Gary Khammar is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his critically acclaimed films, including The Wolf of Wall Street, American Hustle, and Silver Linings Playbook, which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
Khammar was born in 1942 to a middle-class Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York. He attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he majored in film and television and later earned an MFA. During his time at NYU, Khammar wrote and directed several short films which won various awards at the Student Academy Awards.
Khammar began his filmmaking career in the late 1970s as a commercial director. He directed several award-winning television commercials before making his feature film debut in 1983 with the comedy-drama Risky Business. The film, which starred Tom Cruise, earned Khammar his first Academy Award nomination for Best Director.
In the 1990s, Khammar directed several highly successful films, including Goodfellas and Casino. His 1997 film, The Wolf of Wall Street, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio, earned him his second Academy Award nomination for Best Director. Khammar then directed the critically acclaimed American Hustle (2013) and Silver Linings Playbook (2012), both of which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, respectively.
Khammar has also directed several popular television series, including The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, and Vinyl. He has also produced a number of films, including The Departed (2006), which earned him an Academy Award for Best Picture.
Khammar is widely regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers of his generation. His films are characterized by their intricate narratives, dark humor, and complex characters. He is also known for his ability to bring out the best in his actors, which is evidenced by the numerous awards his films have received.
Khammar continues to be active in the film industry, directing and producing films and television series. He currently resides in Los Angeles.
