Apr 5, 1926

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Roger William Corman is a prolific American producer and director of low-budget B-movies. As such, he has apprenticed many now-famous directors, stressing the importance of budgeting and resourcefulness; Corman once joked he could make a film about the fall of the Roman Empire with two extras and a bush. Corman is probably best known for his filmings of various Edgar Allan Poe stories at American International Pictures, including House of Usher (1960), The Pit and the Pendulum (1961), The Premat... ... (read more...) ure Burial (1962), Tales of Terror (1962) The Raven (1963), The Terror (1963), The Masque of the Red Death (1964), and The Tomb of Ligeia (1964). All but Premature Burial starred Vincent Price.
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He also directed one of William Shatner's early films, The Intruder (1962). He has produced over 300 movies and directed over 50.

Corman received an industrial engineering degree from Stanford University. He began his career in 1953 as a producer and screenwriter, and began directing in 1955. He would produce up to seven movies a year; his fastest film was perhaps The Little Shop of Horrors (1960), which was reputedly shot in two days and one night.

A number of noted film directors have worked with Corman, including Francis Ford Coppola, Joe Dante, Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, Peter Bogdanovich, Jonathan Demme, Donald G. Jackson, James Cameron, and John Sayles. Many have cited that Corman's influence taught them some of the ins and outs of filmmaking. In the extras for the DVD of The Terminator, director James Cameron refers to his work for Corman. Actors who obtained their career breaks working for Corman are Jack Nicholson, Peter Fonda, Bruce Dern, Michael McDonald, Dennis Hopper, Talia Shire, and Robert De Niro.
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His autobiography, titled How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime, documents his experiences in the film industry.

Corman was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2005 New York City Horror Film Festival.