LibGuides: A Film Research Guide: Directors, Screenwriters, & Actors

Find Biographies and Autobiographies

Reference Books with Biographical Information

The Wallflower Critical Guide to Contemporary North American Directors
Call Number: Ref PN1998.2 .C68 2002
Biographical and critical profiles of contemporary film directors in the U. S. and Canada.

These resources can be found in the Reference collection on the 1st floor of the library.

Contemporary Theatre, Film & Television
Call Number: Ref PN2285 .C58 v. 1-93
A biographical guide featuring performers, directors, writers, producers, designers, managers, choreographers, technicians, composers, executives, & critics.
Current Biography
Call Number: Ref CT100 .C8
Includes well-researched profiles for noteworthy figures in popular culture and society, including film and the media. More than a sketch, profiles include information on the person's early life, influences and career development.
World Film Directors 1945-1985
Call Number: Ref PN1998.2 .W67 v. 1-2
Includes lengthy profiles of each director's life and work.
International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers
Call Number: Ref PN1997.8 .I58 v. 1-5
Volumes devoted to Directors/Filmmakers, Actors, Writers and Production Artists, and their films. Profiles focus on the person's unique contributions to film.

Gale Literature Criticism Online

Use the search box below to find biographical information on screenwriters and directors as well as a collection of extensive critical analysis of their work.

Other Biographical Sources

Literature Online(LION)
Literature Online provides biographical overviews and some interviews and criticism for screenwriters.
Oxford Reference Online
Oxford Reference Online includes a range of reference books covering cultural and media studies. Use the search box at the top right to find entries for a particular person.
Communication & Mass Media Complete
Covers journals in communication and mass media studies. Includes some interviews and biographical profiles.
MLA International Bibliography
MLA International includes journal articles, books, and dissertations in literature, folklore, and the dramatic arts. To focus on biographical information, add the word "biography" or "autobiography" to a search on a person's name.
Project MUSE
Project Muse includes articles from scholarly journals in the humanities. To focus on biographical information, add the word "biography" or "autobiography" to a search on a person's name.
JSTOR
JSTOR is a scholarly journal archive. To focus on articles with biographical information, add the word "biography" or "autobiography" to a search on a person's name.

JSTOR has provided complimentary access during Covid to JSTOR Archives & Primary Source Collections until June 30, 2021.