David Giler facts for kids

David Kevin Giler (born July 23, 1943 – died December 19, 2020) was an American filmmaker. He worked as a producer and screenwriter in the movie and television industry for many years. He is best known for his work on the famous Alien movies.

David Giler: A Filmmaker's Journey

David Giler started his career in the early 1960s. He became a successful writer and producer for both television and films.

Early Days in Television

David's father, Bernie Giler, was also a writer. David began working with his father on TV shows. Some of these shows included The Gallant Men (in 1962), Kraft Suspense Theatre (in 1964), and Burke's Law (in 1965). They also worked on The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. in 1967.

After his father passed away in 1967, David started getting credit for his own work. He wrote for shows like The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (in 1967) and The Bold Ones: The Lawyers (in 1969).

Moving to the Big Screen

Soon, David Giler began writing scripts for movies. His first movie credit was for Myra Breckinridge in 1970. This movie was based on a book and didn't do very well. However, many people liked Giler's original script, even though it was changed a lot by the director.

He also worked on the movie The Parallax View in 1974. A year later, in 1975, Giler tried directing a film himself. This movie was called The Black Bird, and it was the only film he ever directed. He also wrote Fun with Dick and Jane in 1977.

The Alien Saga and Beyond

A very important part of David Giler's career was when he teamed up with Walter Hill and Gordon Carroll. They formed a company called Brandywine Productions. In 1979, this team helped produce and rewrite the script for the classic science fiction horror movie, Alien.

There was some disagreement about who should get credit for writing the Alien script. David Giler and Walter Hill said they completely rewrote the story. In the end, the original writer, Dan O'Bannon, received the main screenplay credit. Giler and Hill were credited as producers and helped shape the story.

Giler and Hill continued to work together. They wrote Southern Comfort in 1981. They also came up with the story idea for the Alien sequel, Aliens, which came out in 1986. This movie was directed by James Cameron.

On his own, David Giler wrote the comedy movie The Money Pit in 1986. He also helped rewrite parts of Beverly Hills Cop II in 1987, though he wasn't officially credited for it. He produced Rustlers' Rhapsody in 1985.

Giler and Hill also worked as executive producers for the popular TV series Tales from the Crypt and Tales from the Cryptkeeper for HBO. They returned to the Alien series, producing and co-writing Alien 3 in 1992. They were also producers for Alien Resurrection in 1997 and other later Alien movies, though they had less direct involvement.

Later, Giler and Hill wrote and produced the movie Undisputed in 2002.

Life Outside of Movies

David Giler was married to actress Nancy Kwan from 1970 to 1972. They later divorced.

David Giler passed away on December 19, 2020, at his home in Bangkok, Thailand. He was 77 years old and died from cancer.

Major Films and TV Shows

Here are some of the important films and TV shows David Giler worked on:

• Myra Breckinridge (1970) – Writer
• The Parallax View (1974) – Writer
• The Black Bird (1975) – Writer and Director
• Fun with Dick and Jane (1977) – Writer
• Alien (1979) – Producer (also helped with script)
• Southern Comfort (1981) – Writer and Producer
• Rustlers' Rhapsody (1985) – Producer
• The Money Pit (1986) – Writer and Executive Producer
• Aliens (1986) – Story and Executive Producer
• Let It Ride (1989) – Producer
• Tales from the Crypt (1989–1996) – Executive Producer (TV series)
• Alien 3 (1992) – Writer and Producer
• Tales from the Cryptkeeper (1993–1994) – Executive Producer (TV series)
• Demon Knight (1995) – Executive Producer
• Alien Resurrection (1997) – Producer
• Undisputed (2002) – Writer and Producer
• Alien vs. Predator (2004) – Producer
• Prometheus (2012) – Producer
• Alien: Covenant (2017) – Producer