Jon Amiel (born 20 May 1948) is an English director who has worked in film and television in both the UK and the US. After receiving a BAFTA Award nomination for the BBC series ''

The Singing Detective ''The Singing Detective'' is a BBC television serial drama, written by Dennis Potter, starring Michael Gambon and directed by Jon Amiel. Its six episodes are "Skin", "Heat", "Lovely Days", "Clues", "Pitter Patter" and "Who Done It". The se ...

'' (1986), he went on to direct films, including '' Sommersby'' (1993), ''Copycat'' (1995), ''Entrapment'' (1999) and '' The Core'' (2003).

Biography

Amiel was born in London, to parents who grew up in the East End of London. Amiel's grandparents were immigrants Isaac and Mary Amiel – Polish and

Russian Jews The history of the Jews in Russia and areas historically connected with it goes back at least 1,500 years. Jews in Russia have historically constituted a large religious and ethnic diaspora; the Russian Empire at one time hosted the largest pop ...

. He attended the William Ellis School in

Highgate Highgate ( ) is a suburban area of north London at the northeastern corner of Hampstead Heath, north-northwest of Charing Cross. Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has two active conservation organis ...

, before studying English literature at

Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge Sidney Sussex College (referred to informally as "Sidney") is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England. The College was founded in 1596 under the terms of the will of Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex (1531–1589), wif ...

, graduating in 1969. It was while at Cambridge that he became involved with local theatre, and after college he went on to direct for the Royal Shakespeare Company. After having worked as a story editor for the BBC, he directed the documentary '' The Silent Twins'', and was chosen to direct the

Dennis Potter Dennis Christopher George Potter (17 May 1935 – 7 June 1994) was an English television dramatist, screenwriter and journalist. He is best known for his BBC television serials '' Pennies from Heaven'' (1978), '' The Singing Detective'' (1 ...

serial ''

'', for which he was BAFTA nominated. He made his feature film debut in 1989 with ''Queen of Hearts''. His most notable film is 1993's

romantic drama Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their journey ...

'' Sommersby'', starring

Jodie Foster Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster (born November 19, 1962) is an American actress and filmmaker. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, three British Academy Film Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and the hon ...

and

Richard Gere Richard Tiffany Gere ( ; born August 31, 1949) is an American actor. He began in films in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in '' Looking for Mr. Goodbar'' (1977) and a starring role in '' Days of Heaven'' (1978). He came to prominence with ...

. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $140 million worldwide. Amiel currently lives in

Santa Monica Santa Monica (; Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 U.S. Census population was 93,076. Santa Monica is a popular resort town, owing to ...

with his wife, Tara, and their two sons, Luke and Max. He also has another son, an aspiring screenwriter, called Leo.

Filmography

Film

Director * '' Queen of Hearts'' (1989) * ''

Tune in Tomorrow ''Tune in Tomorrow'' is a 1990 American comedy film directed by Jon Amiel. It is based on the 1977 Mario Vargas Llosa novel '' Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter'', and was released under that same title in many countries. Relocated from the nove ...

'' (1990) * '' Sommersby'' (1993) * ''

Copycat Copycat refers to a person who copies some aspect of some thing or somebody else. Copycat may also refer to: Intellectual property rights * Copyright infringement, use of another’s ideas or words without permission * Patent infringement, a ...

'' (1995) * '' The Man Who Knew Too Little'' (1997) * ''

Entrapment Entrapment is a practice in which a law enforcement agent or agent of the state induces a person to commit a "crime" that the person would have otherwise been unlikely or unwilling to commit.''Sloane'' (1990) 49 A Crim R 270. See also agent prov ...

'' (1999) * '' The Core'' (2003) * ''

Creation Creation may refer to: Religion *'' Creatio ex nihilo'', the concept that matter was created by God out of nothing *Creation myth, a religious story of the origin of the world and how people first came to inhabit it *Creationism, the belief that ...

'' (2009) Producer * '' Simply Irresistible'' (1999)

Television

TV shows TV movies

Awards

*1987 BAFTA (British Academy Television Award) Nominee for Best Drama Series: ''The Singing Detective'' (1986) *1996 Audience Award *Winner* at the Cognac Festival du Film Policier: ''

'' *1990 Deauville Film Festival *Winner* of Critics Award and Audience Award: ''

'' *1989 Montréal World Film Festival *Winner* of Montréal First Film Prize: '' Queen of Hearts'' *1990 Paris Film Festival *Winner* of Grand Prix: ''Queen of Hearts''

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Amiel, Jon 1948 births English film producers English television directors Living people Film directors from London British film producers British television directors Alumni of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge