Considered by many to be one of the greatest film directors of his era, Martin Scorsese was nominated for best director five times before receiving an Academy Award for The Departed in 2007. The Departed also won him best director awards from the Golden Globes and the Director's Guild of America. Scorsese's debut feature film, Who's That Knocking at My Door, was released in 1967.
Scorsese signed on in May of 2009 to direct a biopic of Frank Sinatra. Several actors being considered to play the lead role in the film are Johnny Depp, James Franco and Leonardo DiCaprio.Kansas Star: Frank Sinatra's biopic (May 21, 2009)
Recurring Themes
Although his films take place in various settings and explore a variety of topics, his main characters are often desperate individuals struggling to find and maintain their identities within an oppressive social structure. An Italian-American Roman Catholic himself, many of Scorcese's movies touch on themes of redemption and guilt, machismo and include scenes of graphic violence.
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Fast Facts
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Full name
Martin Marcantonio Luciano Scorsese
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Born
November 17, 1942
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Birthplace
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Italian-American descent
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Roman Catholic
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Has been married five times
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Considered becoming a priest before studying film at New York University
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Was a film studies instructor at NYU, where he taught Oliver Stone and Spike Lee
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Won a best director Golden Globe for Gangs of New York in 2003
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Scorcese and his family members appear in cameo roles in many of his films
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Often works with Robert DeNiro
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The Rolling Stones' music is featured on many Scorcese movie soundtracks
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1997
Received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute
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Founded the World Cinema Foundation
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President of the Film Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to film preservation
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Debut Feature Film
Who's That Knocking at My Door (1967)
