Steven Spielberg is widely regarded as one of the most influential personalities in the history of cinema. Born in 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio, to a concert pianist and an electrical engineer, Spielberg's early life was marked by a passion for filmmaking.
Spielberg's early directing efforts included short films such as Battle Squad (1961) and Escape to Nowhere (1961),which featured his sister Anne Spielberg. He also directed Firelight (1964),a movie about aliens invading a small town, and Slipstream (1967),an unfinished film.
In the early 1970s, Spielberg worked on TV, directing series such as Rod Serling's Night Gallery (1969) and Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969). His first major directorial effort was The Sugarland Express (1974),followed by Jaws (1975),which started the tradition of the summer blockbuster.
Spielberg's subsequent films included Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977),Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981),and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). He also produced films such as The Goonies (1985) and Gremlins (1984),and helped pioneer the practice of product placement.
In the 1990s, Spielberg continued to produce and direct films, including Hook (1991),Jurassic Park (1993),and Schindler's List (1993),which won seven Academy Awards. He also founded the production company DreamWorks, which produced films such as Men in Black (1997) and Saving Private Ryan (1998).
Spielberg has been active in films and television throughout his career, producing and directing a wide range of projects. He has won numerous awards, including three Academy Awards for Best Director and four Golden Globes for Best Director.
