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Samuel Fuller
Director

Samuel Fuller

12 Aug 1912Born
30 Oct 1997Died
85Age at death
76Credits

Biography

Samuel Michael Fuller (August 12, 1912 – October 30, 1997) was an American screenwriter, novelist and film director known for low-budget genre movies with controversial themes.

He was born Samuel Michael Fuller in Worcester, Massachusetts, the son of Benjamin Rabinovitch, a Jewish immigrant  from Russia, and Rebecca Baum, a Jewish immigrant from Poland. After immigrating to America, the family's surname was changed from Rabinovitch to "Fuller" possibly by inspiration of a Doctor who arrived in America on the Mayflower.  At the age of 12, he began working in journalism  as a newspaper  copyboy. He became a crime reporter  in New York City at age 17, working for the New York Evening Graphic.

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He broke the story of Jeanne Eagels' death.  He wrote pulp novels and screenplays  from the mid-1930s onwards. Fuller also became a screenplay  ghostwriter  but would never tell interviewers which screenplays that he ghost-wrote explaining "that's what a ghost writer is for".

During World War II, Fuller joined the United States Army infantry. He was assigned to the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, and saw heavy fighting. He was involved in landings in Africa, Sicily, and Normandy  and also saw action in Belgium and Czechoslovakia. In 1945 he was present at the liberation of the German concentration camp at Falkenau  and shot 16 mm footage which was used later in the documentary Falkenau: The Impossible. For his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star, the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart.  Fuller used his wartime experiences as material in his films, especially in The Big Red One (1980), a nickname of the 1st Infantry Division.

After his controversial film "White Dog" was shelved by Paramount pictures, Fuller moved to France, and never directed another American film. Fuller eventually returned to America. He died of natural causes in his California home. In November 1997, the Directors Guild held a three hour memorial in his honor, hosted by Curtis Hanson, his long time friend and co-writer on White Dog. He was survived by his wife Christa and daughter Samantha.

Known for

Filmography

  1. 2026The Road to JerichoFilm
  2. 2025Films to Die ForFilm: (archive footage) (uncredited)
  3. 2011Nuits transparentesFilm
  4. 2009CarmelFilm
  5. 2005The Big Red One: The ReconstructionFilm: War Correspondent (uncredited), Writer, Director
  6. 2003Necro not(to b)eFilm: Sé stesso
  7. 1997The End of ViolenceFilm: Louis
  8. 1994Somebody to LoveFilm: Sam Silverman
  9. 1994Girls in PrisonFilm: Writer
  10. 1994Rebel HighwaySeries: Writer (1 episode)
  11. 1993Golem: The Petrified GardenFilm: Sam
  12. 1992Golem, the Spirit of ExileFilm: Elimelek
  13. 1992La Vie de BohèmeFilm: Gassot
  14. 1990The Madonna and the DragonFilm: Chef de bureau Newsweek, Director, Screenplay
  15. 1990The Day of ReckoningFilm: Director, Screenplay
  16. 1990ChillersSeries: Director, Writer (1 episode)
  17. 1990SonsFilm: Father
  18. 1989Street of No ReturnFilm: Police Commissioner, Director, Screenplay
  19. 1989David LanskySeries (1 episode)
  20. 1988Falkenau, the ImpossibleFilm: Samuel Fuller
  21. 1988Mer de Chine: Le pays pour mémoireFilm: Le capitaine américain
  22. 1987Helsinki Napoli All Night LongFilm: Boss
  23. 1987A Return to Salem's LotFilm: Van Meer
  24. 1987Midnight Sun Film FestivalFilm
  25. 1987The Bleeding StarFilm: The Man in the Bar
  26. 1985Report from HollywoodFilm
  27. 1984Thieves After DarkFilm: Zoltan, Writer, Director
  28. 1982Slapstick of Another KindFilm: Colonel Sharp
  29. 1982White DogFilm: Charlie Felton, Screenplay, Director
  30. 1982HammettFilm: Old Man in Pool Hall
  31. 1982The State of ThingsFilm: Joe
  32. 1980The Big Red OneFilm: War Correspondent (uncredited), Director, Writer
  33. 19791941Film: Interceptor Commander
  34. 1978CinématonFilm: N°602
  35. 1978The Meanest Men in the WestFilm: Director, Screenplay
  36. 1977The American FriendFilm: The American
  37. 1977Scott JoplinFilm: Impresario
  38. 1974The KlansmanFilm: Screenplay
  39. 1973The Young NursesFilm: Doc Haskell
  40. 1972Dead Pigeon on Beethoven StreetFilm: Writer, Director
  41. 1971The Last MovieFilm: Sam
  42. 1970Scene of the CrimeSeries: Director, Writer (1 episode)
  43. 1969SharkFilm: Director, Screenplay
  44. 1968TargetsFilm: Screenplay
  45. 1967Cinéastes de notre temps : Samuel FullerFilm: Interviewee
  46. 1967The Cape Town AffairFilm: Writer
  47. 1965Pierrot le FouFilm: Samuel Fuller (uncredited)
  48. 1964The Naked KissFilm: Director, Writer
  49. 1963Shock CorridorFilm: Director, Screenplay
  50. 1962The VirginianSeries: Director, Writer (1 episode)
  51. 1962Merrill's MaraudersFilm: Director, Screenplay
  52. 1961Underworld U.S.A.Film: Director, Writer
  53. 1959The Crimson KimonoFilm: Director, Writer
  54. 1959Verboten!Film: Writer, Director
  55. 1959DogfaceFilm: Director, Writer
  56. 1957Forty GunsFilm: Director, Screenplay
  57. 1957Run of the ArrowFilm: Writer, Director
  58. 1957China GateFilm: Director, Screenplay
  59. 1955House of BambooFilm: Japanese policeman (uncredited), Director
  60. 1954The CommandFilm: Writer
  61. 1954Hell and High WaterFilm: Screenplay, Director
  62. 1953Pickup on South StreetFilm: Director, Screenplay
  63. 1952Park RowFilm: Director, Writer
  64. 1952Scandal SheetFilm: Novel
  65. 1951Fixed Bayonets!Film: Director, Screenplay
  66. 1951The Steel HelmetFilm: Writer, Director
  67. 1950The Baron of ArizonaFilm: Writer, Director
  68. 1949I Shot Jesse JamesFilm: Director, Writer
  69. 1949ShockproofFilm: Writer
  70. 1945V-E +1Film: Director
  71. 1943Margin for ErrorFilm: Screenplay
  72. 1940Gangs of ChicagoFilm: Screenplay
  73. 1939She Married a CopFilm: Writer
  74. 1938Gangs of New YorkFilm: Screenplay
  75. 1937It Happened in HollywoodFilm: Screenplay
  76. 1936Hats OffFilm: Screenplay

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.