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IMDbPro

Michael Cimino(1939-2016)

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Michael Cimino in Desperate Hours (1990)
Trailer for Year of the Dragon
Play trailer2:07
Year of the Dragon (1985)
1 Video
20 Photos
Michael Cimino studied architecture and dramatic arts; later he filmed advertisements and documentaries and also wrote scripts until the actor, producer and director Clint Eastwood gave him the opportunity to direct the thriller Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974). But his biggest success was The Deer Hunter (1978) which won the Oscar for Best Picture. For another successful film, The Sicilian (1987), he got into trouble with critics when they accused him of portraying as a hero the Italian criminal Salvatore Giuliano.
BornFebruary 3, 1939
DiedJuly 2, 2016(77)
BornFebruary 3, 1939
DiedJuly 2, 2016(77)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Won 2 Oscars
    • 14 wins & 13 nominations total

Photos20

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Known for

Robert De Niro in The Deer Hunter (1978)
The Deer Hunter
8.1
  • Director
  • 1978
Bruce Dern in Silent Running (1972)
Silent Running
6.6
  • Writer(as Mike Cimino)
  • 1972
Christopher Walken, Isabelle Huppert, and Kris Kristofferson in Heaven's Gate (1980)
Heaven's Gate
6.7
  • Director
  • 1980
Mickey Rourke in Year of the Dragon (1985)
Year of the Dragon
6.8
  • Director
  • 1985

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Director



  • To Each His Own Cinema (2007)
    To Each His Own Cinema
    6.7
    • Director (segment "No Translation Needed")
    • 2007
  • Woody Harrelson and Jon Seda in The Sunchaser (1996)
    The Sunchaser
    6.1
    • Director
    • 1996
  • Mickey Rourke in Desperate Hours (1990)
    Desperate Hours
    5.4
    • Director
    • 1990
  • Christopher Lambert in The Sicilian (1987)
    The Sicilian
    5.4
    • Director
    • 1987
  • Mickey Rourke in Year of the Dragon (1985)
    Year of the Dragon
    6.8
    • Director
    • 1985
  • Christopher Walken, Isabelle Huppert, and Kris Kristofferson in Heaven's Gate (1980)
    Heaven's Gate
    6.7
    • Director
    • 1980
  • Robert De Niro in The Deer Hunter (1978)
    The Deer Hunter
    8.1
    • Director
    • 1978
  • Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, and George Kennedy in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
    Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
    7.0
    • Director
    • 1974
  • United Airlines: Take Me Along (1967)
    United Airlines: Take Me Along
    6.4
    TV Special
    • Director
    • 1967
  • Eastman Kodak: Yesterdays
    5.4
    TV Special
    • Director
    • 1967

Writer



  • Il pianto della statua (2007)
    Il pianto della statua
    5.2
    • short story "The Wind Sculpture"
    • 2007
  • Mickey Rourke in Year of the Dragon (1985)
    Year of the Dragon
    6.8
    • screenplay by
    • 1985
  • 250.000 Mücken im Pappkarton
    TV Movie
    • Writer
    • 1985
  • Christopher Walken, Isabelle Huppert, and Kris Kristofferson in Heaven's Gate (1980)
    Heaven's Gate
    6.7
    • written by
    • 1980
  • Bette Midler in The Rose (1979)
    The Rose
    6.9
    • story (uncredited)
    • 1979
  • Robert De Niro in The Deer Hunter (1978)
    The Deer Hunter
    8.1
    • story
    • 1978
  • Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, and George Kennedy in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
    Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
    7.0
    • written by
    • 1974
  • Clint Eastwood in Magnum Force (1973)
    Magnum Force
    7.2
    • screenplay
    • 1973
  • Bruce Dern in Silent Running (1972)
    Silent Running
    6.6
    • written by (as Mike Cimino)
    • 1972

Producer



  • Woody Harrelson and Jon Seda in The Sunchaser (1996)
    The Sunchaser
    6.1
    • producer
    • 1996
  • Mickey Rourke in Desperate Hours (1990)
    Desperate Hours
    5.4
    • producer
    • 1990
  • Christopher Lambert in The Sicilian (1987)
    The Sicilian
    5.4
    • producer
    • 1987
  • Robert De Niro in The Deer Hunter (1978)
    The Deer Hunter
    8.1
    • producer
    • 1978

Videos1

Year of the Dragon
Trailer 2:07
Year of the Dragon

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative name
    • Mike Cimino
  • Height
    • 5′ 5″ (1.65 m)
  • Born
    • February 3, 1939
    • New York City, New York, USA
  • Died
    • July 2, 2016
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(undisclosed causes)
  • Relatives
      T. Rafael Cimino(Niece or Nephew)
  • Other works
    Novel: "Big Jane". Paris: Editions Gallimard, 2001. ISBN 2070417603
  • Publicity listings
    • 3 Biographical Movies
    • 6 Print Biographies
    • 1 Portrayal
    • 4 Interviews
    • 5 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    In December 1981 he was signed to direct the musical Footloose (1984). Producer Daniel Melnick warned him that if the film went over its budget of $7.5 million, Cimino would have to cover the expenses himself. He agreed, but the following month, just as the movie was about to begin shooting, he asked Melnick to let him rewrite the screenplay for an additional $250.000 and to delay the start date. Melnick fired him and Herbert Ross directed Footloose (1984) instead.
  • Quotes
    [11/11/96 interview in "People" magazine on how the failure of Heaven's Gate (1980) affected his life] It was really a great trauma, as everyone knows. Since then, I've been unable to make any movie that I've wanted to make. I've been making the best of what is available.
  • Trademarks
      Frequently casts Mickey Rourke, Christopher Walken and Jeff Bridges
  • Nicknames
    • The Ayatollah
    • Nikki

FAQ11

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  • How did Michael Cimino die?
  • How old was Michael Cimino when he died?

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