

Gus Van Sant
Director · Actor · WriterGus 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.
More details at TMDB
KNOWN FOR
FILMOGRAPHY
ACTOR46

The Trainer
2024
Gus Van Sant

Nicole Kidman: Eyes Wide Open
2023
Self (interview)

Andy by Gus
2023

Zeroville
2019
Film Archive Curator

At the Video Store
2019
Self

Thank You for Supporting the Arts
2018

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
2018
Willamette Week Editor

Illegal Civilization 3
2018
Self

Ain't It Funny
2017
Dad

Xavier Dolan: Bound to Impossible
2016
Self

About Cinema
2015
Self

I Don't Belong Anywhere: The Cinema of Chantal Akerman
2015
Self

The Canyons
2013
Dr. Campbell

A Special Day
2012
Self

Reflecting On A Journey: Good Will Hunting 15 Years Later
2012
Self

The Advocate for Fagdom
2011
Self

Two Films, One Legacy
2011

William S. Burroughs: A Man Within
2010
Self

Critic
2008
Self

Making Paranoid Park
2008

Here’s Looking at You, Boy
2007
Self

In the Mood for Doyle
2007
Self

Paranoid Park
2007
Guy Reading Newspaper (uncredited)

Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema
2006
Self

Last Days
2005
Phone Voice (voice)

On the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time
2004
Himself

The Making of Last Days
2004
Himself

About Elephant
2003
Self

Saltlake Van Sant
2003
Self

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
2001
Gus Van Sant

Rescued from the Closet
2001
Self

Finding Forrester
2000
Library Assistant (uncredited)

Psycho Path
1999
Self - Director

The Making of Drugstore Cowboy
1999

Strange Parallel
1998
Self

Psycho
1998
Man Talking to Man in Cowboy Hat (uncredited)

The Director's Vision: Hollywood's Best Discuss Their Craft
1998
himself

Guns on the Clackamas
1995

Made in the USA
1993
Self

My Own Private Idaho
1991
Man Behind Hotel Counter (uncredited)

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Funky Monks
1991
Self

Drugstore Cowboy
1989
Himself (uncredited)

Junior
1988
Himself

Mala Noche
1987
Guy at Hotel (uncredited)

Five Ways to Kill Yourself
1987
- Nightmare Typhoon
Nightmare Typhoon
Gus
DIRECTOR49

Dead Man's Wire
2026
Director

Ouverture of Something That Never Ended
2020
Director

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
2018
Director

The Sea of Trees
2016
Director

Promised Land
2012
Director

My Own Private River
2012
Director

Restless
2011
Director

Milk
2008
Director

8
2008
Director
- Mansion on the Hill
Mansion on the Hill
2008
Director

Paranoid Park
2007
Director

To Each His Own Cinema
2007
Director

Paris Je T'aime
2006
Director

Best of Chris Isaak
2006
Director

Cinema16: American Short Films
2006
Director

Le Marais
2006
Director

Last Days
2005
Director

Elephant
2003
Director

Gerry
2002
Director

David Bowie: Best of Bowie
2002
Director

Finding Forrester
2000
Director
- De Witt Clinton Choir
De Witt Clinton Choir
2000
Director
- Easter
Easter
2000
Director

Psycho
1998
Director

Good Will Hunting
1997
Director

Ballad of the Skeletons
1997
Director

Four Boys in a Volvo
1996
Director

To Die For
1995
Director

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
1994
Director

My Own Private Idaho
1991
Director

Thanksgiving Prayer
1991
Director
- Flea Sings
Flea Sings
1991
Director

Drugstore Cowboy
1989
Director

Junior
1988
Director

Ken Death Gets Out of Jail
1988
Director

Mala Noche
1987
Director

My New Friend
1987
Director

Five Ways to Kill Yourself
1987
Director
- Switzerland
Switzerland
1985
Director

The Discipline of D.E.
1982
Director

Psycho Shampoo
1979
Director

1/2 of a Telephone Conversation
1973
Director

Little Johnny
1972
Director
- The Happy Organ
The Happy Organ
1971
Director
- Killing Gawker
Killing Gawker
Director
- My Friend
My Friend
Director
- Explain it Like I’m Five
Explain it Like I’m Five
Director
- Nightmare Typhoon
Nightmare Typhoon
Director
- Untitled Hoyt Richards Film
Untitled Hoyt Richards Film
Director
WRITER15

Ouverture of Something That Never Ended
2020
Writer

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
2018
Screenplay, Story

Paranoid Park
2007
Screenplay

Le Marais
2006
Writer

Paris Je T'aime
2006
Writer

Last Days
2005
Screenplay

Elephant
2003
Screenplay

Gerry
2002
Writer

Ballad of the Skeletons
1997
Writer

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
1994
Writer

My Own Private Idaho
1991
Screenplay

Drugstore Cowboy
1989
Screenplay

Mala Noche
1987
Screenplay

Five Ways to Kill Yourself
1987
Writer
- Last Days
Last Days
Original Film Writer
PRODUCER19

Joe Gives Up and Moves to Montana
2021
Producer

Age Out
2018
Executive Producer

I Am Michael
2015
Executive Producer

Promised Land
2012
Executive Producer

Laurence Anyways
2012
Executive Producer

Restless
2011
Producer

Virginia
2010
Executive Producer

Howl
2010
Executive Producer

Wild Tigers I Have Known
2006
Executive Producer

On the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time
2004
Executive Producer

Tarnation
2003
Executive Producer

Speedway Junky
1999
Executive Producer

Psycho Path
1999
Executive Producer

Psycho
1998
Producer

Kids
1995
Executive Producer

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
1994
Executive Producer

Thanksgiving Prayer
1991
Producer

Mala Noche
1987
Producer
- Antinous
Antinous
Producer











