John Landis

Biography

John Landis, an American filmmaker and actor, began his film career as a mailboy at 20th Century-Fox and later worked as an assistant director before making his directorial debut with Schlock (1973), which he also wrote and appeared in. He became known for directing comedies such as The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977), Animal House, The Blues Brothers, Trading Places, Three Amigos, and Coming to America, as well as horror films including An American Werewolf in London and Innocent Blood. He also made music videos for Michael Jackson, among them Thriller and Black or White. On television, he was an executive producer and often director on Dream On, Weird Science, Sliders, and Masters of Horror. His documentary Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (2007) won him a 2008 Emmy Award, and he appeared in The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee (2024).

76years old

Turns 77 on August 3in 295 days

Born August 3, 1950Chicago
Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22

Movie Career

Films: 32
Career span: 54 years1971 to 2025

Genres

Documentary59%, 19 films
Comedy22%, 7 films
Horror22%, 7 films
Thriller16%, 5 films
Drama13%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A first
Michael Jackson asked Landis to make a video for his song "Thriller." The video had a big effect on MTV and music videos in general, and it took home many awards, among them the Video Vanguard Award for The Greatest Video in the History of the World.
First role
Landis made his directorial debut at age 21 with Schlock, a tribute to monster movies that he also wrote and appeared in, and the gorilla suit was made by Rick Baker, beginning their long-term collaboration.
Own stunts
Landis worked as a stunt double on films including Red Sun, where Toshiro Mifune kills him with a sword, and also worked as a dialogue coach and actor.

John Landis movies on Netflix

Being Eddie2025IMDb rating 6.9as Himself
The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee2024IMDb rating 7.2as Himself
Blood, Guts and Sunshine: The History of Horror Made in Florida2022IMDb rating 6.8as Self [archival]
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind The Monster2021IMDb rating 7.6as Self - Interviewee
I Am Alfred Hitchcock2021IMDb rating 7.4as Himself
Belushi2020IMDb rating 7.2as Himself
King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen2018IMDb rating 7.4as Himself
The Body2018IMDb rating 6.3as Man in Bathroom
Trespassing Bergman2013IMDb rating 7.2as Himself
American Grindhouse2010IMDb rating 7.1as Himself - Director, Animal House
Machete Maidens Unleashed!2010IMDb rating 7.3as Himself
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story2009IMDb rating 7.7as Himself
Starz Inside: Fantastic Flesh2008IMDb rating 7.4as Himself
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project2007IMDb rating 7.6as Himself / Sister Rosa Stigmata
Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story2007IMDb rating 7.5as Himself
The Sci-Fi Boys2006IMDb rating 6.9as Himself
The American Nightmare2000IMDb rating 7.2as Himself
Diamonds1999IMDb rating 5.4as Gambler
Mad City1997IMDb rating 6.3as Doctor
Quicksilver Highway1997IMDb rating 4.9as Surgical Assistant
Vampirella1996IMDb rating 3.4as Astronaut #1
Who Is Henry Jaglom?1995IMDb rating 6.6as Himself
The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder1994IMDb rating 6.3as Himself
Sleepwalkers1992IMDb rating 5.4as Lab Technician
Spontaneous Combustion1989IMDb rating 4.9as Radio Technician
Into the Night1985IMDb rating 6.4as SAVAK
Making Michael Jackson's Thriller1983IMDb rating 8.2as Himself
Eating Raoul1982IMDb rating 6.8as Man at Bank
The Kentucky Fried Movie1977IMDb rating 6.4as TV Technician Thrown by Gorilla (segment "A.M. Today")
Battle for the Planet of the Apes1973IMDb rating 5.4as Jake's Friend
Schlock1973IMDb rating 5.5as Schlock
Red Sun1971IMDb rating 6.8as Henchman

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Kentucky Fried Movie1977 Comedyas TV Technician Thrown by Gorilla (segment "A.M. Today")
IMDb rating 6.422K votes
Into the Night1985 Comedy, Drama, Thrilleras SAVAK
IMDb rating 6.415K votes
Schlock1973as Schlock
IMDb rating 5.52.2K votes
American Grindhouse2010as Himself - Director, Animal House
IMDb rating 7.12.8K votes
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project2007as Himself / Sister Rosa Stigmata
IMDb rating 7.61.4K votes
Mad City1997as Doctor
IMDb rating 6.322K votes
Sleepwalkers1992as Lab Technician
IMDb rating 5.428K votes
Machete Maidens Unleashed!2010as Himself
IMDb rating 7.31.9K votes

Most often with

Mick Garris directed two of these films. Joe Dante appears in nine of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Joe Dante

Roger Corman

Dan Aykroyd

Wes Craven

Robert De Niro

Ron Perlman

Mick GarrisDirector, 2 films

Films together

Joe Dante9 films together, 1992 to 2024
Joe Dante's page
- The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee2024IMDb rating 7.2Landis as HimselfDante as Himself
- Blood, Guts and Sunshine: The History of Horror Made in Florida2022IMDb rating 6.8Landis as Self [archival]Dante as Self [archival]
- Boris Karloff: The Man Behind The Monster2021IMDb rating 7.6Landis as Self - IntervieweeDante as Self - Interviewee
- King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen2018IMDb rating 7.4Landis as HimselfDante as Himself
- American Grindhouse2010IMDb rating 7.1Landis as Himself - Director, Animal HouseDante as Himself - Director, Gremlins
- Machete Maidens Unleashed!2010IMDb rating 7.3Landis as HimselfDante as Himself
- Starz Inside: Fantastic Flesh2008IMDb rating 7.4Landis as HimselfDante as Himself
- Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story2007IMDb rating 7.5Landis as HimselfDante as Himself
- Sleepwalkers1992IMDb rating 5.4Landis as Lab TechnicianDante as Lab Assistant
Roger Corman4 films together, 2006 to 2021
Roger Corman's page
- Boris Karloff: The Man Behind The Monster2021IMDb rating 7.6Landis as Self - IntervieweeCorman as Self - Interviewee
- Machete Maidens Unleashed!2010IMDb rating 7.3Landis as HimselfCorman as Himself
- Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story2007IMDb rating 7.5Landis as HimselfCorman as Himself
- The Sci-Fi Boys2006IMDb rating 6.9Landis as HimselfCorman as Himself
Dan Aykroyd3 films together, 1985 to 2020
Dan Aykroyd's page
- Belushi2020IMDb rating 7.2Landis as HimselfAykroyd as Himself
- Diamonds1999IMDb rating 5.4Landis as GamblerAykroyd as Lance Agensky
- Into the Night1985IMDb rating 6.4Landis as SAVAKAykroyd as Herb
Wes Craven3 films together, 2000 to 2013
Wes Craven's page
- Trespassing Bergman2013IMDb rating 7.2Landis as HimselfCraven as Himself
- Starz Inside: Fantastic Flesh2008IMDb rating 7.4Landis as HimselfCraven as Himself
- The American Nightmare2000IMDb rating 7.2Landis as HimselfCraven as Himself
Robert De Niro2 films together, 2007 to 2013
Robert De Niro's page
- Trespassing Bergman2013IMDb rating 7.2Landis as HimselfNiro as Himself
- Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project2007IMDb rating 7.6Landis as Himself / Sister Rosa StigmataNiro as Himself
Ron Perlman2 films together, 1992 to 2021
Ron Perlman's page
- Boris Karloff: The Man Behind The Monster2021IMDb rating 7.6Landis as Self - IntervieweePerlman as Self - Interviewee
- Sleepwalkers1992IMDb rating 5.4Landis as Lab TechnicianPerlman as Captain Soames
Mick GarrisDirector, 2 films, 1992 to 1997
All films by Mick Garris
- Quicksilver Highway1997IMDb rating 4.9Landis as Surgical Assistant
- Sleepwalkers1992IMDb rating 5.4Landis as Lab Technician
Also two films together28 more actors
- Colleen CampMachete Maidens Unleashed! (2010) and Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
- Robert ForsterKing Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen (2018) and American Grindhouse (2010)
- Bruce McGillBelushi (2020) and Into the Night (1985)
- Chris RockBeing Eddie (2025) and Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (2007)
- Martin ScorseseI Am Alfred Hitchcock (2021) and King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen (2018)
- Candice BergenBelushi (2020) and Who Is Henry Jaglom? (1995)
- Peter BogdanovichBoris Karloff: The Man Behind The Monster (2021) and Who Is Henry Jaglom? (1995)
- Fred WilliamsonKing Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen (2018) and American Grindhouse (2010)
- Lee GrantBoris Karloff: The Man Behind The Monster (2021) and Who Is Henry Jaglom? (1995)
- Bill NunnMad City (1997) and Quicksilver Highway (1997)
- John WatersBlood, Guts and Sunshine: The History of Horror Made in Florida (2022) and Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story (2007)
- Tom SaviniStarz Inside: Fantastic Flesh (2008) and The American Nightmare (2000)
- John CarpenterStarz Inside: Fantastic Flesh (2008) and The American Nightmare (2000)
- David CronenbergThe American Nightmare (2000) and Into the Night (1985)
- Eli RothI Am Alfred Hitchcock (2021) and Starz Inside: Fantastic Flesh (2008)
- Forrest J. AckermanSpine Tingler! The William Castle Story (2007) and The Sci-Fi Boys (2006)
- Caroline MunroThe Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee (2024) and Boris Karloff: The Man Behind The Monster (2021)
- Arsenio HallBeing Eddie (2025) and The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder (1994)
- George A. RomeroStarz Inside: Fantastic Flesh (2008) and The American Nightmare (2000)
- Herschell Gordon LewisBlood, Guts and Sunshine: The History of Horror Made in Florida (2022) and American Grindhouse (2010)
- Larry CohenKing Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen (2018) and American Grindhouse (2010)
- Peter JacksonThe Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee (2024) and The Sci-Fi Boys (2006)
- Clive BarkerQuicksilver Highway (1997) and Sleepwalkers (1992)
- Cynthia GarrisQuicksilver Highway (1997) and Sleepwalkers (1992)
- Rick BakerThe Sci-Fi Boys (2006) and Making Michael Jackson's Thriller (1983)
- Bob BurnsSpine Tingler! The William Castle Story (2007) and The Sci-Fi Boys (2006)
- Jack HillAmerican Grindhouse (2010) and Machete Maidens Unleashed! (2010)
- Saul KahanThe Kentucky Fried Movie (1977) and Schlock (1973)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

One award and honor.

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John Landis's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Other honors
2004	Time Machine Award		Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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