John Ford

John Ford Profile Photo

Biography

John Ford (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973) was an American film director. He was famous for both his westerns such as Stagecoach (1939), The Searchers (1956), and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), and adaptations of such classic 20th-century American novels as The Grapes of Wrath (1940). His four Academy Awards for Best Director (1935, 1940, 1941, 1952) is a record, and one of those films, How Green Was My Valley (1941), also won Best Picture. In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Ford directed more than 140 films (although nearly all of his silent films are now lost) and he is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. Ford's films and personality were held in high regard by his colleagues, with Ingmar Bergman and Orson Welles among those who have named him as one of the greatest directors of all time. In particular, Ford was a pioneer of location shooting and the long shot which frames his characters against a vast, harsh and rugged natural terrain.

Career Overview

John Ford has 244 screen credits in a career dating back to 1914. Their work spans 3 cinematic universes — most prominently The Life of a Nation Collection with 1 titles. Signature works include The Searchers, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, How the West Was Won. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For
Directing
Gender
male
Known Credits
244
Birth Date
1894-02-01 00:00:00
Birth Place
Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA

Known For

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 3 universes

Frequent Collaborators

Credits