Robert Altman Biography

Robert Altman was a writer, director, producer, and actor, famed for his innovative work and naturalistic style. In a career spanning nearly sixty years he received widespread critical acclaim yet didn t receive an Oscar until 2006, when he was given an Academy Honorary Award for lifetime achievement.Robert Bernard Altman was born on February 20, 1925, in Kansas City, Missouri. His father ran an insurance company and had prospered as a gambler, giving him a comfortable start in life, though he nevertheless acquired a strong work ethic in childhood. He studied at Rockhurst High School and Southwest High School before attending Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri. From there he went on to join the U.S. Air Force, serving as co-pilot in a B-24 during World War II. However, he always wanted to be an actor, and when the war ended he made his way to Hollywood to try his luck.Luck, unfortunately, was not on Altman's side. After a brief appearance in Norman Z MacLeod's The Secret Life of Walter Mitty , with Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, and Boris Karloff, and the successful sale of his script for Bodyguard, directed for RKO by his co-writer Richard Fleischer, he briefly ran a company tattooing pets - including President Harry S. Truman's dog. When the company went bust, Altman moved back to Kansas to concentrate on his writing while directing and producing short commercial films, specializing in sports. There he learned the technical skills which would make his feature work stand out. He also made low-budget exploitation feature The Delinquents, which attracted the attention of Alfred Hitchcock, who invited him to direct two episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. This led him to become a prolific television writer and director, contributing episodes to the likes of Maverick, with James Garner; Bonanza, with Lorne Greene and Michael Landon; and Bus Stop.Altman's breakthrough came in 1975 with the politically audacious, narratively challenging Nashville, showcasing the talents of Ned Beatty, David Arkin, and Shelley Duvall. Two years later he directed the surreal 3 Women with Sissy Spacek and Janice Rule, firmly establishing himself as an unpredictable and powerful new talent. His next film, the Bu uel tribute A Wedding, portrayed an interest in class conflict and the intricacies of social small talk which he would return to much later with the remarkable Gosford Park, starring Dame Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Ryan Phillippe.Altman's remarkable film career included several of the most critically respected films of the twentieth century. He was so popular among actors that he could frequently pick and choose his cast. 1990's Vincent Theo saw him working with Tim Roth and Paul Rhys; Short Cuts , with Andie MacDowell, Jack Lemmon, and Julianne Moore; and fashion industry satire Pr t- -Porter, with Marcello Mastroianni, Sophia Loren, and Stephen Rea. The Player is famous for its huge list of un-credited cameos, but prominently features Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Whoopi Goldberg, and Richard E Grant.Besides his film work, Altman kept himself in the public eye with his forthright political stance. A long-time member of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), he petitioned for the legalisation of cannabis. He also campaigned against George W. Bush during the 2004 presidential election.Altman was married three times and has five children. His daughter Christine Altman starred in The Delinquents; his son Mike Altman is famous for composing the MASH theme song when he was just fourteen. Stephen Altman became a production designer; Matthew R. Altman, a set designer; and Robert Reed Altman, a cameraman and cinematographer.Altman died on November 20, 2006, from complications relating to leukaemia.