Personal info
Known for
Writer
Gender
Male
Birthday
22 July
Location
Michigan, United States
Edit pagePaul Schrader
Biography
Paul Schrader is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and director known for his influential work in both Hollywood and independent cinema. Renowned for exploring themes of morality, isolation, and obsession, Schrader has left a lasting impact on modern filmmaking.
Biography
Paul Joseph Schrader was born on July 22, 1946, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He grew up in a strict Calvinist household, an upbringing that has deeply influenced his work, particularly his focus on guilt, redemption, and the complexities of human behavior. Schrader studied film at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and began his career immersed in the cinematic culture of New Hollywood.
Career
Schrader first gained prominence as a screenwriter, most notably for Taxi Driver (1976), directed by Martin Scorsese, which became a landmark in American cinema. He also penned Raging Bull (1980) and The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), solidifying his reputation for crafting psychologically intense narratives.
Transitioning to directing, Schrader made his debut with Blue Collar (1978) and continued with acclaimed films such as American Gigolo (1980), Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985), Affliction (1997), and First Reformed (2017). His directorial style is often marked by meticulous framing, introspective characters, and a focus on existential and moral dilemmas.
