American director Harold Becker embarked on a career path that began with still photography, eventually transitioning to direct television commercials and short films. This experience served as a stepping stone for his feature film directorial debut, the drama "The Ragman's Daughter", released in 1972.
Becker's second feature film, the acclaimed "The Onion Field", was a dark cop thriller that premiered in 1979. This film starred John Savage and James Woods in a remarkable role that garnered Woods numerous award nominations for Best Supporting Actor, including a portrayal of a menacing and dangerous cop killer.
Throughout the 1980s, Becker directed a diverse range of films across various genres. This decade saw the release of the comedy "The Black Marble" in 1980, which marked Paula Prentiss's comeback to the film industry. Becker also directed the military drama "Taps" in 1981, which featured a talented young cast, including Timothy Hutton, Sean Penn, and Tom Cruise, alongside veteran actor George C. Scott.
In 1985, Becker directed the sports drama "Vision Quest", starring Matthew Modine. He also worked on two musical videos for Madonna and directed the heavy drug drama "The Boost" in 1988, reuniting with James Woods. The ardent neo-noir "Sea of Love" followed in 1989, reviving the career of Al Pacino and pairing him with Ellen Barkin.
The 1990s saw Becker direct big-budget Hollywood films, further solidifying his reputation as a versatile director. His 1993 release, the box-office suspense film "Malice", starred Alec Baldwin and Nicole Kidman. Becker's 1996 film, the political thriller "City Hall", again featured Al Pacino, while his 1998 action film "Mercury Rising" starred Bruce Willis.
