Roger Donaldson
Roger Donaldson was born in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia and in 1965 he emigrated to New Zealand to establish a small still photography business. He first entered the film industry when he made the drama series
Winners and Losers for New Zealand television, directing and producing his first feature film SLEEPING DOGS in 1977. As this was the first film to come out of New Zealand in nearly 15 years, he lobbied the New Zealand Government to found the New Zealand Film Commission in 1978. Donaldson's first American break was his remake of the film Mutiny of the Bounty, which was released as THE BOUNTY, featuring
Mel Gibson and
Anthony Hopkins and was nominated for the Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Since then, Donaldson has been involved with many popular and successful movies, among them being the thriller NO WAY OUT, starring
Kevin Costner and
Gene Hackman, COCKTAIL, starring
Tom Cruise, CADILLAC MAN, with
Robin Williams and
Tim Robbins, SPECIES, with
Ben Kingsley and
Natasha Henstridge, DANTE'S PEAK with
Pierce Brosnan and
Linda Hamilton. His most recent projects are THIRTEEN DAYS, starring Kevin Costner and
Steven Culp, THE RECRUIT, starring
Al Pacino and
Colin Farrell and THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN starring Anthony Hopkins.
Roger Donaldson Facts
Selected Filmography
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