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Roger Corman

Production 98 (deceased) years old Detroit, Michigan, USA ★ 2.3
Born: April 5, 1926
Died: May 9, 2024

Biography

Roger William Corman (April 5, 1926 – May 9, 2024) was an American film director, producer and actor. Known under various monikers such as "The Pope of Pop Cinema", “The King of The B’s”, "The Spiritual Godfather of the New Hollywood", and "The King of Cult", he was known as a trailblazer in the world of independent film.

Many of the more than 500 features directed or produced by Corman were low-budget films that later attracted a cult following, such as The Little Shop of Horrors (1960), The Intruder (1962), X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes (1963), and the counterculture films, The Wild Angels (1966) and The Trip (1967). House of Usher (1960) became the first of eight films directed by Corman that were adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and which collectively came to be known as the "Poe Cycle".

In 1964, Corman became the youngest filmmaker to have a retrospective at the Cinémathèque française, as well as in the British Film Institute and the Museum of Modern Art. He was the co-founder of New World Pictures, the founder of New Concorde and was a longtime member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In 2009, he was awarded an Academy Honorary Award "for his rich engendering of films and filmmakers".

Corman was also famous for handling the U.S. distribution of many films by noted foreign directors, including Federico Fellini (Italy), Ingmar Bergman (Sweden), François Truffaut (France) and Akira Kurosawa (Japan). He mentored and gave a start to many young film directors such as Francis Ford Coppola, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese, Jonathan Demme, Peter Bogdanovich, Joe Dante, John Sayles, and James Cameron, and was highly influential in the New Hollywood filmmaking movement of the 1960s and 1970s. He also helped to launch the careers of actors like Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Dennis Hopper, Bruce Dern, Diane Ladd, and William Shatner.

External Links

🎬 IMDb

Known For

The Devastator
The Devastator Executive Producer 1986
TNT Jackson
TNT Jackson Executive Producer 1974
The Masque of the Red Death
The Masque of the Red Death Producer 1964
The Great Texas Dynamite Chase
The Great Texas Dynamite Chase Executive Producer 1976
Sorority House Massacre
Sorority House Massacre Executive Producer 1986

Filmography

Acting Credits (149)

Il cinema secondo Corman
Il cinema secondo Corman Self 2025
SEGAL
SEGAL Self 2025
Wasp Woman: Murder of a B-movie Queen
Wasp Woman: Murder of a B-movie Queen Himself 2025
Sharksploitation
Sharksploitation Self 2024
The Last Drive-In Live: A Tribute to Roger Corman
The Last Drive-In Live: A Tribute to Roger Corman Himself 2024
Lost Explorer
Lost Explorer Jean 2023
Spector
Spector Self 2022
Charles Band’s Full Moon Freakshow
Charles Band’s Full Moon Freakshow 2022
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster Self 2021
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists! Self (archive footage) 2021
Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema
Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema Self 2021
Tales of the Uncanny
Tales of the Uncanny Self 2020
Ivan, the TerrirBle
Ivan, the TerrirBle Self (archive footage) 2020
Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp
Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp Self 2020
Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi
Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi Self 2020
AGFA Mystery Mixtape #3: Sequelitis
AGFA Mystery Mixtape #3: Sequelitis Self 2020
AGFA Mystery Mixtape #1
AGFA Mystery Mixtape #1 Self 2020
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault (archive footage) 2020
Corman's Eyedrops Got Me Too Crazy
Corman's Eyedrops Got Me Too Crazy Self 2020
The Movies That Made Us
The Movies That Made Us Self 2019
CULT-TASTIC: Tales From The Trenches With Roger And Julie Corman
CULT-TASTIC: Tales From The Trenches With Roger And Julie Corman Himself 2019
Dr. Jack & Mr. Nicholson
Dr. Jack & Mr. Nicholson Self 2019
The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs
The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs 2019
The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs
The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs Self 2019
Memory: The Origins of Alien
Memory: The Origins of Alien Self 2019
Bloody And Groovy Baby! A Tribute to Sam Raimi's Evil Dead 2
Bloody And Groovy Baby! A Tribute to Sam Raimi's Evil Dead 2 Self 2018
Greetings from Tromaville!
Greetings from Tromaville! Himself 2017
Monstres, l'ennemi de l'intérieur
Monstres, l'ennemi de l'intérieur Self 2017
Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive
Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive 2017
It Was a Colossal Teenage Movie Machine: The AIP Story
It Was a Colossal Teenage Movie Machine: The AIP Story Himself 2015
Kings of Cult
Kings of Cult self 2015
Doomed! The Untold Story of Roger Corman's The Fantastic Four
Doomed! The Untold Story of Roger Corman's The Fantastic Four Himself 2015
Extraordinary Tales
Extraordinary Tales Prince Prospero (voice) (segment 'The Masque of the Red Death') 2015
Monster Madness: Mutants, Space Invaders, and Drive-Ins
Monster Madness: Mutants, Space Invaders, and Drive-Ins Self 2014
It Came From Connemara!
It Came From Connemara! Self 2014
Behind the Swinging Blade
Behind the Swinging Blade Self 2014
That Guy Dick Miller
That Guy Dick Miller Self 2014
La última película de Jess Franco
La última película de Jess Franco Self 2013
Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the American Drive-in Movie
Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the American Drive-in Movie 2013
Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader
Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader Dean Hinkle 2012
Corman's World
Corman's World Self - Filmmaker 2011
Produce Your Own Damn Movie!
Produce Your Own Damn Movie! Self 2011
From Manila with Love
From Manila with Love Himself 2011
Still Screaming: The Ultimate Scary Movie Retrospective
Still Screaming: The Ultimate Scary Movie Retrospective Self 2011
Tales from the Lumber Yard: The Making of Galaxy of Terror
Tales from the Lumber Yard: The Making of Galaxy of Terror Self 2010
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood Self 2010
Machete Maidens Unleashed!
Machete Maidens Unleashed! Self 2010
A History of Horror
A History of Horror Self 2010
Sleepless Nights: Revisiting the Slumber Party Massacres
Sleepless Nights: Revisiting the Slumber Party Massacres Himself (archive footage) 2010
Sharktopus
Sharktopus Beach Bum 2010
Sodankylä Forever
Sodankylä Forever Self 2010
With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story
With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story Self 2010
Sodankylä Forever
Sodankylä Forever Self 2010
Charles Beaumont: The Short Life of Twilight Zone's Magic Man
Charles Beaumont: The Short Life of Twilight Zone's Magic Man Self 2010
Dinoshark
Dinoshark Dr. Frank Reeves 2010
Nightmares in Red, White and Blue
Nightmares in Red, White and Blue Self 2009
Popatopolis
Popatopolis Himself 2009
Direct Your Own Damn Movie!
Direct Your Own Damn Movie! Self 2009
Tromatized: Meet Lloyd Kaufman
Tromatized: Meet Lloyd Kaufman Himself 2009
Hollywood Gangster
Hollywood Gangster Self 2008
The Fanex Files, Volume 2: Samuel Z. Arkoff
The Fanex Files, Volume 2: Samuel Z. Arkoff Himself 2008
Rachel Getting Married
Rachel Getting Married Wedding Guest 2008
Starz Inside: Comic Books Unbound
Starz Inside: Comic Books Unbound Self - Producer, The Fantastic Four (1994) 2008
Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story
Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story Self 2007
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project Self 2007
Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows
Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows Self 2007
Searchers 2.0
Searchers 2.0 Producer (Flashback) 2007
Influence And Appreciation: A Martin Scorsese Tribute
Influence And Appreciation: A Martin Scorsese Tribute Self 2007
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman Self 2007
The Sci-Fi Boys
The Sci-Fi Boys Self 2006
Gangland: Bullets over Hollywood
Gangland: Bullets over Hollywood 2005
The Perfect Scary Movie
The Perfect Scary Movie Self 2005
The True Story of Hannibal
The True Story of Hannibal Self - Producer 2005
Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen
Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen Self 2004
The Manchurian Candidate
The Manchurian Candidate Mr. Secretary 2004
Mario Bava: Operazione paura
Mario Bava: Operazione paura Self 2004
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
Looney Tunes: Back in Action Hollywood Director 2003
Corman's Comedy of Poe
Corman's Comedy of Poe Himself 2003
A Decade Under the Influence
A Decade Under the Influence Self 2003
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood Self 2003
All the Love You Cannes!
All the Love You Cannes! Self 2002
Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film
Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film Self (uncredited) 2002
Burnt Offering: The Cult of The Wicker Man
Burnt Offering: The Cult of The Wicker Man Himself 2001
The Wicker Man Enigma
The Wicker Man Enigma Himself 2001
Hidden Values: The Movies of the Fifties
Hidden Values: The Movies of the Fifties Self 2001
Inside the Labyrinth: The Making of 'The Silence of the Lambs'
Inside the Labyrinth: The Making of 'The Silence of the Lambs' Self 2001
It Conquered Hollywood! The Story of American International Pictures
It Conquered Hollywood! The Story of American International Pictures Self 2001
Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies
Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies Himself 2001
Remembering 'The Intruder'
Remembering 'The Intruder' Himself 2001
The Independent
The Independent Roger Corman 2000
Scream 3
Scream 3 Studio Executive 2000
The Phantom Eye
The Phantom Eye Dr. Gorman 1999
The Devil Ant
The Devil Ant Himself 1999
Some Nudity Required
Some Nudity Required Himself 1998
The Dark Side of Hollywood
The Dark Side of Hollywood 1998
Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs
Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs Self 1998
The Second Civil War
The Second Civil War Sandy Collins 1997
Vincent Price: The Versatile Villain
Vincent Price: The Versatile Villain Self 1997
The Practice
The Practice John Matlin 1997
100 Years of Horror
100 Years of Horror Self - Interview 1996
E! True Hollywood Story
E! True Hollywood Story 1996
Chiller Theatre Fiend Club Show: Volume 2
Chiller Theatre Fiend Club Show: Volume 2 Self 1996
Apollo 13
Apollo 13 Congressman 1995
Runaway Daughters
Runaway Daughters Mr. Randolph 1994
Rebel Highway
Rebel Highway Mr. Randolph 1994
The Man Who Drew Bug-Eyed Monsters
The Man Who Drew Bug-Eyed Monsters Self 1994
A Century of Cinema
A Century of Cinema Self 1994
Philadelphia
Philadelphia Mr. Laird 1993
Body Bags
Body Bags Dr. Bregman 1993
Crazy About the Movies: Dennis Hopper
Crazy About the Movies: Dennis Hopper Self 1991
The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs FBI Director Hayden Burke 1991
Hollywood Boulevard II
Hollywood Boulevard II Roger Corman 1991
Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210 Roger Corman 1990
Martin Scorsese Directs
Martin Scorsese Directs Self 1990
Horror Cafe
Horror Cafe Self 1990
First Works
First Works Self 1989
Lords of the Deep
Lords of the Deep Corporate executive (uncredited) 1989
Biography
Biography Self 1987
Out of the Blue and Into the Black
Out of the Blue and Into the Black Self 1987
Ticket to Hollywood
Ticket to Hollywood Self 1984
Swing Shift
Swing Shift Mr. MacBride 1984
The Horror of It All
The Horror of It All Self 1983
The State of Things
The State of Things The Lawyer 1982
The Howling
The Howling Man in Phone Booth (uncredited) 1981
Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel
Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel Self 1978
Cannonball
Cannonball District Attorney 1976
Tidal Wave
Tidal Wave President of the United States (voice) 1975
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche Self 1975
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II Senator #2 1974
Target: Harry
Target: Harry Man on Phone 1969
Blood Bath
Blood Bath Antonio Sordi (in flashback) (uncredited) 1966
Horror!!!
Horror!!! Self 1964
The Young Racers
The Young Racers Man Outside Monaco Hotel (uncredited) 1963
Atlas
Atlas Greek Soldier (uncredited) 1961
Battle of Blood Island
Battle of Blood Island Soldier on Hilltop (uncredited) 1960
Ski Troop Attack
Ski Troop Attack German Officer (uncredited) 1960
The Wasp Woman
The Wasp Woman Hospital Doctor (uncredited) 1959
Hot Car Girl
Hot Car Girl Cop Who Finds Note (uncredited) 1958
Cry Baby Killer
Cry Baby Killer Joe - TV Truck Man (uncredited) 1958
War of the Satellites
War of the Satellites Ground Control (uncredited) 1958
Naked Paradise
Naked Paradise Office Worker (uncredited) 1957
Day the World Ended
Day the World Ended Nelson - Louise's Fiancée in Framed Photograph (uncredited) 1955
The Fast and the Furious
The Fast and the Furious Roadblock State Trooper (uncredited) 1954
Monster from the Ocean Floor
Monster from the Ocean Floor Tommy (uncredited) 1954
In Hock & Staying There
In Hock & Staying There Himself
I Am Not God But I Am Michelangelo Antonioni
I Am Not God But I Am Michelangelo Antonioni Self
Mary Woronov: Cult Queen
Mary Woronov: Cult Queen Self
Z Dead End
Z Dead End Rumored
Olivera & Corman: Hollywood en Argentina
Olivera & Corman: Hollywood en Argentina Entrevistado

Directing Credits (52)

Frankenstein Unbound
Frankenstein Unbound Director 1990
Von Richthofen and Brown
Von Richthofen and Brown Director 1971
Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It.
Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It. Director 1970
Bloody Mama
Bloody Mama Director 1970
Target: Harry
Target: Harry Director 1969
The Wild Racers
The Wild Racers Director 1968
The Trip
The Trip Director 1967
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre Director 1967
The Wild Angels
The Wild Angels Director 1966
The Tomb of Ligeia
The Tomb of Ligeia Director 1964
The Secret Invasion
The Secret Invasion Director 1964
The Masque of the Red Death
The Masque of the Red Death Director 1964
The Haunted Palace
The Haunted Palace Director 1963
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes Director 1963
The Terror
The Terror Director 1963
The Raven
The Raven Director 1963
The Young Racers
The Young Racers Director 1963
Tower of London
Tower of London Director 1962
Tales of Terror
Tales of Terror Director 1962
The Intruder
The Intruder Director 1962
The Premature Burial
The Premature Burial Director 1962
The Pit and the Pendulum
The Pit and the Pendulum Director 1961
Creature from the Haunted Sea
Creature from the Haunted Sea Director 1961
Atlas
Atlas Director 1961
Last Woman on Earth
Last Woman on Earth Director 1960
House of Usher
House of Usher Director 1960
The Little Shop of Horrors
The Little Shop of Horrors Director 1960
Ski Troop Attack
Ski Troop Attack Director 1960
The Wasp Woman
The Wasp Woman Director 1959
A Bucket of Blood
A Bucket of Blood Director 1959
I, Mobster
I, Mobster Director 1959
She Gods of Shark Reef
She Gods of Shark Reef Director 1958
Teenage Cave Man
Teenage Cave Man Director 1958
War of the Satellites
War of the Satellites Director 1958
Machine-Gun Kelly
Machine-Gun Kelly Director 1958
The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent
The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent Director 1957
Sorority Girl
Sorority Girl Director 1957
Teenage Doll
Teenage Doll Director 1957
Carnival Rock
Carnival Rock Director 1957
Rock All Night
Rock All Night Director 1957
The Undead
The Undead Director 1957
Attack of the Crab Monsters
Attack of the Crab Monsters Director 1957
Not of This Earth
Not of This Earth Director 1957
Naked Paradise
Naked Paradise Director 1957
It Conquered the World
It Conquered the World Director 1956
The Oklahoma Woman
The Oklahoma Woman Director 1956
Gunslinger
Gunslinger Director 1956
Swamp Women
Swamp Women Director 1956
Day the World Ended
Day the World Ended Director 1955
Apache Woman
Apache Woman Director 1955
The Beast with a Million Eyes
The Beast with a Million Eyes Director 1955
Five Guns West
Five Guns West Director 1955

Writing Credits (9)

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