Robert Mulligan

Photo of Robert Mulligan

Biography

The former divinity student started as a messenger at CBS and rose through the ranks, establishing himself during the 1950s helming fare for that network's "Playhouse 90", "Suspense" and "TV Playhouse", among other series. Noted for his deft handling of actors, Mulligan graduated to features with "Fear Strikes Out" (1957), an absorbing account of the personal problems which led baseball star Jim Piersall (Anthony Perkins) to a nervous …
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Job Title

Actor, Director, Producer, Other

Born

August 23, 1925

Career Milestones

1991

Last feature (to date) as director, "Man in the Moon"

1979

Co-produced and directed "Same Time, Next Year", based on Bernard Slade's two-character Broadway play

1972

Directed and produced "The Other"

1971

Narrated and directed "Summer of '42"

1969

Dissolved Pakula-Mulligan Productions

1965

First feature credit as producer (with Pakula), "Inside Daisy Clover", an underrated Hollywood expose starring Natalie Wood and Robert Redford; also directed

1962

Received Oscar nomination as Best Director for "To Kill a Mockingbird"; first Pakula-Mulligan feature

1962

With Alan J Pakula, founded Pakula-Mulligan Productions

1959

Won an Emmy for directing NBC's "The Moon and Sixpence", based on the Somerset Maugham novel, starring Anderson and Laurence Olivier; also produced

1958

Produced and directed the CBS telecast of "The Member of the Wedding", adapted from the novel by Carson McCullers

1958

Broadway directing debut, "Comes a Day", starring Judith Anderson

1957

Feature film debut as director, "Fear Strikes Out"

1956

Directed "Victor Borge's Comedy in Music (I and II)" (both for CBS)

1955

Helmed segments of NBC's "The Alcoa Hour"

Directed episodes of such CBS series as "Suspense", "TV Playhouse", and "Playhouse 90"

Began working as a messenger for CBS-TV

Worked in editorial department of THE NEW YORK TIMES during the late 1940s

Served as a US Marine radio operator during WWII

Awards

2006

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Career Achievement Award

1971

Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in Summer of '42

1971

Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in Summer of '42

1971

San Sebastian International Film Festival for Official Awards - Silver Shell in Summer of '42

1963

Cannes Film Festival for Unanimité in To Kill a Mockingbird

1962

Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in To Kill a Mockingbird

1962

Academy Award for Directing in To Kill a Mockingbird

1962

Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in To Kill a Mockingbird

1962

Golden Globe Award for Promoting International Understanding in To Kill a Mockingbird

1961

Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in The Great Impostor

1957

Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in Fear Strikes Out