Here is the biography of Randall Miller:
Randall Miller is a member of the DGA, SAG, and WGA. He began his career as a struggling actor, appearing in TV commercials, theater, and a few stints in television shows and movies. After studying film at USC, he went to the AFI, where his thesis film launched his career as a director.
Miller's early life was marked by a diverse upbringing in Pasadena, California, where he was raised by two liberal doctors. He grew up in a "rambling Pasadena commune" with exchange students, family members, and undocumented Mexican immigrants. He was a talented athlete, playing football and soccer in high school, and was even invited to play in several San Gabriel Valley and California State All-Star games.
After high school, Miller attended UC Davis, where he studied biochemistry but discovered his passion for acting. He auditioned and took parts in theater productions, eventually transferring to UCLA to continue his acting studies. Miller joined SAG at 19 and worked on and off as an actor, booking roles in Highway to Heaven, Cheers, and Throw Momma From The Train.
Miller's breakthrough as a director came when Ed Zwick saw his thesis film, Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School, at the AFI student showcase. Zwick hired Miller to shadow a director on the set of his hit television series Thirtysomething, and later hired him to direct an episode of the show. Miller was just 27 years old at the time.
Miller's subsequent career was marked by a mix of studio films and independent projects. He directed Class Act, starring Kid 'n Play, and Houseguest, starring Sinbad. He also directed several television shows, including episodes of Northern Exposure, Jack and Jill, and Popular.
In the 1990s, Miller and his writing partner, Jody Savin, began to focus on independent films. They wrote, produced, and directed Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School, which premiered at Sundance and was a moderate success. They went on to make Noble Son, starring Alan Rickman and Mary Steenburgen, and Bottle Shock, a film about the birth of the Napa wine scene.
Miller and Savin's most successful independent film was Bottle Shock, which they self-released after being unhappy with the offers being held out by distributors. The film was a critical and commercial success, and is often studied as a case-study in self-release.
Miller and Savin have two children and live in Pasadena. Miller's parents have both passed away, and he has credited his upbringing with shaping his sense of humor and his desire to tell stories on film.
