Josef Astor is an American director, producer, and actor who has worked in film and television for nearly two decades. He is best known for his work on films such as The Good Girl (2002), The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), and The Darjeeling Limited (2007).
Astor was born in New York City in 1968. He studied at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, where he majored in film. After graduating, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the film industry.
Astor's first major success came with his feature film debut, The Good Girl (2002). Starring Jennifer Aniston and Jake Gyllenhaal, the film received critical acclaim and was a box office success. Astor's next success came with the critically acclaimed The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), which starred Bill Murray and Owen Wilson.
Astor was then commissioned by Wes Anderson to direct The Darjeeling Limited (2007). The film earned positive reviews and was nominated for awards at the Cannes Film Festival and the Golden Globe Awards. This marked the start of a long-term collaboration between Astor and Anderson, and the two would go on to collaborate on Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) and The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014).
In addition to his feature film work, Astor has directed several television series, including The Leftovers (2014–2017) and Succession (2018–present). He also executive produced the television series Enlightened (2011–2013).
Astor has been recognized for his work with several awards and nominations, including a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for Succession in 2019.
Astor continues to work on both feature films and television series. He is currently in pre-production on an untitled feature film.
