Thank You for Supporting the Arts
Movie
- 2017
Ain't It Funny
Dad
- 2013
- 2011
Two Films, One Legacy
Movie
2000s
- 2008
Making Paranoid Park
Movie
- 2007
- 2005
- 2004
- 2001
- 2000
1990s
- 1998
- 1995
Guns on the Clackamas
Movie
- 1991
1980s
- 1987
Mala Noche
Guy at Hotel (uncredited)
Five Ways to Kill Yourself
Movie
Wrote 14
2020s
- 2020
Ouverture of Something That Never Ended
Writer
2000s
- 2007
- 2006
Le Marais
Writer
- 2005
- 2003
- 2002
1990s
- 1997
Ballad of the Skeletons
Writer
- 1994
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
Writer
- 1991
1980s
- 1989
- 1987
Mala Noche
Screenplay
Five Ways to Kill Yourself
Writer
Edited 8
2010s
- 2018
2000s
- 2008
8
Editor
- 2007
- 2005
- 2003
- 2002
1990s
- 1994
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
Editor
1980s
- 1987
Mala Noche
Editor
Sound 4
2020s
- 2023
Andy by Gus
Music
2000s
- 2008
1990s
- 1997
1970s
- 1979
Property
Sound
Created 1
2020s
- 2020
Ouverture Of Something That Never Ended
Creator
Appearances31
2010s
- 2019
At the Video Store
Self
- 2018
Illegal Civilization 3
Self
- 2016
Xavier Dolan: Bound to Impossible
Self
- 2015
I Don't Belong Anywhere: The Cinema of Chantal Akerman
Self
About Cinema
Self
- 2012
The Greatest Event in Television History
Self · 1 episode
Reflecting on a Journey: Good Will Hunting 15 Years Later
Self
A Special Day
Self
- 2011
The Advocate for Fagdom
Self
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
Self · 1 episode
- 2010
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within
Self
2000s
- 2008
Critic
Self
- 2007
In the Mood for Doyle
Self
Here’s Looking at You, Boy
Self
- 2006
Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema
Self
- 2004
On the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time
Himself
The Making of Last Days
Self
- 2003
Saltlake Van Sant
Self
About Elephant
Self
- 2001
Rescued from the Closet
Self
1990s
- 1999
The Making of Drugstore Cowboy
Self
Psycho Path
Self - Director
- 1998
Strange Parallel
Self
The Director's Vision: Hollywood's Best Discuss Their Craft
himself
- 1994
Hi Octane
Self · 1 episode
- 1993
Made in the USA
Self
- 1991
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Funky Monks
Self
1980s
- 1989
- 1988
Junior
Himself
Thanked in the credits5
2010s
- 2016
- 2013
- 2010
2000s
- 2009
Accidents Happen
Thanks