Biography for
Costa-Gavras (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

12 February 1933, Loutra-Iraias, Greece

Birth Name

Konstantinos Gavras

Spouse

Michèle Ray-Gavras

(? - ?)

Trade Mark

Frequently casts David Clennon

Trivia

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985". Pages 243-248. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988.

Member of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1976

Has supported Lionel Jospin's 2002 presidential campaign.

Cousin of Penelope Spheeris and Jimmie Spheeris.

When asked why he never chose the documentary style, when his stories seem so much like documentaries, he explained he found documentaries too difficult compared to fiction.

Father of Julie Gavras and Romain Gavras.

President of the Jury at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival in 2008.

Has directed 3 actors to Oscar nominations: Jack Lemmon (Best Actor, Missing (1982)), Sissy Spacek (Best Actress, Missing (1982)), and Jessica Lange (Best Actress, Music Box (1989)).

Personal Quotes

I made Z (1969), first, because I am Greek-born. Secondly, because I felt I would like to do something. Some people sign petitions, others go to the streets - I do something as a filmmaker.