Barry Sonnenfeld

Infobox Actor
name = Barry Sonnenfeld

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imagesize =
caption = Barry Sonnenfeld, April 2007
birthdate = April 1 1953
birthplace = New York City, New York, U.S.
birthname =
spouse = Susan Ringo (1989-present)
occupation = Film director, producer and cinematographer

Barry Sonnenfeld (born April 1 1953) is an Emmy Award-winning American filmmaker and television director. He worked as cinematographer for the Coen Brothers, then later he directed and produced big budget films such as "Men in Black".

Biography

Sonnenfeld was born and raised in New York City, the son of Kelly, an art teacher, and Sonny Sonnenfeld. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/74/Barry-Sonnenfeld.html Barry Sonnenfeld Biography (1953-) ] ] He graduated from New York University of Film School in 1978. After "refining" his craft on several hardcore porn films, he started work as director of photography on the Oscar-nominated "In Our Water" (1982). Then Joel Coen and Ethan Coen hired him for "Blood Simple" (1984). This film began his collaboration with the Coen Bros., who used him for their next two pictures, "Raising Arizona" (1987) and "Miller's Crossing" (1990). He also worked with Danny DeVito on "Throw Momma from the Train" (1987) and Rob Reiner on "When Harry Met Sally" (1989) and "Misery" (1990). Sonnenfeld got his first work as a director from Orion Pictures on "The Addams Family", a box-office success released in November 1991. Its sequel, "Addams Family Values" (1993), was not so successful at the box office, but he got critical acclaim for his fourth directorial effort, "Get Shorty" (1995). Produced by Jersey Films and based on a novel by Elmore Leonard, the film won a Golden Globe for John Travolta (Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical). In 1996 Steven Spielberg asked him to direct "Men in Black" (1997). Starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, the movie was a critical and financial smash. Producer Jon Peters then asked Sonnenfeld to direct "Wild Wild West" (1999), an adaptation of an old TV series. He also directed the comedy "Big Trouble" (2002), after which he made his most successful film sequel, "Men in Black II" (2002). He is also a contributing editor for Esquire magazine.

Filmography

His works include:
*"Blood Simple" (1984) ... Cinematography
*"Compromising Positions" (1985) ... Cinematography
*"Three o'Clock High" (1987) ... Cinematography
*"Throw Momma From the Train" (1987) ... Cinematography
*"Raising Arizona" (1987) ... Cinematography
*"Big" (1988) ... Cinematography
*"When Harry Met Sally..." ... (1989) ... Cinematography
*"Misery" (1990) ... Cinematography
*"Miller's Crossing" (1990) ... Cinematography
*"The Addams Family" (1991) ... Director
*"Addams Family Values" (1993) ... Mr. Glicker ; Director
*"For Love or Money" (1993) ... Director
*"Get Shorty" (1995) ... Doorman ; Director ; Executive Producer
*"Men in Black" (1997) ... Director
*"Out of Sight" (1998) ... Executive Producer
*"Wild Wild West" (1999) ... Director ; Producer
*"The Tick" (1999-2000) ... Man on Couch ; Director ; Producer
*"The Crew" (2000) ... Producer
*"Men in Black II" (2002) ... Neuralyzed Father ; Director
*"Big Trouble" (2002) ... Confused Sports Radio Call in Voice ; Director ; Producer
*"RV" (2006) ... Director ; Irv (photo only)
*"Enchanted" (2007) ... Producer
*"Pushing Daisies" (2007) ... Executive Producer ; Director (TV series)
*"Space Chimps" (2008) ... Producer

He has also done advertising:
*"The Puttermans"

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0001756|name=Barry Sonnenfeld
* [http://www.hollywood.com/celebrity/Barry_Sonnenfeld/190693#fullBio Barry Sonnenfeld] at the [http://www.hollywood.com/ Hollywood.com]