John Boorman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir John Boorman CBE
Boorman in Paris in November 2014
Born	(1933-01-18) 18 January 1933 (age 92) Shepperton, Middlesex, England
Occupation	Film director, screenwriter, producer
Years active	1962–present
Spouse(s)	Christel Kruse ​ (m. 1956⁠–⁠1990)​ Isabella Weibrecht ​ ​ (m. 1995, divorced)​
Children	7 (1 deceased), including Charley Boorman and Katrine Boorman

Sir John Boorman (born 18 January 1933) is a famous British filmmaker. He is known for directing many popular movies. Some of his most famous films include Point Blank (1967), Deliverance (1972), Excalibur (1981), and Hope and Glory (1987).

Over his long career, Boorman has directed 20 films. He has been nominated for five Academy Awards, including twice for Best Director. He also received a special lifetime achievement award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in 2004. In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II gave him a knighthood for his work in film.

Early Life and Career

Childhood and Education

John Boorman was born in Shepperton, a town in Middlesex, England. His father, George Boorman, was a pub landlord. His mother, Ivy, also came from a family that owned a pub. Boorman went to the Salesian School in Chertsey, Surrey.

Starting in Film

After serving in the British Army, Boorman worked as a journalist in the late 1950s. He then started making television documentaries for the BBC. His work caught the eye of a movie producer, and he got the chance to direct his first film.

This film was Catch Us If You Can (1965), starring the pop group the Dave Clark Five. It was not a huge hit, but important critics liked it. This success helped him move into the film industry.

Major Films and Success

Hollywood Breakthrough

Boorman went to Hollywood to make bigger movies. His first American film was Point Blank (1967). It starred the famous actor Lee Marvin. The movie was filmed in locations like the old Alcatraz prison. After this, he directed Hell in the Pacific (1968), a story about two soldiers stranded on an island.

Boorman in 1974

Famous Films of the 1970s

Boorman's career reached new heights with Deliverance (1972). The film is about four men from the city whose rafting trip in the Appalachian Mountains turns into a dangerous adventure. It was a huge success at the box office and earned Boorman nominations for several awards, including an Academy Award for Best Director.

In 1974, he made the science fiction film Zardoz, starring Sean Connery. It is set in the 23rd century and shows a future society divided into two different worlds.

He also directed Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977), the sequel to a very famous horror movie. Boorman had a different idea for the story, but the final film was confusing to many people. It was not liked by critics, but it still made a good amount of money.

Fantasy and Personal Stories

Boorman at the San Sebastián International Film Festival in September 2006

One of Boorman's dream projects was Excalibur (1981). This film tells the famous legend of King Arthur and his knights. The movie was filmed in Ireland, where Boorman lived. Many of his own children were actors or crew members on the film.

In 1985, he directed The Emerald Forest. The movie is an adventure set in the rainforest. His son, Charley Boorman, played the main character.

His most personal film is Hope and Glory (1987). It tells the story of his own childhood in London during The Blitz in World War II. The movie was a big success and received many award nominations.

Later Career

Boorman at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival

In 1998, Boorman won the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival for The General. The film is a true story about a famous Dublin criminal named Martin Cahill.

Some of his other later films include The Tailor of Panama (2001) and Queen and Country (2014). Queen and Country is a sequel to his earlier film Hope and Glory.

In 2024, it was announced that Boorman was working on an animated movie called The Honey Wars.

Personal Life

Boorman lived in Annamoe, County Wicklow, Ireland for many years. He has seven children. His son, Charley Boorman, is an actor who is also known for a TV show where he and actor Ewan McGregor rode motorcycles around the world. His daughter, Katrine Boorman, is an actress in France. Another daughter, Telsche, was a writer who worked with her father. She sadly passed away from cancer in 1996.

Boorman has received many honors for his work. In 1994, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). In 2022, he was knighted by the Queen, which is why he is now called Sir John Boorman.

Awards and Nominations

Academy Awards

• Best Picture (1973) (Deliverance) – Nominated
• Best Director (1973) (Deliverance) – Nominated
• Best Picture (1988) (Hope and Glory) – Nominated
• Best Director (1988) (Hope and Glory) – Nominated
• Best Original Screenplay (1988) (Hope and Glory) – Nominated

British Academy Film Awards

• Best Film (1988) (Hope and Glory) – Nominated
• Best Original Screenplay (1988) (Hope and Glory) – Nominated
• BAFTA Fellowship (2004) – Won

Golden Globe Awards

• Best Director (1973) (Deliverance) – Nominated
• Best Director (1988) (Hope and Glory) – Nominated
• Best Screenplay (1988) (Hope and Glory) – Nominated

Works

Selected Filmography

See also

In Spanish: John Boorman para niños

• List of British film directors
• List of Academy Award winners and nominees from Great Britain