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IMDbPro

Tim Burton(I)

  • Producer
  • Additional Crew
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,00022
Tim Burton
Jenna Ortega, Christina Ricci, and Tim Burton get creepy and kooky in "Wednesday," the Netflix series based on "The Addams Family" comics and set at Nevermore Academy. Ortega of 'X' and 'Scream' fame takes on the title role as she navigates her teen years and solves a family mystery. Parents Morticia and Gomez Addams are played by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán, Fred Armisen takes over for Christopher Lloyd as wacky Uncle Fester, and Christina Ricci returns to the franchise, this time playing Marilyn Thornhill, a teacher at Nevermore. Tim Burton, who was supposed to helm the 1991 film but had to leave for 'Batman Returns,' joins to produce and direct. The filmmaker revealed a personal connection to the character, "I felt like a male Carrie at [my] prom. I felt that feeling of having to be there but not be part of it. They don't leave you, those feelings, as much as you want them to go. Wednesday and I have the same worldview." Alfred Gough and Miles Millar ("Smallville") created the show and produced the first eight episodes. "Wednesday" premieres Nov . 23 on Netflix.
Play clip1:48
All About "Wednesday"
37 Videos
99+ Photos
Timothy Walter Burton was born in Burbank, California, to Jean Rae (Erickson), who owned a cat-themed gift shop, and William Reed Burton, who worked for the Burbank Park and Recreation Department. He spent most of his childhood as a recluse, drawing cartoons, and watching old movies (he was especially fond of films with Vincent Price). When he was in the ninth grade, his artistic talent was recognized by a local garbage company, when he won a prize for an anti-litter poster he designed. The company placed this poster on all of their garbage trucks for a year. After graduating from high school, he attended California Institute of the Arts. Like so many others who graduated from that school, Burton's first job was as an animator for Disney.

His early film career was fueled by almost unbelievable good luck, but it's his talent and originality that have kept him at the top of the Hollywood tree. He worked on such films as The Fox and the Hound (1981) and The Black Cauldron (1985), but had some creative differences with his colleagues. Nevertheless, Disney recognized his talent, and gave him the green light to make Vincent (1982), an animated short about a boy who wanted to be just like Vincent Price. Narrated by Price himself, the short was a critical success and won several awards. Burton made a few other short films, including his first live-action film, Frankenweenie (1984). A half-hour long twist on the tale of Frankenstein, it was deemed inappropriate for children and wasn't released. But actor Paul Reubens (aka Pee-Wee Herman) saw Frankenweenie (1984), and believed that Burton would be the right man to direct him in his first full-length feature film, Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985). The film was a surprise success, and Burton instantly became popular. However, many of the scripts that were offered to him after this were essentially just spin-offs of the film, and Burton wanted to do something new.

For three years, he made no more films, until he was presented with the script for Beetlejuice (1988). The script was wild and wasn't really about anything, but was filled with such artistic and quirky opportunities, Burton couldn't say no. Beetlejuice (1988) was another big hit, and Burton's name in Hollywood was solidified. It was also his first film with actor Michael Keaton. Warner Bros. then entrusted him with Batman (1989), a film based on the immensely popular comic book series of the same name. Starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson, the film was the most financially successful film of the year and Burton's biggest box-office hit to date. Due to the fantastic success of his first three films, he was given the green light to make his next film, any kind of film he wanted. That film was Edward Scissorhands (1990), one of his most emotional, esteemed and artistic films to date. Edward Scissorhands (1990) was also Burton's first film with actor Johnny Depp. Burton's next film was Batman Returns (1992), and was darker and quirkier than the first one, and, while by no means a financial flop, many people felt somewhat disappointed by it. While working on Batman Returns (1992), he also produced the popular The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), directed by former fellow Disney Animator Henry Selick. Burton reunited with Johnny Depp on the film Ed Wood (1994), a film showered with critical acclaim, Martin Landau won an academy award for his performance in it, and it is very popular now, but flopped during its initial release. Burton's subsequent film, Mars Attacks! (1996), had much more vibrant colors than his other films. Despite being directed by Burton and featuring all-star actors including Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Pierce Brosnan and Michael J. Fox, it received mediocre reviews and wasn't immensely popular at the box office, either.

Burton returned to his darker and more artistic form with the film Sleepy Hollow (1999), starring Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci and Casper Van Dien. The film was praised for its art direction and was financially successful, redeeming Burton of the disappointment many had felt by Mars Attacks! (1996). His next film was Planet of the Apes (2001), a remake of the classic of the same name. The film was panned by many critics but was still financially successful. While on the set of Planet of the Apes (2001), Burton met Helena Bonham Carter, with whom he has two children. Burton directed the film Big Fish (2003) - a much more conventional film than most of his others, it received a good deal of critical praise, although it disappointed some of his long-time fans who preferred the quirkiness of his other, earlier films. Despite the fluctuations in his career, Burton proved himself to be one of the most popular directors of the late 20th century. He directed Johnny Depp once again in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), a film as quirky anything he's ever done.
BornAugust 25, 1958
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornAugust 25, 1958
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,00022
  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Nominated for 2 Oscars
    • 28 wins & 77 nominations total

Photos193

Tim Burton in The Movies That Made Us (2019)
Tim Burton, Timur Bekmambetov, and Ivan Urgant in Evening Urgant (2012)
Tim Burton in Planet of the Apes: Rule the Planet (2001)
Tim Burton in Planet of the Apes: Rule the Planet (2001)
Mark Wahlberg and Tim Burton in Planet of the Apes: Rule the Planet (2001)
Tim Burton, Lucas Elliot Eberl, Kevin Grevioux, and Isaac C. Singleton Jr. in Planet of the Apes: Rule the Planet (2001)
Tim Burton directs Craig Roberts in HERE WITH ME.
Tim Burton directs Winona Ryder & Craig Roberts in HERE WITH ME.
Tim Burton & The Killers in Blackpool, UK.
Craig Robert, Tim Burton and Winona Ryder on the set of HERE WITH ME in Blackpool, UK.
Tim Burton on the set of HERE WITH ME.
Tim Burton directs Craig Roberts in HERE WITH ME.

Known for

Johnny Depp in Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Edward Scissorhands
7.9
  • Producer
  • 1990
Frankenweenie (2012)
Frankenweenie
6.9
  • Producer
  • 2012
Corpse Bride (2005)
Corpse Bride
7.3
  • Producer(produced by)
  • 2005
Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
7.3
  • Director
  • 2007

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Producer

  • Beetlejuice 2
    • executive producer
    • In Production
  • Jenna Ortega in Wednesday (2022)
    Wednesday
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Danny DeVito, Danny Elfman, Michael Keaton, Colin Farrell, Derek Frey, Rick Heinrichs, Ehren Kruger, Deobia Oparei, Roshan Seth, Ben Davis, Eva Green, Joseph Gatt, Frank Bourke, Sharon Rooney, Ragevan Vasan, Finley Hobbins, Nico Parker, and Zenaida Alcalde in Dumbo (2019)
    Dumbo
    • executive producer
    • 2019
  • Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Sacha Baron Cohen, Matt Lucas, and Mia Wasikowska in Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
    Alice Through the Looking Glass
    • producer (produced by)
    • 2016
  • Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz in Big Eyes (2014)
    Big Eyes
    • producer
    • 2014
  • Captain Sparky vs. The Flying Saucers (2013)
    Captain Sparky vs. The Flying Saucers
    • producer
    • Short
    • 2013
  • Frankenweenie (2012)
    Frankenweenie
    • producer
    • 2012
  • Linkin Park: Powerless (2012)
    Linkin Park: Powerless
    • producer
    • Music Video
    • 2012
  • Aaron Toney in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)
    Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
    • producer
    • 2012
  • Elijah Wood in 9 (2009)
    9
    • producer
    • 2009
  • Corpse Bride (2005)
    Corpse Bride
    • producer (produced by)
    • 2005
  • Lost in Oz
    • executive producer
    • TV Movie
    • 2000
  • The World of Stainboy (2000)
    The World of Stainboy
    • producer
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2000
  • Pierce Brosnan, Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Danny DeVito, and Annette Bening in Mars Attacks! (1996)
    Mars Attacks!
    • producer
    • 1996
  • Paul Terry in James and the Giant Peach (1996)
    James and the Giant Peach
    • producer
    • 1996
  • Jim Carrey, Tommy Lee Jones, Nicole Kidman, Val Kilmer, and Chris O'Donnell in Batman Forever (1995)
    Batman Forever
    • producer
    • 1995

Additional Crew

  • Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight - Dark Side of the Knight (2005)
    Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight - Dark Side of the Knight
    • source: photographs, illustrations and footage
    • Video
    • 2005
  • Mark Hamill in Zorro (1997)
    Zorro
    • creative consultant
    • TV Series
    • 1997
  • Family Dog (1993)
    Family Dog
    • design consultant
    • TV Series
    • 1993
  • John Ritter and Pam Dawber in Stay Tuned (1992)
    Stay Tuned
    • design consultant
    • 1992
  • Beetlejuice (1989)
    Beetlejuice
    • developer
    • TV Series
    • 1989–1991
  • Frank Oz, Jim Henson, Dave Goelz, Richard Hunt, and Jerry Nelson in The Muppet Movie (1979)
    The Muppet Movie
    • additional puppeteer (uncredited)
    • 1979

Director

  • Beetlejuice 2
    • Director
    • In Production
  • Jenna Ortega in Wednesday (2022)
    Wednesday
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Danny DeVito, Danny Elfman, Michael Keaton, Colin Farrell, Derek Frey, Rick Heinrichs, Ehren Kruger, Deobia Oparei, Roshan Seth, Ben Davis, Eva Green, Joseph Gatt, Frank Bourke, Sharon Rooney, Ragevan Vasan, Finley Hobbins, Nico Parker, and Zenaida Alcalde in Dumbo (2019)
    Dumbo
    • Director
    • 2019
  • Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Ella Purnell, Pixie Davies, Lauren McCrostie, Cameron James-King, Thomas Odwell, and Joseph Odwell in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
    Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
    • Director (directed by)
    • 2016
  • Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz in Big Eyes (2014)
    Big Eyes
    • Director
    • 2014
  • Official poster for the HERE WITH ME music video.
    The Killers: Here with Me
    • Director
    • Music Video
    • 2012
  • Frankenweenie (2012)
    Frankenweenie
    • Director
    • 2012
  • Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Jonny Lee Miller, Jackie Earle Haley, Eva Green, Chloë Grace Moretz, Bella Heathcote, and Gulliver McGrath in Dark Shadows (2012)
    Dark Shadows
    • Director
    • 2012
  • Johnny Depp and Alan Rickman in Alice in Wonderland (2010)
    Alice in Wonderland
    • Director
    • 2010
  • Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
    Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
    • Director
    • 2007
  • The Killers: Bones (2006)
    The Killers: Bones
    • Director
    • Music Video
    • 2006
  • from Cinema16: American Short Films (DVD)
    Cinema16: American Short Films
    • Director
    • Video
    • 2006
  • Corpse Bride (2005)
    Corpse Bride
    • Director (directed by)
    • 2005
  • Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, AnnaSophia Robb, Julia Winter, Jordan Fry, and Philip Wiegratz in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
    • Director
    • 2005
  • Big Fish (2003)
    Big Fish
    • Director
    • 2003
  • The World of Stainboy (2000)
    The World of Stainboy
    • Director
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2000–2001

Videos37

All About "Wednesday"
Clip 1:48
All About "Wednesday"
Is the New 'Joker' Most Like Jared, Heath, or Jack?
Clip 4:46
Is the New 'Joker' Most Like Jared, Heath, or Jack?
Tim Burton Wants to Reboot Which Classic '80s Comedy?
Clip 1:33
Tim Burton Wants to Reboot Which Classic '80s Comedy?
'Dumbo' Cast Confessions of Playing Tim Burton Outsiders
Clip 2:24
'Dumbo' Cast Confessions of Playing Tim Burton Outsiders
A Guide to the Films of Tim Burton
Clip 2:11
A Guide to the Films of Tim Burton
Tim Burton | Director Supercut
Clip 2:01
Tim Burton | Director Supercut
'The Batman': How Will Director Matt Reeves Reboot the Caped Crusader?
Clip 5:10
'The Batman': How Will Director Matt Reeves Reboot the Caped Crusader?
Alice in Wonderland: "Progression Reel"
Clip 1:37
Alice in Wonderland: "Progression Reel"
"Curiouser and Curiouser" from Alice in Wonderland
Clip 0:54
"Curiouser and Curiouser" from Alice in Wonderland
"Tea Party" from Alice in Wonderland
Clip 0:54
"Tea Party" from Alice in Wonderland
"Potion Making" from Alice in Wonderland
Clip 0:55
"Potion Making" from Alice in Wonderland
"Off with His Head" from Alice in Wonderland
Clip 0:45
"Off with His Head" from Alice in Wonderland

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
  • Height
    • 5′ 11″ (1.80 m)
  • Born
    • August 25, 1958
    • Burbank, California, USA
  • Spouse
    • Lena GiesekeFebruary 24, 1989 - December 31, 1991 (divorced)
  • Children
      Billy-Ray Burton
  • Parents
      Jean Rae Burton (Erickson)
  • Relatives
    • Daniel Burton(Sibling)
  • Other works
    TV commercial for Timex starring Lisa Marie (2000).
  • Publicity listings
    • 13 Print Biographies
    • 3 Portrayals
    • 27 Interviews
    • 34 Articles
    • 1 Pictorial
    • 5 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Johnny Depp is a godfather of his son Billy Ray Burton.
  • Quotes
    You don't know whether chimps are going to kill you or kiss you. They're very open on some levels and much more evil in a certain way.
  • Trademarks
      Often plays the beginning credits sequence with the camera going through something (Batman (1989), Beetlejuice (1988), Edward Scissorhands (1990)) or following something (Batman Returns (1992), Mars Attacks! (1996), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)).

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