David Frankel

David Frankel is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer best known for his work in both comedy and drama. He gained widespread acclaim for directing the hit film The Devil Wears Prada, starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. His career also includes successful family films like Marley & Me and work on prestigious television series such as Entourage and Band of Brothers. Frankel's work has been recognized with awards including an Academy Award and multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

Early life and education

Born in New York City, he was raised in a family with connections to the entertainment industry; his mother was a story editor at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He attended Harvard University, where he was actively involved with the Harvard Lampoon, serving as its president. This experience in comedy writing at the famed humor magazine provided an early foundation for his future career in screenwriting and directing. Following his graduation, he further honed his craft at the American Film Institute.

Career

Frankel began his career in television, directing episodes for series like Dream On and Sex and the City. His breakthrough came with the short film Dear Diary, which won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 1996. He transitioned to feature films with the comedy Miami Rhapsody before achieving major commercial success with The Devil Wears Prada in 2006, a critical and box office hit that defined fashion in film. He followed this with the popular adaptation of the memoir Marley & Me, starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. Other directorial works include The Big Year, Hope Springs, and Collateral Beauty. He has also served as an executive producer on television projects and directed for series such as HBO's Entourage.

Filmography

A selection of his feature film directing credits includes Miami Rhapsody (1995), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Marley & Me (2008), The Big Year (2011), Hope Springs (2012), and Collateral Beauty (2016). His television directing work encompasses episodes of Sex and the City, Entourage, and the miniseries Band of Brothers. He also directed and wrote the award-winning short Dear Diary (1996).

Awards and nominations

His short film Dear Diary earned him an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. For his work on The Devil Wears Prada, he received nominations including the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film. His television direction on episodes of Entourage and Band of Brothers has garnered Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He has also been recognized by organizations such as the Costume Designers Guild and the Hollywood Film Awards.

Personal life

He maintains a relatively private life outside of his professional work in Los Angeles. He is married and has children. His family background, with his mother's role at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, provided an early immersion in storytelling and film production.

Category:American film directors Category:Harvard University alumni Category:Academy Award winners