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Michael Mann

Michael MannAKA Michael Kenneth Mann

Born: 5-Feb-1943
Birthplace: Chicago, IL

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Film Director, Screenwriter
Party Affiliation: Democratic

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Manhunter

Mann grew up in a rough section of Chicago. He majored in English Lit at the University of Wisconsin, and became intrigued by filmmaking when he took a film class there. He got his Master's degree at the London Film School. He began his career by making commercials, and served as a producer on Jaunpuri, a short documentary about the student riots in Paris in 1968. It won prizes at Cannes, and the Melbourne and Sydney Film Festivals in 1970. He then produced another documentary, 17 Days Down the Line, following a Newsweek correspondent's return to America after five years overseas.

His big break came when he was hired to direct The Jericho Mile, which many critics now list among the finest movies made for commercial TV. Mann shot The Jericho Mile on film, when video was the standard for TV work. The film received a special prize from the Directors Guild of America. In 1986, Mann wrote the screenplay and directed Manhunter, putting Thomas Harris' hungry "Hannibal Lecter" on the screen in a low-budget but well-made thriller, five years before Anthony Hopkins played the role in Silence of the Lambs. Other films include Ali, The Last of the Mohicans, and The Insider.

Michael Mann wrote for Police Story and Starsky & Hutch, and served as executive producer of Miami Vice. Mann's Miami Vice traces its evolution to a two-word memo from an executive suite at NBC: "MTV cops." From that humble beginning sprang five years of coolness by Philip Michael Thomas and stubble on Don Johnson.

Father: Jack Mann (grocer)
Mother: Esther
Wife: (div. 1971, one daughter)
Daughter: Ami Canaan Mann (film industry, b. circa 1970)
Wife: Summer Mann (m. 1974, three daughters)

    University: BA English Literature, University of Wisconsin at Madison (1965)
    University: MA Film, London Film School (1967)

    Bill Bradley for President
    Gephardt for President
    Hillary Clinton for President
    John Kerry for President
    MoveOn.org

    FILMOGRAPHY AS DIRECTOR
    Blackhat (14-Jan-2015)
    Public Enemies (18-Jun-2009)
    Miami Vice (27-Jul-2006)
    Collateral (6-Aug-2004)
    Ali (11-Dec-2001)
    The Insider (5-Nov-1999)
    Heat (15-Dec-1995)
    The Last of the Mohicans (26-Aug-1992)
    L.A. Takedown (27-Aug-1989)
    Manhunter (22-Aug-1986)
    The Keep (16-Dec-1983)
    Thief (27-Mar-1981)
    The Jericho Mile (18-Mar-1979)

    FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
    Milius (9-Mar-2013) · Himself
    Hancock (16-Jun-2008)


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