Directing · Louisville, Kentucky, USA · Born July 24, 1952
Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. (born July 24, 1952) is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Achievement in Directing for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, and won the Palme d'Or at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival for his film Elephant. He lives in Portland, Oregon. His early career was devoted to directing television commercials in the Pacific Northwest. In his films, he has dealt with themes concerning homosexuality and other marginalized subcultures. His filmography as writer and director includes an adaptation of Tom Robbins' novel Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, which features a diverse cast (Keanu Reeves, Roseanne Barr, Uma Thurman, and k.d. lang, with cameos by William S. Burroughs and Heather Graham, among others); and My Own Private Idaho, also starring Reeves as well as River Phoenix. He wrote the screenplays for most of his early movies, and wrote one novel, Pink. A book of his photography has also been published, called 108 Portraits.
MovieThe Trainer
2024
as Gus Van Sant
MovieNicole Kidman: Eyes Wide Open
2023
as Self (interview)
MovieAndy by Gus
2023
MovieAt the Video Store
2019
as Self
MovieZeroville
2019
as Film Archive Curator
MovieIllegal Civilization 3
2018
as Self
MovieDon't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
2018
as Willamette Week Editor
MovieThank You for Supporting the Arts
2018
MovieAin't It Funny
2017
as Dad
MovieXavier Dolan: Bound to Impossible
2016
as Self
MovieI Don't Belong Anywhere: The Cinema of Chantal Akerman
2015
as Self
MovieAbout Cinema
2015
as Self
MovieThe Canyons
2013
as Dr. Campbell
TVThe Greatest Event in Television History
2012
as Self
MovieReflecting On A Journey: Good Will Hunting 15 Years Later
2012
as Self
MovieA Special Day
2012
as Self
MovieThe Advocate for Fagdom
2011
as Self
TVThe Story of Film: An Odyssey
2011
as Self
MovieTwo Films, One Legacy
2011
TVPortlandia
2011
as Gus Van Sant
MovieWilliam S. Burroughs: A Man Within
2010
as Self
MovieMaking Paranoid Park
2008
MovieCritic
2008
as Self
MovieIn the Mood for Doyle
2007
as Self
MovieParanoid Park
2007
as Guy Reading Newspaper (uncredited)
MovieHere’s Looking at You, Boy
2007
as Self
MovieFabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema
2006
as Self
MovieLast Days
2005
as Phone Voice (voice)
TVEntourage
2004
as Gus Van Sant
MovieOn the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time
2004
as Himself
TVLeçon de Cinéma
2004
as Self
MovieThe Making of Last Days
2004
as Himself
MovieSaltlake Van Sant
2003
as Self
MovieAbout Elephant
2003
as Self
MovieJay and Silent Bob Strike Back
2001
as Gus Van Sant
MovieRescued from the Closet
2001
as Self
MovieFinding Forrester
2000
as Library Assistant (uncredited)
MovieThe Making of Drugstore Cowboy
1999
MoviePsycho Path
1999
as Self - Director
MoviePsycho
1998
as Man Talking to Man in Cowboy Hat (uncredited)
MovieStrange Parallel
1998
as Self
MovieThe Director's Vision: Hollywood's Best Discuss Their Craft
1998
as himself
MovieGuns on the Clackamas
1995
TVHi Octane
1994
as Self
MovieMade in the USA
1993
as Self
MovieRed Hot Chili Peppers - Funky Monks
1991
as Self
MovieMy Own Private Idaho
1991
as Man Behind Hotel Counter (uncredited)
MovieDrugstore Cowboy
1989
as Himself (uncredited)
MovieJunior
1988
as Himself
MovieMala Noche
1987
as Guy at Hotel (uncredited)
MovieFive Ways to Kill Yourself
1987
Nightmare Typhoon
as Gus
