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Tom DiCillo

  • Director
  • Cinematographer
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Tom DiCillo at an event for Delirious (2006)
A look at the late '60s and early '70s rock band The Doors, including rare exclusive footage.
Play trailer1:56
When You're Strange (2009)
1 Video
16 Photos
Tom DiCillo is an American director, cinematographer, writer and (sometimes) actor born in Camp Le Jeune, North Carolina, and who studied film at New York University. During his early career he began working with director Jim Jarmusch as a cinematographer on films that include Stranger Than Paradise (1984) and Coffee and Cigarettes (1986). He also worked with Howard Brookner on the documentary Burroughs (1983), which featured the William S. Burroughs. His experience as cinematographer proved invaluable and he was soon writing and directing his own films.

Notable directorial projects from Tom include Johnny Suede (1991), Living in Oblivion (1995), The Real Blonde (1997), and When You're Strange (2009).

He is a good friend of Steve Buscemi and is thanked in Trees Lounge (1996), Steve's directorial debut.
BornAugust 14, 1953
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornAugust 14, 1953
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Awards
    • 15 wins & 8 nominations

Photos16

Writer/Director Tom DiCillo
Tom DiCillo
Tom DiCillo and John Densmore
Tom DiCillo and Doors drummer John Densmore in Paris for the theatrical release of When You're Strange.
Tom DiCillo and Andreas Stohl, director of the Munich Film Festival, 2011 retrospective of DiCillo's films.
Tom DiCillo and Steve Buscemi on the set of Delirious, DiCillo's 2007 film.
Brad Pitt and Tom DiCillo
Tom DiCillo in LA for publicity for When You're Strange, 2010
writer/director Tom DiCillo
Jim Jarmusch, Tom DiCillo, and Aaron Brookner at an event for Burroughs: The Movie (1983)
Tom DiCillo, Robby Krieger, and Ray Manzarek
Steve Buscemi and Tom DiCillo at an event for Delirious (2006)

Known for:

Steve Buscemi, Alison Lohman, and Michael Pitt in Delirious (2006)
Delirious
6.4
  • Director
  • 2006
Steve Buscemi in Living in Oblivion (1995)
Living in Oblivion
7.5
  • Director
  • 1995
Brad Pitt and Catherine Keener in Johnny Suede (1991)
Johnny Suede
5.8
  • Director
  • 1991
When You're Strange (2009)
When You're Strange
7.6
  • Director
  • 2009

Credits

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IMDbPro

Director

  • Will Arnett in Flaked (2016)
    Flaked
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2016
  • David Eigenberg, Christian Stolte, Eamonn Walker, Hanako Greensmith, Taylor Kinney, Joe Minoso, Kara Killmer, and Miranda Rae Mayo in Chicago Fire (2012)
    Chicago Fire
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2012–2015
  • Down in Shadowland (2014)
    Down in Shadowland
    • Director
    • 2014
  • Mariska Hargitay in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2011–2013
  • Law & Order: Los Angeles (2010)
    Law & Order: Los Angeles
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2011
  • Holt McCallany in Lights Out (2011)
    Lights Out
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2011
  • Julianna Margulies in The Good Wife (2009)
    The Good Wife
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2011
  • Vincent D'Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, Eric Bogosian, Julianne Nicholson, and Chris Noth in Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001)
    Law & Order: Criminal Intent
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2006–2010
  • When You're Strange (2009)
    When You're Strange
    • Director
    • 2009
  • Steve Buscemi, Alison Lohman, and Michael Pitt in Delirious (2006)
    Delirious
    • Director
    • 2006
  • Tony Shalhoub in Monk (2002)
    Monk
    • Director (as Tom Dicillo)
    • TV Series
    • 2003
  • Steve Buscemi, Elizabeth Hurley, Denis Leary, Donald Faison, and Keith Nobbs in Double Whammy (2001)
    Double Whammy
    • Director
    • 2001
  • Elizabeth Berkley in The Real Blonde (1997)
    The Real Blonde
    • Director
    • 1997
  • Box of Moonlight (1996)
    Box of Moonlight
    • Director
    • 1996
  • Steve Buscemi in Living in Oblivion (1995)
    Living in Oblivion
    • Director
    • 1995

Cinematographer

  • Down in Shadowland (2014)
    Down in Shadowland
    • Cinematographer
    • 2014
  • Coffee and Cigarettes (2003)
    Coffee and Cigarettes
    • director of photography (segment Strange To Meet You)
    • 2003
  • End of the Night (1990)
    End of the Night
    • Cinematographer
    • 1990
  • Monsters (1988)
    Monsters
    • Cinematographer
    • TV Series
    • 1990
  • Laura Ley (1989)
    Laura Ley
    • Cinematographer
    • 1989
  • John Savage in The Beat (1988)
    The Beat
    • director of photography (as Thomas DiCillo)
    • 1988
  • Robert Wilson and the Civil Wars (1987)
    Robert Wilson and the Civil Wars
    • Cinematographer
    • 1987
  • Robinson no niwa (1987)
    Robinson no niwa
    • director of photography
    • 1987
  • Roberto Benigni and Steven Wright in Coffee and Cigarettes (1986)
    Coffee and Cigarettes
    • Cinematographer
    • Short
    • 1986
  • Richard Edson, Eszter Balint, and John Lurie in Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
    Stranger Than Paradise
    • Cinematographer
    • 1984
  • Burroughs: The Movie (1983)
    Burroughs: The Movie
    • Cinematographer
    • 1983
  • Variety (1983)
    Variety
    • Cinematographer
    • 1983
  • Arena (1975)
    Arena
    • Cinematographer
    • TV Series
    • 1983
  • Permanent Vacation (1980)
    Permanent Vacation
    • Cinematographer (as Thomas DiCillo)
    • 1980
  • Underground U.S.A. (1980)
    Underground U.S.A.
    • Cinematographer
    • 1980

Writer

  • Down in Shadowland (2014)
    Down in Shadowland
    • writer
    • 2014
  • When You're Strange (2009)
    When You're Strange
    • written by
    • 2009
  • Steve Buscemi, Alison Lohman, and Michael Pitt in Delirious (2006)
    Delirious
    • written by
    • 2006
  • Steve Buscemi, Elizabeth Hurley, Denis Leary, Donald Faison, and Keith Nobbs in Double Whammy (2001)
    Double Whammy
    • Writer
    • 2001
  • Elizabeth Berkley in The Real Blonde (1997)
    The Real Blonde
    • written by
    • 1997
  • Box of Moonlight (1996)
    Box of Moonlight
    • written by
    • 1996
  • Steve Buscemi in Living in Oblivion (1995)
    Living in Oblivion
    • written by
    • 1995
  • Brad Pitt and Catherine Keener in Johnny Suede (1991)
    Johnny Suede
    • written by
    • 1991
  • Joe D'Angerio in God Save the King (1977)
    God Save the King
    • Writer
    • Short
    • 1977

Videos1

When You're Strange
Trailer 1:56
When You're Strange

Personal details

Edit
  • Official site
    • Tom DiCillo Blog
  • Alternative names
    • Thomas DiCillo
  • Born
    • August 14, 1953
    • Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, USA
  • Spouse
    • Jane Gill? - present
  • Publicity listings
    • 7 Interviews

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Published books of both his screenplays, Box of Moonlight and Living in Oblivion. Both books detail personal thoughts, frustrations and reflection on both the writing and filming process of both screenplays.
  • Quotes
    Have you ever noticed that the entertainment business is the only one where there has never been somebody picking up a machine gun and going berserk? A guy in a post office in Cincinnati will bring an AK-47 into his place of business because somebody used his coffee cup. Nothing like that has ever happened in the film business and never will. Never will. You know why? The stakes are too high. It's life and death. No one is ever going to jeopardize their place in the food chain. I'm not suggesting they do, but it's a brutal business.
  • Trademarks
      Films often contain a dream sequence central to the plot

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