View source for Taylor Hackford

{{Short description|American film director}}
{{Infobox person
 | name = Taylor Hackford
 | birthname = Taylor Edwin Hackford
 | image = TaylorHackfordHWOFJan2013.jpg
 | caption = Hackford in January 2013
 | occupation = Film director
 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1944|12|31}}
 | birth_place = [[Santa Barbara, California]], U.S.
 | years_active = 1971–present
 | death_date = 
 | spouse = {{unbulleted list|{{marriage|Georgie Lowres|June 11, 1967|February 1972|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|[[Lynne Littman]]|May 7, 1977|1987|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|[[Helen Mirren]]|December 31, 1997}}}}
 | children = 2, including [[Rio Hackford|Rio]]
}}

'''Taylor Edwin Hackford''' (born December 31, 1944) is an American film director and former president of the [[Directors Guild of America]]. He won the [[Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film]] for ''[[Teenage Father]]'' (1979). Hackford went on to direct a number of highly regarded feature films, including ''[[An Officer and a Gentleman]]'' (1982), ''[[The Devil's Advocate (1997 film)|The Devil's Advocate]]'' (1997) and ''[[Ray (film)|Ray]]'' (2004), the latter of which he was nominated for an [[Academy Award for Best Director]] and [[Academy Award for Best Picture]].

==Early life==
Hackford was born in [[Santa Barbara, California]], the son of Mary (née Taylor), a waitress, and Joseph Hackford.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/84/Taylor-Hackford.html |title=Taylor Hackford Biography (1944?-) |publisher=Film Reference |access-date=2013-02-28}}</ref> He graduated from the [[University of Southern California]] in 1968,<ref>[http://cinema.usc.edu/alumni/notable-alumni.htm Notable Alumni] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617093752/https://cinema.usc.edu/alumni/notable-alumni.htm |date=2010-06-17 }}, USC School of Cinematic Arts</ref> where he was a pre-law major focusing on international relations and economics. After graduating, he served as a [[Peace Corps]] volunteer in [[Bolivia]], where he started using Super 8 film in his spare time. The camera was purchased for him by fellow Peace Corps volunteer, Steve Ball. He decided that he did not want to pursue a career in law, and instead got a mailroom position at [[KCET-TV]].<ref name="DGAaward">{{cite web |url=http://www.dga.org/news/pr_expand.php3?484 |title=Special Award Winners for 59th Annual DGA Awards |date=December 19, 2006 |publisher=[[Directors Guild of America]] |access-date=March 27, 2008 |archive-date=March 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309141048/http://www.dga.org/news/pr_expand.php3?484 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At KCET he was the associate producer on the [[Leon Russell]] special "Homewood" in 1970.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bwMqliLXZQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/4bwMqliLXZQ| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Leon Russell - Homewood Session 1970-12-05|author=<!--staff writer-->|date=June 28, 2015|access-date=April 8, 2019|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 1973 at KCET he produced the one-hour special ''[[Bukowski (film)|Bukowski]]'' (about the poet [[Charles Bukowski]]), directed by Richard Davies.<ref>{{cite book|title=Bukowski|date=January 19, 1973|oclc = 422744912}}{{better source needed|date=November 2024}}</ref>

==Career==
Hackford's feature directorial debut was ''[[The Idolmaker]]'' starred [[Ray Sharkey]], who was awarded a Golden Globe for Best Actor for his portrayal of "Vinnie" in the film. The Music Supervisor was Richard Flanzer.<ref name="peacecorpsonlinge.org">{{cite web|url=http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2031326.html |title=April 26, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS – Bolivia: Movies: Hollywood: San Francisco Examiner: Taylor Hackford speaks up |publisher=Peace Corps Online |access-date=2013-02-28}}</ref> Hackford said of ''The Idolmaker'', "I make films about working-class people; showbusiness is one of those things through which people can get themselves out of the lower rung of society. To me, the compelling story in ''The Idolmaker'' is the guy with a wonderful talent and a fairly strong ego has to make it happen through puppets."{{citation needed|date=September 2025}}

During the filming of ''[[An Officer and a Gentleman]]'', Hackford kept [[Lou Gossett Jr.]] in separate living quarters from the other actors so he could intimidate them more during his scenes as a [[drill instructor]].<ref>[http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/07/03/entertainment/television/030307124750.txt Geniuses Spielberg and Paul and a town full of them] : [[North County Times]] – Californian<!-- Bot generated title --></ref> [[Richard Gere]] originally balked at shooting the ending, which involves his character arriving at his lover's factory wearing his Navy [[Uniforms of the United States Navy#Service Dress|dress whites]] and carrying her off from the factory floor. Gere thought the ending would not work because it was too sentimental, and Hackford was initially inclined to agree with Gere, until during a rehearsal when the extras playing the workers began to cheer and cry. But when Gere saw the scene later with the music underneath it at the right tempo, he said it sent chills up the back of his neck, and is now convinced Hackford made the right decision.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pr-inside.com/gere-begged-director-not-to-shoot-r108124.htm |title=NEWS GERE BEGGED DIRECTOR NOT TO SHOOT ROMANTIC SCENE Music, movie & Entertainment News |publisher=Pr-inside.com |access-date=2013-02-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229022759/http://www.pr-inside.com/gere-begged-director-not-to-shoot-r108124.htm |archive-date=2012-12-29 }}</ref>

In 1983, Taylor Hackford partnered with [[Keith Barish]], film producer, to co-develop a film version of ''[[At Play in the Fields of the Lord]]'', for which both Hackford and Barish received a lawsuit in 1986, claiming they had an option to exercise the rights from [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM/UA Entertainment Co.]], a film distributor.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1986-08-13|title=Sue Barrish Prods. Over 'Lord' Pact|page=20|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>

Hackford said of his film ''[[Ray (film)|Ray]]'': "My proudest moments in ''Ray'' were in those 'chitlin' clubs. Ray Charles ended his life in concert halls, where people would go in tuxedos and quietly listen to a genius perform. But in these clubs, he had to get people up dancing. What I tried to create was a little of that energy and exuberance. The great thing about music is when you can get people on their feet."<ref name="peacecorpsonlinge.org" />

In a 2005 interview, Hackford confirmed that he never watched his own films: "When I finish a film, I put it away and I never look at it again. Occasionally I do now because of the DVDs and the commentary tracks. I usually put it aside and go onto the next. I never went to film school. I worked for the KCET public television station in L.A. I worked in concerts. I have done a lot of music. I feel very comfortable shooting music, and I think you can see that."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.combustiblecelluloid.com/interviews/hackford.shtml |title=Combustible Celluloid interview – Taylor Hackford |publisher=Combustiblecelluloid.com |date=2005-04-21 |access-date=2013-02-28}}</ref> Hackford has also directed music videos, including "[[Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)]]" by [[Phil Collins]] and "[[Say You, Say Me]]" by [[Lionel Richie]].{{citation needed|date=September 2025}}

On July 25, 2009, Hackford was elected president of the [[Directors Guild of America]].<ref>{{cite news| url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/07/taylor-hackford-elected-president-of-directors-guild-without-opposition.html | title=Taylor Hackford elected president of Directors Guild without opposition | date= July 26, 2009 |work= Company Town (blog) | publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]]| access-date=2010-06-15}}</ref> He was re-elected to a second, two-year term as president on June 25, 2011, at the DGA's National Biennial Convention in [[Los Angeles]].<ref name=thr>{{cite news |first=Gregg|last=Kilday|title=DGA Re-Elects Taylor Hackford as President |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/taylor-hackford-elected-president-directors-205636 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=2011-06-25 |access-date=2011-06-27}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Hackford has been married three times. He married his first wife, Georgie Lowres, in 1967; they have one child, [[Rio Hackford]] (1970–2022). The couple divorced in 1972. In 1977, Hackford married [[Lynne Littman]], with whom he has one child, Alexander Hackford, born in 1979; their marriage lasted until 1987. Hackford has been married to [[Academy Award]]-winning actress [[Helen Mirren]] since 1997.

Hackford met Mirren when he was directing her in ''[[White Nights (1985 film)|White Nights]]'', although their first meeting did not go well: he kept her waiting to audition for ''White Nights'', and she was icy. "It was a strange way to meet Helen, because she is a lovely person," says Hackford, "but she didn't hold back her fury."<ref name="Mirren, Mirren on the Wall">{{cite web|author=Nancy Griffin|date=September 20, 2006|url=http://www.aarp.org/entertainment/movies-for-grownups/info-2007/helen_mirren.html|title=Mirren, Mirren on the Wall|work=AARP |publisher=[[AARP the Magazine]]}}</ref> Hackford and Mirren wed in 1997, although as a young woman Mirren had vowed never to marry.<ref name="Mirren, Mirren on the Wall"/>  The couple live along the [[Nevada]] side of [[Lake Tahoe]].<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2019/02/28/helen-mirrens-director-husband-wants-build-parking-lot-reno/3021350002/ | title=Helen Mirren's husband wants to build a parking lot in Reno (near the building he owns) | date= February 28, 2018 | newspaper=[[Reno Gazette-Journal]]}}</ref>

In 2009, Hackford signed a petition in support of director [[Roman Polanski]], calling for his release after his arrest in [[Switzerland]] in relation to his [[Roman Polanski sexual abuse case|1977 charge for statutory rape]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://laregledujeu.org/2009/11/10/479/signez-la-petition-pour-roman-polanski/|title=Signez la pétition pour Roman Polanski !|publisher=La Règle du jeu|language=fr|date=November 10, 2009}}</ref> after Steve Cooley, the Los Angeles District Attorney, tried to prosecute Polanski.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jul-12-la-me-0713-polanski-freedom-20100712-story.html|title=Swiss refuse extradition, free Polanski|first1=Henry|last1=Chu|first2=Joe|last2=Mozingo|date=12 July 2010|via=LA Times}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Film
!Director
!Producer
!Writer
!Notes
|-
|1973
|[[Bukowski (film)|''Bukowski'']]
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|Documentary
|-
|1978
|''[[Teenage Father]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|Short film <br> [[Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film]] 
|-
|1980
|''[[The Idolmaker]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes|uncredited}}
|
|-
|1982
|''[[An Officer and a Gentleman]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|Nominated- [[Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film|Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing]]
|-
|1984
|[[Against All Odds (1984 film)|''Against All Odds'']]
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|1985
|[[White Nights (1985 film)|''White Nights'']]
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|1986
|''[[A Tribute to Rick Nelson]]''
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|TV short documentary
|-
|1987
|''[[Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|Documentary
|-
|1988 
|''[[Everybody's All-American (film)|Everybody's All-American]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|1993
|''[[Blood In Blood Out|Blood In, Blood Out]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|(originally: ''Bound by Honor'')
|-
|1995 
|''[[Dolores Claiborne (film)|Dolores Claiborne]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|1997
|''[[The Devil's Advocate (1997 film)|The Devil's Advocate]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|Executive}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2000
|''[[Proof of Life]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2004
|''[[Ray (film)|Ray]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|Story}}
|Nominated- [[Academy Award for Best Picture]]<br>Nominated- [[Academy Award for Best Director]]<br>Nominated- [[Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film|Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing]]
|-
|2010
|''[[Love Ranch]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2013 
|''[[Parker (2013 film)|Parker]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2016
|''[[The Comedian (2016 film)|The Comedian]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|}

{{Col-float}} 
'''Executive producer only'''
* ''[[Rooftops (film)|Rooftops]]'' (1989)
* ''[[The Long Walk Home]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Queens Logic]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Mortal Thoughts]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Sweet Talker (film)|Sweet Talker]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Defenseless]]'' (1991)
* ''A Place to Stand'' (2014) (Documentary)
{{col-float-break}}
'''Producer only'''
* ''[[La Bamba (film)|La Bamba]]'' (1987)
* ''[[When We Were Kings]]'' (1996) (Documentary)
* ''[[G:MT – Greenwich Mean Time]]'' (1999)
{{col-float-end}}

==Accolades for films directed by Hackford==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Year
!rowspan="2"|Title
!colspan="2"|Academy Awards
!colspan="2"|BAFTAs
!colspan="2"|Golden Globes
|-
!Nominations
!Wins
!Nominations
!Wins
!Nominations
!Wins
|-
|1978
|''[[Teenage Father]]''
|align=center|1
|align=center|1
|
|
|
|
|-
|1980
|''[[The Idolmaker]]''
|
|
|
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|1
|-
|1982
|''[[An Officer and a Gentleman]]''
|align=center|6
|align=center|2
|align=center|2
|align=center|1
|align=center|8
|align=center|2
|-
|1984
|''[[Against All Odds (1984 film)|Against All Odds]]''
|align=center|1
|
|
|
|align=center|1
|
|-
|1985
|''[[White Nights (1985 film)|White Nights]]''
|align=center|2
|align=center|1
|
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|1
|-
|2004
|''[[Ray (film)|Ray]]''
|align=center|6
|align=center|2
|align=center|4
|align=center|2
|align=center|2
|align=center|1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!16
!6
!6
!3
!15
!5
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name}}
*[http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2028018.html Peace Corps biography of Taylor Hackford] news clips
* "[https://web.archive.org/web/20061210024020/http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whatispc.notable.artsandlit Notable Former Volunteers / Arts and Literature]". Peace Corps official site. Accessed 5 January 2007.

{{Taylor Hackford}}
{{GoldenOrangeHonoraryAward}}
{{DGA Presidents}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hackford, Taylor}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Film directors from California]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Directors Guild of America]]
[[Category:Directors of Live Action Short Film Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:CAS Filmmaker Award honorees]]
[[Category:Golden Orange Honorary Award winners]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:USC School of International Relations alumni]]
[[Category:Activists from California]]
[[Category:People from Santa Barbara, California]]