David Gleeson facts for kids

David Gleeson is an Irish film director and writer. He was born in Limerick, Ireland. He is known for writing and directing movies like Cowboys & Angels and Don't Go. He also wrote the movie Tolkien.

About David Gleeson

Early Life and Family

David Gleeson grew up in Cappamore, a town in County Limerick. His family has a long history in the movie business. His grandfather opened the Regal Cinema in Cappamore in the 1940s. Later, his father, Eddie Gleeson, took over and opened more cinemas across Ireland.

David started his own creative journey when he was 19. He wrote and directed plays for local theater groups in Limerick City. One of his first plays was called Class Control.

From Oil Rigs to Filmmaking

Before becoming a full-time filmmaker, David worked in the North Sea oil industry for five years. He spent time on large oil platforms. After that, he worked for two years in the Arctic Circle.

While attending a film course in New York City, David met Nathalie Lichtenthaler. She became his producing partner and later his wife. Nathalie produced his first short film, Feels Like Home.

David's Film Career

Early Films and Success

David Gleeson wrote and directed another short film called Hunted. After that, he made his first full-length movie, Cowboys & Angels. This film was a comedy-drama set in his hometown of Limerick.

Cowboys & Angels was released in cinemas across Ireland. It won eight international film awards. These included an award for Best Screenplay in the U.S. and two Gold Medal Awards in Italy. Critics praised the film for being smart and heartfelt.

More Movies and Hollywood

David's next film was a crime drama called The Front Line, released in 2006. This movie also received good reviews. One magazine called it a "satisfying blend of crime drama" with lots of suspense.

In 2008, David Gleeson began working with a major talent agency. He sold his idea for a science fiction movie called 'The End of History' to Sony Pictures. He continued to sell other movie ideas and scripts to big studios like Focus Features and Paramount Pictures.

Recent Works

In 2017, David started filming his third movie as a writer and director, Don't Go. This film starred actors Stephen Dorff and Melissa George. It was released in the U.S. in 2018.

In 2013, David was asked to write the movie Tolkien. This film is about the famous English writer J. R. R. Tolkien, who wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The movie was released in 2019.

In 2019, Disney+ asked David Gleeson to write a new series called The Grimm Legacy. This series is based on a popular book series.

Movies Directed by David Gleeson

• Cowboys & Angels (2003)
• The Front Line (2006)
• Don't Go (2018)

Movies Written by David Gleeson

• Cowboys & Angels (2003)
• The Front Line (2006)
• Don't Go (2018)
• Tolkien (2019)
• The Grimm Legacy (commissioned 2019)