Griffin Dunne was born on June 8, 1955, in New York City, to a family of creative and influential individuals. His father, Dominick Dunne, was a renowned producer, actor, and writer, while his mother, Ellen Beatriz Griffin Dunne, was an activist. Dunne's sister, Dominique Dunne, was also an actress.
Growing up, Dunne spent most of his childhood in Los Angeles, California, and attended school in Colorado before returning to New York in the late 1970s. This diverse upbringing would later influence his work as an actor, producer, and director.
As an actor, Dunne has the distinction of starring in two 1980s cult favorites. His breakout roles came in the form of the John Landis monster movie "An American Werewolf in London" (1981) and the Martin Scorsese black comedy "After Hours" (1985). The latter film is also notable for being one of the many projects that Dunne produced through his company, Double Play Productions, alongside his partner Amy Robinson.
Under the Double Play Productions banner, Dunne and Robinson went on to produce a number of successful films, including "Running on Empty" (1988),"White Palace" (1990),and "Once Around" (1991). Dunne continued to appear on both sides of the camera, taking on supporting roles in films like "My Girl" (1991) and "I Like It Like That" (1994).
In 1995, Dunne made his directorial debut with the short film "Duke of Groove," which was nominated for an Academy Award. He then transitioned to feature films with "Addicted to Love" (1997),"Practical Magic" (1998),"Lisa Picard Is Famous" (2000),and "Fierce People" (2005).
Dunne also produced and starred in the film "Game 6" (2005),which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005. Throughout his career, Dunne has demonstrated his versatility as an actor, producer, and director, tackling a wide range of genres and projects.
In his personal life, Dunne's ancestry is a reflection of his diverse upbringing. His father was of Irish descent, while his mother was of Irish, English, German, Mexican, and Swedish heritage.
