John McTiernan

John McTiernan
Born: Jan 8, 1951
Albany, NY
Career: 1986-2008
Countries: USA
Genre/Type: Action
Fantasy
Horror
Biography by Sandra Brennan
A master craftsman notable for his almost Hitchcockian ability to create suspense and keep action moving at an exhilarating pace, director John McTiernan began his involved with theatrical arts early in life. His father was an opera singer, and McTiernan made his theatrical debut at age seven playing bit roles in his father's shows. After high school he became involved with summer stock, where he directed, acted, and designed until attended Julliard and New York University, where he studied film. He then became designer and technical director at the Manhattan School of Music.

McTiernan went on to make over 200 television commercials before making his feature film debut by directing the fantasy horror movie Nomads (1985). He followed that up with Predator (1987), a sci-fi action film featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger that spawned a franchise.

In 1988, McTiernan helmed his best-known film, the blockbuster Die Hard. Starring Bruce Willis, the film was a hit with both audiences and critics and would become one of the most influential action films ever made, inspiring countless "Die Hard in a [Blank]" followers.

In the wake of Die Hard, McTiernan scored another hit with 1990's The Hunt for Red October, the first in a series of films based on Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan series. However, his luck would change with 1992's Medicine Man and get even worse with 1993's Last Action Hero, a post-modern action fantasy regarded as one of the decade's biggest flops.

To get Last Action Hero's taste out of his mouth, McTiernan returned to familiar territory in 1995, helming Die Hard with a Vengeance, the third in the series. It proved to be another hit, but McTiernan's career hit the skids over the next decade, with films like The 13th Warrior and Rollerball filling his resume.

The Die Hard series proved yet again to be McTiernan's lucky-charm in 2007, when the series' fourth outing scored at the box-office.

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Filmography

Movie/Film Released Rating Role Buy
Run 2008 Director
Live Free or Die Hard 2007 Producer
Basic 2003 Director
Rollerball 2002 Director / Producer
The 13th Warrior 1999 Director / Producer
The Thomas Crown Affair 1999 Director
The Directors: John McTiernan 1997 Actor [Starring]
The Right to Remain Silent 1996 Producer
Die Hard With a Vengeance 1995 Director / Producer
Last Action Hero 1993 Director / Producer
Medicine Man 1992 Director
The Flight of the Intruder 1990 Producer
The Hunt for Red October 1990 Director
Die Hard 1988 Director
Predator 1987 Director
Nomads 1986 Director / Screenwriter

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Helicopter | Action Hero | Blockbuster | Car Chase more
"Pierce Brosnan starred in that movie." The Thomas Crown Affair is a 1999 heist film by John McTiernan, director of Die Hard and The Hunt for Red October. It is a remake of the 1968 film of the same name. It stars Pierce Brosnan i...
Robert Rodriguez Confirms ‘Predators’ Director (From The Flickcast. 2 July 2009, 6:30 AM, PDT) Nimrod Antal Confirmed for Predators (From TheMovingPicture. 2 July 2009, 2:49 AM, PDT)

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