James Cameron

Canadian filmmaker (born 1954)
Thumbnail for James Cameron

James Francis Cameron is a Canadian filmmaker. He is a major figure in the post-New Hollywood era and often uses novel technologies with a classical filmmaking style. He first gained recognition for writing and directing The Terminator (1984), and found further success with Aliens (1986), The Abyss (1989), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), and True Lies (1994), as well as Avatar (2009) and its sequels. He directed, wrote, co-produced, and co-edited Titanic (1997), winning three Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Film Editing. He is a recipient of various other industry accolades, and three of his films have been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

James Francis Cameron was born on August 16, 1954, in Kapuskasing, Ontario, to Philip Cameron, an electrical engineer, and Shirley (née Lowe), an artist and nurse. He is the first of five children, with two brothers and two sisters. His paternal great-great-great-grandfather emigrated from Balquhidder, Scotland, in 1825. Cameron spent summers on his grandfather's farm in southern Ontario. He attended Stamford Collegiate in Niagara Falls. At age 17, Cameron and his family moved from Chippawa to Brea, California. He attended Sonora High School and then moved to Brea Olinda High School. Classmates recalled that he was not a sportsman but instead enjoyed building things that "either went up into the air or into the deep".

After high school, Cameron enrolled at Fullerton College, a community college in 1973 to study physics. He switched subjects to English, but left the college at the end of 1974. Cameron worked odd jobs, including as a truck driver and a high school janitor. He drank beer, frequently consumed cannabis and LSD, and wrote in his free time. During this period, he learned about special effects by reading other students' work on "optical printing, or front screen projection, or dye transfers, anything that related to film technology" at the USC library. After the excitement of seeing Star Wars in 1977, Cameron quit his job as a truck driver to enter the film industry.

Date of Birth16th August 1954
Age70 Years
Zodiac SignLeo
CountryUnited Kingdom
Current CityKapuskasing
Birth PlaceKapuskasing
Religionatheism
NationalityCanada
CitizenshipCanada
SpousesGale Anne Hurd
Suzy Amis Cameron
Kathryn Bigelow
Linda Hamilton
Education
Fullerton College, California State University, Fullerton, Brea Olinda High School, Sonora High School
Occupationfilm producer, film director, screenwriter, film editor, inventor, director, philanthropist, engineer, actor, explorer, television producer, producer
Awards
  • Academy Award for Best Director
  • Directors Guild of America Award
  • Academy Award for Best Film Editing
  • Academy Award for Best Picture
  • Golden Globe Award for Best Director
  • California Hall of Fame
  • Nierenberg Prize
  • Hans Hass Award
  • Hubbard Medal
  • Canada's Walk of Fame
  • Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame
  • Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay
  • Companion of the Order of Canada
  • star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
  • Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation
  • Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Director