Terry Zwigoff American film director Date of Birth: 18.05.1949 Country: USA

1. Terry Zwigoff: Acclaimed Film Director
2. Early Life and Musical Career
3. Film Career
4. Later Work
5. Musical Pursuits

Terry Zwigoff: Acclaimed Film Director

Terry Zwigoff is an American film director best known for his two critically acclaimed low-budget films, "Crumb" and "Ghost World."

Early Life and Musical Career

Born on May 18, 1949, in Appleton, Wisconsin, Zwigoff developed an interest in pre-war American music at a young age. In the early 1970s, he moved to San Francisco and met Robert Crumb, a renowned underground cartoonist. Zwigoff's passion for music led him to learn the cello and mandolin, and he joined Crumb's string band, R. Crumb & His Cheap Suit Serenaders.

Film Career

Zwigoff's first film, "Louie Bluie" (1986), was a documentary about blues musician Howard Armstrong. His breakthrough came in 1994 with "Crumb," a documentary about Crumb's life and work that won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize. In 2001, Zwigoff directed "Ghost World," an adaptation of Daniel Clowes' comic strip "Eightball" that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Later Work

In 2003, Zwigoff directed "Bad Santa," a dark comedy starring Billy Bob Thornton as a foul-mouthed, alcoholic mall Santa who befriends a terminally ill child. He went on to helm "Art School Confidential" (2006), another satire based on a Clowes comic, and "The Art of the Steal" (2013), a heist film starring Kurt Russell.

Musical Pursuits

Zwigoff continues to pursue his musical interests as a member of the San Francisco-based instrumental trio The Excitement Boys, alongside Rob Kerwin on violin and Craig Ventresco on guitar.