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IMDbPro

Alexander Payne(I)

  • Producer
  • Director
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,0001501
Alexander Payne
From 'Citizen Ruth' to 'The Descendants,' here's a look at some of our favorite moments from the films of Alexander Payne.
Play clip1:46
Alexander Payne | Director Supercut
3 Videos
99+ Photos
Director, producer and screenwriter Alexander Payne was born in Omaha, Nebraska. His parents, Peggy (Constantine) and George Payne, ran a Greek restaurant. His father is of Greek and German ancestry, and his mother is of Greek descent; the family name was originally Papadopoulos. He is the youngest of three brothers.

Alexander attended Stanford University, where he majored in Spanish and History. He then went on to study film at UCLA Film School. His university thesis film was screened at the Sundance film festival, which led to him being backed by Miramax to write and direct Citizen Ruth (1996). Payne prefers to have control over his movies, from scripts to cast.
BornFebruary 10, 1961
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornFebruary 10, 1961
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,0001501
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 87 wins & 144 nominations total

    Photos157

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    Known for

    Bruce Dern in Nebraska (2013)
    Nebraska
    7.7
    • Director
    • 2013
    George Clooney in The Descendants (2011)
    The Descendants
    7.3
    • Producer
    • 2011
    Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon in Election (1999)
    Election
    7.2
    • Director
    • 1999
    Thomas Haden Church and Paul Giamatti in Sideways (2004)
    Sideways
    7.5
    • Director
    • 2004

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Producer



    • Small Town Wisconsin (2020)
      Small Town Wisconsin
      6.6
      • executive producer
      • 2020
    • Richard Jenkins and Shane Paul McGhie in The Last Shift (2020)
      The Last Shift
      5.8
      • executive producer
      • 2020
    • Christina Applegate, Thomas Haden Church, and Domhnall Gleeson in Crash Pad (2017)
      Crash Pad
      5.8
      • executive producer
      • 2017
    • Matt Damon in Downsizing (2017)
      Downsizing
      5.8
      • producer
      • 2017
    • Run Fast (2015)
      Run Fast
      7.9
      Short
      • executive producer
      • 2015
    • Rinko Kikuchi in Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter (2014)
      Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
      6.6
      • executive producer
      • 2014
    • Yolonda Ross and Levi Fiehler in Breaking Night (2012)
      Breaking Night
      7.5
      Short
      • executive producer
      • 2012
    • Hung (2009)
      Hung
      7.2
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2009–2011
    • L Train (2011)
      L Train
      7.9
      Short
      • executive producer
      • 2011
    • George Clooney in The Descendants (2011)
      The Descendants
      7.3
      • producer
      • 2011
    • Ed Helms in Cedar Rapids (2011)
      Cedar Rapids
      6.3
      • producer (produced by)
      • 2011
    • Sideways (2009)
      Sideways
      5.6
      • executive producer
      • 2009
    • Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood in King of California (2007)
      King of California
      6.6
      • producer
      • 2007
    • The Savages (2007)
      The Savages
      7.1
      • executive producer
      • 2007
    • Gray Matters (2006)
      Gray Matters
      5.7
      • executive producer
      • 2006

    Director



    • Untitled Alexander Payne/Jeanine Basinger Documentary Project
      • Director
      • Pre-production



    • Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph in The Holdovers (2023)
      The Holdovers
      7.9
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2023
    • Matt Damon in Downsizing (2017)
      Downsizing
      5.8
      • Director
      • 2017
    • Bruce Dern in Nebraska (2013)
      Nebraska
      7.7
      • Director
      • 2013
    • George Clooney in The Descendants (2011)
      The Descendants
      7.3
      • Director
      • 2011
    • Hung (2009)
      Hung
      7.2
      TV Series
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2009
    • from Cinema16: American Short Films (DVD)
      Cinema16: American Short Films
      7.3
      Video
      • Director
      • 2006
    • Paris, Je T'aime (2006)
      Paris, Je T'aime
      7.2
      • Director (segment "14e arrondissement")
      • 2006
    • Thomas Haden Church and Paul Giamatti in Sideways (2004)
      Sideways
      7.5
      • Director
      • 2004
    • Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt (2002)
      About Schmidt
      7.2
      • Director
      • 2002
    • Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon in Election (1999)
      Election
      7.2
      • Director
      • 1999
    • Laura Dern in Citizen Ruth (1996)
      Citizen Ruth
      7.0
      • Director
      • 1996
    • Inside Out III (1992)
      Inside Out III
      4.5
      Video
      • Director (segment "The Houseguest")
      • 1992
    • The Passion of Martin (1991)
      The Passion of Martin
      6.5
      • Director
      • 1991
    • Inside Out (1991)
      Inside Out
      4.7
      Video
      • Director (episode "My Secret Moments")
      • 1991
    • Carmen (1985)
      Carmen
      5.1
      Short
      • Director
      • 1985

    Writer



    • Matt Damon in Downsizing (2017)
      Downsizing
      5.8
      • written by
      • 2017
    • George Clooney in The Descendants (2011)
      The Descendants
      7.3
      • screenplay
      • 2011
    • Sideways (2009)
      Sideways
      5.6
      • story and characters
      • 2009
    • Adam Sandler and Kevin James in I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007)
      I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
      5.9
      • screenplay
      • 2007
    • Paris, Je T'aime (2006)
      Paris, Je T'aime
      7.2
      • Writer (segment "14e Arrondissement")
      • 2006
    • Thomas Haden Church and Paul Giamatti in Sideways (2004)
      Sideways
      7.5
      • screenplay
      • 2004
    • Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt (2002)
      About Schmidt
      7.2
      • screenplay
      • 2002
    • Jurassic Park III (2001)
      Jurassic Park III
      5.9
      • written by
      • 2001
    • Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon in Election (1999)
      Election
      7.2
      • screenplay
      • 1999
    • Laura Dern in Citizen Ruth (1996)
      Citizen Ruth
      7.0
      • written by
      • 1996
    • The Passion of Martin (1991)
      The Passion of Martin
      6.5
      • written by
      • 1991
    • Inside Out (1991)
      Inside Out
      4.7
      Video
      • written by (segment "My Secret Moments")
      • 1991
    • Carmen (1985)
      Carmen
      5.1
      Short
      • written by
      • 1985

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos3

    Alexander Payne | Director Supercut
    Clip 1:46
    Alexander Payne | Director Supercut
    The Envelope Screening Series
    Featurette 2:33
    The Envelope Screening Series
    The Envelope Screening Series
    Featurette 2:33
    The Envelope Screening Series
    Hong Chau: The Breakout Star of 'Downsizing'
    Video 1:46
    Hong Chau: The Breakout Star of 'Downsizing'

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Height
      • 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
    • Born
      • February 10, 1961
      • Omaha, Nebraska, USA
    • Spouses
        Maria KontouSeptember 2015 - ? (filed for divorce, 1 child)
    • Parents
        Peggy Constantine
    • Publicity listings
      • 3 Interviews
      • 8 Articles

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Everytime he was nominated for the Best Director Oscar, Martin Scorsese was nominated in the same category alongside him: first in 2005 when Payne was nominated for Sideways (2004) and Scorsese for The Aviator (2004), then in 2012 when Payne was nominated for The Descendants (2011) and Scorsese for Hugo (2011) and finally in 2014 when Payne was nominated for Nebraska (2013) and Scorsese for The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).
    • Quotes
      [on Reese Witherspoon in Election (1999)] She inhabited that role fully, but she can do all these other roles. You see a woman in her, not a girl. She's going to be interesting for a long time.
    • Trademarks
        Often sets his films in and around Omaha, Nebraska.

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