Richard Stuart Linklater, born on July 30, 1960, is an American filmmaker who directs, produces, and writes movies. He is famous for making movies about suburban life and how time passing affects people. Some of his well-known movies include Slacker (1990), Dazed and Confused (1993), the Before trilogy (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight), School of Rock (2003), Waking Life (2001), A Scanner Darkly (2006), Boyhood (2014), and Everybody Wants Some!! (2016).
Linklater has a unique way of making films. His movies often have a relaxed and not very structured storyline. For example, the Before trilogy and Boyhood feature the same actors filmed over many years. He has been nominated for Academy Awards and won awards for his work, such as the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival.
In his early life, Linklater was born in Houston, Texas, and later moved to Bellaire for his senior year of high school. He played sports and won awards for art during his teenage years. He started studying at Sam Houston State University but dropped out to work on an offshore oil rig. After reading many novels on the rig, he realized he wanted to be a filmmaker. So, he moved to Austin, Texas, bought film equipment, and started making short films.
Linklater’s career began with his first feature film, It’s Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books, and he went on to make Slacker, which gained a cult following. He made various films in the 1980s and 1990s, including Dazed and Confused, which helped launch Matthew McConaughey’s career.
From 2001 to 2013, Linklater gained more recognition with films like Waking Life, A Scanner Darkly, School of Rock, and Fast Food Nation. He also worked on projects like Before Sunset, which earned him an Academy Award nomination.
In 2014, he released Boyhood, a unique film that took 12 years to make. It received critical acclaim and won several awards. Linklater continued to work on films like Everybody Wants Some!! and Last Flag Flying.
Linklater is known for being influenced by various filmmakers and having a distinctive style. His films often focus on human interactions rather than strict plotlines. Many actors, including Ethan Hawke and Matthew McConaughey, frequently appear in his movies.
In his personal life, Linklater lives in Austin, Texas, and has been in a long-term relationship with Christina Harrison. They have three children together, and his oldest daughter, Lorelei Linklater, acted in Boyhood. Additionally, Linklater has been a vegetarian since his early 20s and supports animal rights.