Biography
He began his filmmaking career after asking King's permission to shoot a short film based on one of his stories; the project led to scripting for several minor horror films and TV series before the bittersweet drama of "Shawshank" brought him to international attention. Darabont found the heart and the literacy at the center of King's works - something few other directors had achieved - and continued to mine success from the author's library …
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Career Milestones
2011 | Nominated for the 2011 Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series ("The Walking Dead") | |
2010 | Created and executive produced the AMC series, "The Walking Dead"; also directed the pilot episode; left the show just before the second season began | |
2007 | Adapted and directed "The Mist," a horror film based on the 1980 novella by Stephen King | |
2005 | Published the novella "Walpuski's Typewriter"; originally written in his early twenties, it first appeared in Jessie Horsting's magazine Midnight Graffiti | |
2001 | Returned to filmmaking at the helm of "The Majestic," starring Jim Carrey; also co-wrote screenplay | |
1999 | Returned to filmmaking at the helm of "The Green Mile," an adaptation of Stephen King's novel starring Hanks; also produced and scripted; received Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Screenplay | |
1998 | Reportedly worked on the script to "Saving Private Ryan," starring Tom Hanks; Robert Rodat, however, received sole credit | |
1998 | Executive produced and scripted the HBO film "Black Cat Run" | |
1997 | Had small role in the TV miniseries version of King's "The Shining," directed by Mick Garris | |
1994 | Made feature directorial debut with "The Shawshank Redemption"; film earned seven Oscar nominations including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for Darabont | |
1994 | Did screenplay rewrites for Kenneth Branagh's feature, "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" | |
1993 | Offered $2.4 million for his screenplay adaptation of Stephen King's short story, "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" by Rob Reiner of Castle Rock Productions, with the chance to also direct another film; Darabont turned it down because he wanted to direct the film based on his screenplay | |
1992 | Wrote several episodes of the ABC adventure series, "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles" | |
1990 | First credit as producer, the USA Network TV-movie, "Buried Alive"; also directed | |
1990 | Received a nomination for a Writers Guild of America Award for "The Ventriloquist's Dummy," an episode of the HBO horror anthology series, "Tales from the Crypt" | |
1987 | First screenplay credit, "A Nightmare on Elm Street III: Dream Warriors" | |
| Sold a screenplay entitled "Black Cat Run" to producer Jere Henshaw and Apollo Pictures | ||
1984 | Received credit as a set dresser on Ken Russell's "Crimes of Passion" | |
1983 | With a group of friends, acquired the rights to a Stephen King short story, "Woman in the Room"; eventually wrote, produced and directed a 30-minute adaptation of the story which was later aired on some cable stations and released to video | |
1981 | First film credit, working as a production assistant on the horror film, "Hell Night" | |
| Raised in Illinois and California | ||
| Moved with family to Chicago while still an infant | ||
| Born in a French relocation camp after parents fled their home following the 1956 Hungarian Uprising | ||
Awards
2010 | Directors Guild of America Award for Dramatic Series Night in The Walking Dead |
1999 | Academy Award for Best Picture in The Green Mile |
1999 | Critics' Choice Award for Best Screenplay Adaptation in The Green Mile |
1999 | Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in The Green Mile |
1999 | Academy Award for Writing (Screenplay Based On Material Previously Produced or Published) in The Green Mile |
1994 | Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture in The Shawshank Redemption |
1994 | Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in The Shawshank Redemption |
1994 | Academy Award for Writing (Screenplay Based On Material Previously Produced or Published) in The Shawshank Redemption |