Daniel Petrie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Daniel Petrie
Born	Daniel Mannix Petrie (1920-11-26)November 26, 1920 Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
Died	August 22, 2004(2004-08-22) (aged 83) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education	St. Francis Xavier University Columbia University
Occupation	Director, educator, writer
Years active	1949–2001
Spouse(s)	Dorothea Grundy Petrie ​ (m. 1946⁠–⁠2004)​
Children	Daniel, Donald, June, Mary

Daniel Mannix Petrie (born November 26, 1920 – died August 22, 2004) was a talented director from Canada. He directed many movies, TV shows, and plays in Canada, Hollywood, and the United Kingdom. He was known for making realistic dramas about human experiences. Daniel Petrie was one of several Canadian directors, like Norman Jewison, who became very successful outside of Canada in the 1960s. This was because there weren't many chances to make films in Canada back then. His family was also very involved in filmmaking, with all four of his children working in the movie industry.

He started his career in television. He became famous after directing the 1961 movie A Raisin in the Sun, which was based on a play by Lorraine Hansberry. This movie won the Gary Cooper Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Daniel Petrie directed over 90 films and TV programs before he retired in 2001. He won many awards, including three Primetime Emmy Awards. His 1984 film The Bay Boy, which was partly based on his own life, won the Genie Award for Best Motion Picture.

Throughout his life, Petrie stayed connected to schools and learning. He was even the deputy chairman of the American Film Institute from 1986 to 1987.

Daniel Petrie's Early Life and Education

Daniel Petrie was born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada. His mother was Mary Anne Campbell, and his father was William Mark Petrie, who made soft drinks. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from St. Francis Xavier University. Later, he got a Master's degree in adult education from Columbia University. Petrie also served in the Canadian Army during World War II.

In 1945, he moved to the United States. He began his career teaching at Northwestern University and Creighton University. He was the head of the theater department at Creighton until 1950. Even though Petrie stopped teaching full-time, he always kept a strong connection to the academic world. He taught at the American Film Institute and was its deputy chairman for a time.

A Career in Film and Television

Petrie started directing for television in 1950. His most famous movie, A Raisin in the Sun (1961), was given to him to direct. The original Broadway director, Lloyd Richards, was not allowed to direct the movie version. The film kept the same amazing actors and performances from the successful Broadway play. It was even nominated for the Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival. Because this movie was so successful, Petrie had a very good career directing films.

Petrie directed other notable movies like Buster and Billie (1974) and Resurrection (1980), which was nominated for an Academy Award. He also directed Fort Apache, The Bronx (1981) and Cocoon: The Return (1988).

He also directed many TV movies. Some of these include Sybil, Eleanor and Franklin, Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years, The Dollmaker, and My Name Is Bill W..

While his movies for theaters were not always huge box-office hits, they often featured big, well-known actors. For example, The Betsy (1978) starred Laurence Olivier, Tommy Lee Jones, and Robert Duvall. His films also showed the first major screen appearances of stars like Winona Ryder in Square Dance and Kiefer Sutherland in The Bay Boy. As a TV director, he won many Emmy and Directors Guild of America Awards.

Later Life and Legacy

Daniel Petrie passed away from cancer in 2004 in Los Angeles, California. He was 83 years old.

Daniel Petrie's Family

Petrie was married for 57 years to Dorothea Grundy Petrie. She was also an Emmy-winning film and TV producer. Their sons, Daniel and Donald, both became successful directors and screenwriters. Their twin daughters were June, who worked as an executive at MGM, and Mary, an actor and writer. In 2002, the whole family received the American Film Institute's Platinum Circle Award. This award recognized their many creative contributions to the film industry.

Filmography

Movies He Directed

TV Shows He Directed

TV Movies and Mini-series He Directed

Awards and Recognitions

Awards He Won

Film Festival Honors

See also

In Spanish: Daniel Petrie para niños