Joel Stangle is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for directing the critically acclaimed films The Big Lebowski, The Royal Tenenbaums, and Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Stangle was born in the small town of Easton, Pennsylvania in 1963. He showed an early interest in film and began making short movies with his friends when he was in high school. After graduating, he attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied film and television production.
Stangle's first feature film was Bottle Rocket, which he wrote and directed. The film garnered positive reviews and was nominated for a Grand Jury Prize at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival. This success was followed by his most well-known film, The Big Lebowski, a cult comedy classic starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, and Steve Buscemi.
Stangle's other films include Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, and Fantastic Mr. Fox. He has also produced and directed episodes of the television series Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and Portlandia.
Stangle has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The Big Lebowski and Best Animated Feature for Fantastic Mr. Fox. He has also won the Best Screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival for The Royal Tenenbaums, and was nominated for the Grand Prix at the Berlin International Film Festival for Rushmore.
Stangle's films have been praised for their sharp dialogue, witty humor, and offbeat characters. He has been credited with creating some of the most memorable and influential characters in modern cinema.
Stangle currently resides in Los Angeles, where he continues to write and direct films. He is highly regarded in the film industry and is considered one of the most successful and influential filmmakers of his generation.
