Gus Van Sant is an American film director, screenwriter, and photographer. He is best known for his films Drugstore Cowboy (1989), My Own Private Idaho (1991), Good Will Hunting (1997), Finding Forrester (2000), Milk (2008) and Restless (2011).
Van Sant was born in Louisville, Kentucky on July 24, 1952. He grew up in the Portland, Oregon area and attended the Catlin Gabel School. After graduating from high school in 1970, he attended the Rhode Island School of Design where he studied painting and sculpture. After graduating from RISD in 1975, Van Sant moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in filmmaking.
Van Sant's first feature film was Mala Noche (1985). The film was well-received by critics and won several awards at international film festivals. His next feature film Drugstore Cowboy (1989) was a critical success and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. His subsequent films My Own Private Idaho (1991) and Good Will Hunting (1997) were both nominated for Academy Awards as well.
In addition to his work as a filmmaker, Van Sant is also an accomplished photographer. His photographs have been featured in numerous exhibitions around the world including the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. He has also published several books of photography including Icons & Idols: A Photographic Tribute to Music Legends (2006) and The Pink House: Photographs by Gus Van Sant (2009).
Throughout his career, Van Sant has received numerous awards including two Academy Award nominations for Best Director, two Golden Globe nominations for Best Director, two Independent Spirit Awards for Best Feature Film, and a Palme d'Or nomination at Cannes Film Festival for Elephant (2003). In 2009 he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.