David Anspaugh, a renowned director and producer, has had a illustrious career in the film and television industry. Born in 1946 in Decatur, Indiana, to Lawrence Anspaugh, a portrait photographer, and his wife Marie, he was an athletic high school student, participating in football, basketball, and track.
During his time at Indiana University, Anspaugh pursued a major in secondary education, simultaneously honing his filmmaking skills by shooting short movies and capturing concerts, football games, and Vietnam War protests using a 16mm camera. After graduating, he relocated to Aspen, Colorado, where he worked as a substitute teacher, waiter, and ski instructor before moving to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California's film school.
Initially, Anspaugh's career was marked by producing and directing acclaimed television shows such as Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, and Miami Vice. He transitioned to feature films when his friend and collaborator, Angelo Pizzo, wrote the screenplay for "Hoosiers" and approached Anspaugh to direct. Anspaugh's input was instrumental in the film, including the iconic scene where the Hickory Huskers and their coach enter the vast and empty Butler Fieldhouse.
Seven years later, Anspaugh and Pizzo reunited to create the college-football movie "Rudy." Despite studio executives' preference for a taller, more athletic lead actor, Anspaugh insisted on casting Sean Astin in the title role. Additionally, Anspaugh's idea to hire NFL Films to capture the movie's game footage added to its authenticity. The duo also collaborated on the 1950s World Cup soccer film "The Game of Their Lives" in 2005.
Throughout his career, Anspaugh has explored topics beyond sports, directing motion pictures and television movies on various subjects. In 2014, he relocated from Santa Monica, California to Bloomington, Indiana, where he taught a class at IU, directed local theater productions, and served as an executive producer on films.
