Thomas Dalby

Steven Allan Spielberg, born in 1946, is an American film director. Known as a cinematic prodigy, Spielberg's films have been seen by millions worldwide and have broken box office records. His films are generally enhanced with abundant visual and auditory effects, introducing audiences to new techniques and shaping expectations accordingly. Born in Cincinnati in 1946 to a Jewish family, his mother, Leah Posner (1920-2017), was a pianist, and his father, Arnold Spielberg, was an electrical engineer. From a very young age, he began making his own short films. Living in various parts of Arizona and California, Spielberg was accepted into California State University, Long Beach. However, after gaining recognition for his short film *Amblin* during his college years, he signed a contract with Universal Studios and had to drop out of school. Following TV films like *Duel* and *Something Evil*, his first feature film was *The Sugarland Express* in 1974. In 1975, with *Jaws*, at only 29 years old, he established himself among the great directors. This film influenced thriller films that came years later. In 1981, he directed *Raiders of the Lost Ark*, the first film in the Indiana Jones series, and in 1982, the science fiction classic *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial*. He continued his career with commercially successful films such as *Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom* in 1984, the war film *Empire of the Sun* starring child actor Christian Bale in 1987, and *Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade* in 1989. Following *Hook* in 1991, starring Robin Williams, he created two unforgettable films in 1993: *Jurassic Park*, depicting a disaster and adventures in a theme park inhabited by dinosaurs, and *Schindler's List*, which powerfully recounted events at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. *Schindler's List* won Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture. In 1998, he won the Best Director Oscar a second time for *Saving Private Ryan*. In subsequent years, he directed numerous productions in various genres, including *A.I. Artificial Intelligence*, *Catch Me If You Can*, *Munich*, *Lincoln*, *Bridge of Spies*, and *The BFG*. His 2017 film *The Post* reunited him with Tom Hanks, with whom he had collaborated many times before, and Meryl Streep. This film earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Director. With the 2018 release of *Ready Player One*, he returned to the science fiction genre after a long hiatus. He married actress Amy Irving in 1985, a marriage that ended in divorce four years later. They had one son, Max Samuel, born in 1985. In 1991, he married another actress, Kate Capshaw. They have three children together. In addition, they have one adopted child, one child from Capshaw's previous relationship, and one child previously adopted by Capshaw. His daughter, Sasha Spielberg, born in 1990, is also an actress.