Paul Verhoeven facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Verhoeven
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Verhoeven in 2016
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| Born | 18 July 1938 Amsterdam, Netherlands
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| Education | Gymnasium Haganum |
| Alma mater | Leiden University |
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| Spouse(s) |
Martine Tours
(m. 1967) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | See below |
Paul Verhoeven (born July 18, 1938) is a famous Dutch film director, screenwriter, and producer. He has made movies in the Netherlands, the United States, and France. His films are often exciting genre films that use satire to make a point. They are known for being provocative and sometimes caused a lot of discussion when they were released.
Verhoeven first became known in the Netherlands for the TV series Floris. His first big hit movie was Turkish Delight (1973). It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign-Language Film. He went on to direct other successful Dutch films like Keetje Tippel (1975), the World War II movie Soldier of Orange (1977), and the thriller The Fourth Man (1983).
In 1985, Verhoeven moved to Hollywood. He directed popular science fiction movies like RoboCop (1987), Total Recall (1990), and Starship Troopers (1997). He also directed the thriller Basic Instinct (1992). Another film, Showgirls, was not liked by critics at first but later became a cult classic.
Later in his career, Verhoeven returned to making films in Europe. He directed the Dutch war film Black Book (2006) and the French thriller Elle (2016). Both movies received great reviews. Black Book was even voted the best Dutch film ever made by the public in 2008.
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Early Life and Education
Paul Verhoeven was born in Amsterdam on July 18, 1938. His father, Wim, was a schoolteacher, and his mother, Nel, was a hatmaker.
In 1943, during World War II, his family moved to The Hague. This city was the German headquarters in the Netherlands. Their home was near a German military base that launched V-1 and V-2 rockets. Because of this, the area was often bombed by Allied forces. Verhoeven later said he remembered seeing violence and burning houses. But as a young child, he saw the war as an exciting adventure.
His father became a headteacher, and Paul attended his school. They sometimes watched films at home using the school's projector. He was a big fan of the comic Dick Bos, about a detective who fights crime. He also loved drawing comics himself.
Verhoeven went to Leiden University and graduated in 1964 with a degree in mathematics and physics.
Career as a Filmmaker
Early Work in the Netherlands
Even though he studied math and physics, Verhoeven chose to make films. He made his first short film in 1960. After college, he joined the Royal Dutch Navy. There, he made a documentary called The Marine Corps (1965), which won an award.
After leaving the Navy, he started working in television. His first big success was a knight series called Floris (1969). It starred actor Rutger Hauer, who would work with Verhoeven many times.
His first major movie, Turkish Delight (1973), was a huge success in the Netherlands. It was nominated for an American Academy Award. In 1999, it won a Dutch award for the Best Dutch Film of the Century.
Verhoeven gained international fame with Soldier of Orange (1977). This film was based on a true story about the Dutch resistance during World War II. It won an award from film critics in Los Angeles and was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Hollywood Success
Verhoeven moved to Hollywood to find more filmmaking opportunities. His first English-language film was Flesh and Blood (1985).
In the U.S., he became famous for directing big-budget science fiction movies. RoboCop (1987) is about a cyborg police officer. Total Recall (1990) is a sci-fi adventure starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Both films were praised for their special effects.
He then directed Basic Instinct (1992), a thriller starring Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone. The film was a huge box office hit.
His next film was Showgirls (1995), about a dancer in Las Vegas. It received very bad reviews and won several Golden Raspberry Awards, which are given to the worst films of the year. Verhoeven famously went to the ceremony to accept his "Worst Director" award in person. Over time, the movie became very popular on home video.
He returned to science fiction with Starship Troopers (1997), a movie about soldiers fighting giant alien insects. He also directed Hollow Man (2000), about a scientist who becomes invisible.
Return to European Films
After 20 years in the U.S., Verhoeven returned to the Netherlands to make Black Book (2006). The film is a thriller set during World War II. It was a huge success and won six major Dutch film awards, including Best Director.
In 2016, he directed the French film Elle. It is a psychological thriller starring Isabelle Huppert. The film was highly praised by critics and won several awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film.
His next film was Benedetta (2021). It is a historical drama about the life of a nun in 17th-century Italy. The film premiered at the prestigious 2021 Cannes Film Festival.
Personal Life
In 1967, Verhoeven married Martine Tours. They have two daughters.
Selected Filmography
Verhoeven has directed many films over his long career. Here are some of his most well-known movies.
Feature Films
- Business Is Business (1971)
- Turkish Delight (1973)
- Soldier of Orange (1977)
- Spetters (1980)
- The Fourth Man (1983)
- Flesh and Blood (1985)
- RoboCop (1987)
- Total Recall (1990)
- Basic Instinct (1992)
- Showgirls (1995)
- Starship Troopers (1997)
- Hollow Man (2000)
- Black Book (2006)
- Elle (2016)
- Benedetta (2021)
Television
- Floris (1969) - A popular TV series about a knight.
Awards and Nominations
Paul Verhoeven's films have won many awards and have been nominated for many more.
- His films have received a total of nine Academy Award nominations, mostly for editing and special effects.
- Turkish Delight was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film.
- Soldier of Orange and Elle were nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film, with Elle winning the award.
- Elle also won the César Award for Best Film, which is the national film award of France.
- Verhoeven won a Saturn Award for Best Director for RoboCop.
- He won a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director for Showgirls and accepted it in person.
See also
In Spanish: Paul Verhoeven para niños
