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IMDbPro

Penelope Spheeris

  • Director
  • Additional Crew
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Penelope Spheeris in The Kid & I (2005)
Spheeris is often referred to as a 'rock 'n roll anthropologist'.

In 1974 she formed the first Los Angeles music video production company, ROCK 'N REEL. She concluded her music video work with the Grammy-nominated, "Bohemian Rhapsody" video for "Wayne's World". Spheeris' feature film debut was the 1979 documentary on the Los Angeles punk scene, "The Decline of Western Civilization" which was received with stunning and unanimous critical praise. In 1983 she wrote and directed "Suburbia", produced by Roger Corman. It is a disturbing and prophetic story of rebellious, homeless kids squatting in abandoned houses, trying to make new families, and protecting one another. "Suburbia" won first place at the Chicago Film Festival. Almost 25 years later her documentary, "The Decline of Western Civilization, Part III" would eerily mirror the events she scripted in "Suburbia". In the mid-80s she directed "The Boys Next Door", starring Charlie Sheen and Maxwell Caulfield, then "Dudes" starring John Cryer, Flea, and Daniel Roebuck. Both films have attained cult classic status. "The Decline of Western Civilization, Part II: The Metal Years" was released in 1988, again to spectacular critical acclaim. Commentaries from Ozzy Osbourne, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Alice Cooper, Lemmy of Motorhead, Poison, etc. make it one of the most memorable pieces of rock film history.

In 1992, Spheeris directed her seventh feature, and first studio film, "Wayne's World" at Paramount Pictures. Subsequently she directed and produced "The Beverly Hillbillies" (Fox), wrote and directed "The Little Rascals" (Universal), then directed "Black Sheep" (Paramount), etc. In 1999, Spheeris documented The Ozzfest, America's most successful summer concert tour, and the reunion performances of the original Black Sabbath. Both as director and one of the cinematographers, Spheeris achieved a remarkable and historic film which offers the audience a unique view of life on the road: "We Sold Our Souls For Rock 'N Roll".

(2016) She is currently touring with her Producer/daughter Anna Fox, screening "The Decline" trilogy in support of the Shout Factory DVD release.
BornDecember 2, 1945
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornDecember 2, 1945
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Awards
    • 10 wins & 3 nominations

Photos27

Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Patty Jenkins, Penelope Spheeris, and Alicia Keys in Five (2011)
Penelope Spheeris in Hollywood Vice Squad (1986)
Penelope Spheeris and Travis Tedford in The Little Rascals (1994)
Petey and Penelope Spheeris in The Little Rascals (1994)
Director Penelope Spheeris & pal
Penelope Spheeris
Penelope Spheeris in The Decline of Western Civilization Part III (1998)
Penelope Spheeris in The Decline of Western Civilization Part III (1998)
Tom Arnold, Shaquille O'Neal, Penelope Spheeris, and Eric Gores in The Kid & I (2005)
Penelope Spheeris
Mike Myers and Penelope Spheeris in Wayne's World (1992)
Penelope Spheeris

Known for

Suburbia (1983)
Suburbia
6.9
  • Director
  • 1983
Ross Bagley, Blake Collins, Blake Ewing, Bug Hall, Brittany Ashton Holmes, Zachary Mabry, Petey, Sam Saletta, Travis Tedford, and Kevin Jamal Woods in The Little Rascals (1994)
The Little Rascals
6.3
  • Director
  • 1994
Erika Eleniak, Dabney Coleman, Cloris Leachman, Jim Varney, Lily Tomlin, and Diedrich Bader in The Beverly Hillbillies (1993)
The Beverly Hillbillies
5.0
  • Director
  • 1993
The Decline of Western Civilization Part III (1998)
The Decline of Western Civilization Part III
7.2
  • Director
  • 1998

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Director

  • Callard Harris and Torrey DeVitto in The Real St. Nick (2012)
    The Real St. Nick
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 2012
  • Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Patty Jenkins, Penelope Spheeris, and Alicia Keys in Five (2011)
    Five
    • Director (segment Cheyanne)
    • TV Movie
    • 2011
  • Balls to the Wall (2011)
    Balls to the Wall
    • Director
    • 2011
  • Tom Arnold and Eric Gores in The Kid & I (2005)
    The Kid & I
    • Director
    • 2005
  • Cracking Up (2004)
    Cracking Up
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2004
  • The 75th Annual Academy Awards (2003)
    The 75th Annual Academy Awards
    • Director (segment Tribute to Documentaries)
    • TV Special
    • 2003
  • The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron (2003)
    The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 2003
  • We Sold Our Souls for Rock 'n Roll (2001)
    We Sold Our Souls for Rock 'n Roll
    • Director
    • 2001
  • Dear Doughboy (2000)
    Dear Doughboy
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 2000
  • Phil Fondacaro in Hollywierd (1999)
    Hollywierd
    • Director
    • 1999
  • Applewood 911 (1998)
    Applewood 911
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 1998
  • The Thing in Bob's Garage
    • Director
    • 1998
  • David Spade and Marlon Wayans in Senseless (1998)
    Senseless
    • Director
    • 1998
  • The Decline of Western Civilization Part III (1998)
    The Decline of Western Civilization Part III
    • Director
    • 1998
  • Chris Farley and David Spade in Black Sheep (1996)
    Black Sheep
    • Director
    • 1996

Additional Crew

  • John Goodman, Roseanne Barr, Sara Gilbert, Michael Fishman, Alicia Goranson, and Laurie Metcalf in Roseanne (1988)
    Roseanne
    • story editor
    • TV Series
    • 1989–1990

Producer

  • Tom Arnold and Eric Gores in The Kid & I (2005)
    The Kid & I
    • producer
    • 2005
  • The 75th Annual Academy Awards (2003)
    The 75th Annual Academy Awards
    • segment producer
    • TV Special
    • 2003
  • Erika Eleniak, Dabney Coleman, Cloris Leachman, Jim Varney, Lily Tomlin, and Diedrich Bader in The Beverly Hillbillies (1993)
    The Beverly Hillbillies
    • producer
    • 1993
  • Danger Theatre (1993)
    Danger Theatre
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 1993
  • Likely Stories, Vol. 4 (1983)
    Likely Stories, Vol. 4
    • co-producer (segment A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening)
    • TV Movie
    • 1983
  • The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)
    The Decline of Western Civilization
    • producer (produced by)
    • 1981
  • Real Life (1979)
    Real Life
    • producer
    • 1979
  • Saturday Night Live (1975)
    Saturday Night Live
    • producer: film segments
    • TV Series
    • 1975–1976
  • Richard Pryor in Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales (1969)
    Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales
    • producer
    • Short
    • 1969

Personal details

Edit
  • Official site
    • Official Site
  • Alternative names
    • P. Spheeris
  • Height
    • 5′ 6½″ (1.69 m)
  • Born
    • December 2, 1945
    • New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
  • Spouse
    • Bob BiggsJuly 7, 1977 - December 14, 1984 (divorced)
  • Relatives
    • Costa-Gavras(Cousin)
  • Other works
    Print ads for Directors Guild of America (2001)
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Portrayal
    • 1 Interview
    • 2 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Declined the offer to direct This Is Spinal Tap (1984), because she thought you couldn't make fun of Heavy Metal music.
  • Quotes
    The Decline of Western Civilization (1981) was financed by two businessmen from the Valley who wanted to finance films. They had no idea I was going in to pitch a punk rock movie.
  • Salary
    • Wayne's World
      (1992)
      $150,000

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