Dan O'Bannon
Biography
Dan O'Bannon was an American screenwriter, director and visual effects supervisor who worked mainly in science fiction and horror. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he studied film at the University of Southern California, where he met John Carpenter and helped turn a student project into the feature Dark Star (1974); he wrote, edited and acted in it, and the film won a Golden Scroll for special effects. He later worked on an unmade Dune adaptation and appeared in the documentary Jodorowsky's Dune (2013). He wrote the screenplay for Alien, based on a story he developed with Ronald Shusett, and wrote and directed The Return of the Living Dead, which became a cult classic. His other credits included Heavy Metal, Blue Thunder, Lifeforce, Total Recall and Alien vs. Predator. He also directed The Resurrected.
63years old at death
- Born St. Louis
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
- Daniel Thomas O'Bannon (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 39 years1974 to 2013
Every film, newest first
- 2013Jodorowsky's DuneIMDb rating 8.0
- 2011More Brains! A Return to the Living DeadIMDb rating 7.6
- 2002The 'Alien' SagaIMDb rating 7.7
- 1974Dark StarIMDb rating 6.1
Genres
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Big break
O'Bannon and his friend Ronald Shusett, while sharing a home, devised the story for Alien (1979). O'Bannon wrote the screenplay for that career-making film and oversaw its visuals.
A role that slipped away
Dan O'Bannon stayed on to oversee special effects for Alejandro Jodorowsky's planned adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune. In 1976 the production collapsed and the film was never completed, reportedly because Hollywood studios hesitated to finance it with Jodorowsky directing.
Dan O'Bannon movies on Netflix
Worked with
Dan O'Bannon shares two films with H. R. Giger, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
H. R. Giger's page
Lance Henriksen's page
John Hurt's page
Sigourney Weaver's page
Orson Welles's page
Michael Biehn's page
All films by John Carpenter
Frank PavichDirector, 1 film, 2013
All films by Frank Pavich
Bill PhilputtDirector, 1 film, 2011
All films by Bill Philputt
Awards
Three awards and honors from 1980 to 1987.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 1987 | Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation | Aliens | Won |
| 1985 | Inkpot Award | Won | |
| 1980 | Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation | Alien | Won |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.