Biography
Entering the entertainment industry as a television writer of 1970s cop shows, Michael Mann went on to become one of Hollywood's leading directors, enjoying great critical success on both small and large screens alike. After several years in television, Mann made his directorial debut with the moody heist-drama "Thief" (1981), prior to shaping the look and tone of the pastel-colored phenomenon that was "Miami Vice" (NBC, 1984-89) as its …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
| Became interested in directing after taking a film history class at college | ||
1965 | Worked as director of documentary films and commercials in London | |
1968 | Shot footage of the Paris student revolt for the documentary "Insurrection" (aired on NBC's First Tuesday news program) | |
1970 | First short film "Juanpuri" was based on his experiences of the Paris student revolt | |
1971 | Returned to the United States | |
1972 | Directed the road trip documentary "17 Days Down the Line" | |
1975 | Wrote the first four episodes of "Starsky and Hutch" (ABC) | |
1978 | Made feature debut as an uncredited screenwriter in the crime drama "Straight Time" | |
1978 | Scripted the TV-movie pilot for "Vega$"; also wrote for the subsequent series (ABC, 1978-1981) | |
1979 | Directed first TV-movie, "The Jericho Mile" (ABC); also co-wrote Emmy award-winning screenplay with Patrick J. Nolan | |
1981 | First film as as writer/director/producer, "Thief" starring James Caan | |
1984 | Produced first series, "Miami Vice" (NBC) | |
1986 | Executive produced "Crime Story" (NBC); also provided story for eight episodes; directed the episode "The King in a Cage" in 1987 | |
1986 | First film project as producer without directing, "Band of the Hand"; directed by Paul Michael Glaser | |
1986 | Wrote, directed and produced "Manhunter"; first collaboration with cinematographer Dante Spinotti; film introduced character of Hannibal Lecter (Brian Cox) | |
1989 | Produced, wrote and directed the failed TV-movie "L.A. Takedown" (NBC); was the basis for his successful 1995 film "Heat"" | |
1990 | Produced the Emmy Award winning docudrama, "Drug Wars: The Camarena Story" (NBC); also provided story | |
1992 | Executive produced the NBC miniseries sequel "Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel" | |
1992 | Gained widespread recognition for his film adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's classic novel "Last of the Mohicans"; wrote, directed and produced; also re-teamed with Spinotti | |
1995 | Directed the first onscreen pairing of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in "Heat"; produced and scripted as well; again re-teamed with Spinotti | |
1999 | Directed the true story of tobacco industry whistleblower Jeffery Wigand (Russell Crowe), "The Insider"; re-teamed with Pacino and Spinotti; also produced and co-scripted (with Eric Roth); earned Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay | |
2001 | Directed the story of boxing icon Muhammad Ali's (Will Smith) life from 1964-74 in biopic "Ali"; also co-scripted with Eric Roth | |
2004 | Directed Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx in the thriller "Collateral" | |
2004 | Produced the Martin Scorsese directed film "The Aviator," which starred Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes; earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture (Drama) as the producer | |
2006 | Helmed the feature adaptation of the hit TV series "Miami Vice," starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx | |
2007 | Co-penned "The Kingdom" with director Peter Berg | |
2008 | Re-teamed with Peter Berg (who directed) as the producer of "Hancock"; starred Will Smith | |
2009 | Produced, directed and co-wrote an adaptation of Bryan Burrough's non-fiction book "Public Enemies," starring Johnny Depp as John Dillinger and Christian Bale as FBI agent Melvin Purvis | |
2012 | Executive produced HBO's horse-racing drama "Luck," starring Dustin Hoffman and Dennis Farina; also directed pilot episode; show cancelled in March 2012 during season two production following death of third horse on set. | |
Awards
1979 | Directors Guild of America Award for Specials / Movies For TV / Actuality in The Jericho Mile |
1979 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Limited Series or a Special in The Jericho Mile |
1985 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in Miami Vice |
1990 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries in Drug Wars: the Camarena Story |
1992 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries in Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel |
1999 | Academy Award for Best Picture in The Insider |
1999 | Academy Award for Directing in The Insider |
1999 | Academy Award for Writing (Screenplay Based On Material Previously Produced or Published) in The Insider |
1999 | Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in The Insider |
1999 | Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in The Insider |
1999 | Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture in The Insider |
1999 | National Board of Review Award for Freedom of Expression in The Insider |
2004 | Academy Award for Best Picture in The Aviator |
2004 | BAFTA Award for David Lean Award For Achievement In Direction, The in Collateral |
2004 | BAFTA Award for Film in The Aviator |
2004 | National Board of Review Award for Best Director in Collateral |
2005 | Producers Guild of America Award for Theatrical Motion Pictures in The Aviator |