Tim Burton

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August 25, 1958

Timothy William Burton

Spouse:

Lena Gieseke (February 24, 1989 - December 31, 1991) (divorced)

Partners:

Lisa Marie (1993–2001)

Helena Bonham Carter (2001–present) (children: Billy Ray Burton & Nell Burton)

Did we miss any?

Producer

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (producer) (2012)

Frankenweenie (2012) (producer, director, writer)

Alice in Wonderland (2010) (producer, director)

9 (2009) (producer)

Corpse Bride (2005) (producer, director, writer)

The World of Stainboy (2000) (producer, director, writer)

Lost in Oz (2000) (TV) (executive producer, writer)

Mars Attacks! (1996) (producer, director)

James and the Giant Peach (1996) (producer)

Batman Forever (1995) (producer, director)

Ed Wood (1994) (producer, director)

Cabin Boy (1994) (producer)

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) (producer, writer)

"Family Dog" (executive producer) (1 episode, 1993)

Batman Returns (1992) (producer)

"Beetlejuice" (executive producer, writer) (67 episodes, 1989-1991)

Edward Scissorhands (1990) (producer, director, writer)

Luau (1982) (producer, director, writer, actor)

Stalk of the Celery (1979) (producer,writer)

Director

Frankenweenie (2012)

Dark Shadows (2012)

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Cinema16: American Short Films (2006)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Big Fish (2003)

Planet of the Apes (2001)

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Batman (1989)

Beetle Juice (1988)(writer)

"Faerie Tale Theatre" (1 episode, 1986)

"Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1 episode) The Jar (1986) TV episode

Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) (actor)

Frankenweenie (1984)(writer)

Vincent (1982)(writer)

Hansel and Gretel (1982) (TV)(writer)

Doctor of Doom (1979)(writer)

The Island of Doctor Agor (1971)(writer)

Actor

Men In Black 3 (uncredited) (2012)

Hoffa (1992) (uncredited)

Singles (1992)

The Muppet Movie (1979) (voice) (uncredited)

Appearances

Janela Indiscreta (TV series) (2 episodes, 2010-2012)

"Up Close with Carrie Keagan" (TV series) (3 episodes, 2009-2012)

IC Places Hollywood (TV series) (1 episode, 2012)

Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan (documentary) (2011)

George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

BFI London Film Festival Awards (TV special) (2010)

Christopher Lee - Gentleman des Grauens (TV documentary) (2010)

The 7PM Project (TV series) (2 episodes, 2010)

The British Academy Television Awards (TV special) (2010)

Alice in Wonderland: The Mad Hatter (video documentary short) (2010)

Alice in Wonderland: Effecting Wonderland (short) (2010)

The Fabulous Picture Show (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

Le grand journal de Canal+ (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

Cannes Film Festival 2010 (TV special) (2010)

Cinema 3 (TV series) (2 episodes, 2008-2010)

Made in Hollywood (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

Go' aften Danmark (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

Disney Get Connected (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

GMTV (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

Xposé (TV series) (2 episodes, 2010)

Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

Entertainment Tonight (TV series) (4 episodes, 2007-2010)

The Charlie Rose Show (4 episodes, 1999-2009)

The Look of '9' (video short) (2009)

'9': U-Control Picture in Picture (video documentary) (2009)

'9': The Long and the Short of It (video short) (2009)

Sweeney Todd: Sweeney Is Alive - The Real Story of the Demon Barber (video documentary short) (2008)

The South Bank Show (TV series documentary) (1 episode, 2008)

Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009)

Scream Awards 2008 (2008) (TV special)

"Cinema tres" (1 episode, 2008)

"Cartelera" (1 episode, 2008)

"Miradas 2" (1 episode, 2008)

"Caiga quien caiga" (1 episode, 2008)

"Film '72" (4 episodes, 2004-2008)

"La 2 noticias" (1 episode, 2008)

This Morning (1 episode, 2008)

"Extérieur jour" (1 episode, 2008)

"Broadway Beat" (1 episode, 2008)

"HBO First Look" (5 episodes, 2001-2008)

DP/30: Conversations About Movies (TV series) (2007)

Summer Exhibition (2007) (TV)

"Space Top 10 Countdown" (1 episode, 2006)

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1 episode, 2006)

The 78th Annual The Academy Awards (2006) (TV special)

"Sunday Morning Shootout" (1 episode, 2006)

The Animators: The Breath of Life (2006)

Danny Elfman Interprets 'The Two Worlds' (2006)

Inside the Two Worlds of 'The Corpse Bride' (2006)

Making Puppets Tick (2006)

Tim Burton: Dark vs. Light (2006)

Voices from the Underworld (2006)

"At the Movies" (1 episode, 2005)

Attack of the Squirrels! (2005)

3rd Irish Film and Television Awards (2005) (TV special)

"Magacine" (3 episodes, 1997-2005)

"Planet Voice" (1 episode, 2005)

Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight - The Gathering Storm (2005)

Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight - The Legend Reborn (2005)

Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight - Dark Side of the Knight (2005)

Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight - The Road to Gotham City (2005)

Venecia 2005: Crónica de Carlos Boyero (2005) (TV)

"Corazón de..." (1 episode, 2005)

The Wonderful World of Roald Dahl (2005) (TV)

Becoming Oompa-Loompa (2005)

The 100 Greatest Cartoons (2005) (TV)

Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection (2005)

Batman: The Heroes (2005)

Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997 - Beyond Batman: From Jack to the Joker (2005)

Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997 - Gotham City Revisited: The Production Design of Batman Returns (2005)

Batman: The Villains (2005)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Different Faces, Different Flavors (2005)

Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology (1989-1997) - Beyond Batman: Designing the Batsuit (2005)

Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology (1989-1997) - Nocturnal Overtures (2005)

Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology (1989-1997) - Assembling the Arctic Army (2005)

Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology (1989-1997) - Beyond Batman: Building the Batmobile (2005)

Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology (1989-1997) - Making Up the Penguin (2005)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Designer Chocolate (2005)

Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology (1989-1997) - Sleek, Sexy, and Sinister: The Costumes of Batman Returns (2005)

Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology (1989-1997) - Beyond Batman: Visualizing Gotham (2005)

Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology (1989-1997) - Those Wonderful Toys (2005)

"Eigo de shabera-night" (1 episode, 2004)

Mario Bava: Operazione paura (2004) (TV)

"4Pop" (1 episode, 2004)

"Silenci?" (1 episode, 2004)

Super Secret Movie Rules: Disaster Movies (2004) (TV)

Super Secret Movie Rules: Superheroes (2003) (TV)

De Superman à Spider-Man: L'aventure des super-héros (2002)

"Hollywood, Inc." (1 episode, 2002)

The Making of 'Planet of the Apes' (2001) (TV special)

The Making of Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' (2000)

"Exposure" (2 episodes, 2000)

Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre (2000) (TV)

Sleepy Hollow: Behind the Legend (2000)

"The Howard Stern Radio Show" (1 episode, 1999)

"The Martin Short Show" (1 episode, 1999)

Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1 episode, 1999)

"The Directors" (1 episode, 1999)

"A-Z of Horror" (1997) TV mini-series

"Showbiz Today" (1 episode, 1996)

Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects (1994) (TV)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition (1994) (TV)

A Century of Cinema (1994)

The American Film Institute Salute to Jack Nicholson (1994) (TV)

The Bat, the Cat, and the Penguin (1992) (TV)

In the Director's Chair: The Man Who Invented Edward Scissorhands (1990) (TV)

Premiere: Inside the Summer Blockbusters (1989) (TV)

The Academy Awards

2006 Nominated Oscar Best Animated Feature Film of the Year for: Corpse Bride (2005). Shared with: Mike Johnson

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA

2008 Nominated Saturn Award Best Director for: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

2000 Nominated Saturn Award Best Director for: Sleepy Hollow (1999)

1997 Nominated Saturn Award Best Director for: Mars Attacks! (1996)

1993 Nominated Saturn Award Best Director for: Batman Returns (1992)

1990 Nominated Saturn Award Best Director for: Beetle Juice (1988)

Amanda Awards, Norway

2006 Nominated Amanda Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske kinofilm) for: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) USA

Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival

2008 Career Achievement Award

Annie Awards

2010 Winsor McCay Award

2006 Nominated Annie Best Directing in an Animated Feature Production for: Corpse Bride (2005). Shared with: Mike Johnson

Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards

2006 Nominated Silver Condor Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera) for: Corpse Bride (2005) UK

2005 Nominated Silver Condor Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera en Idioma no Español) for: Big Fish (2003) USA

1996 Nominated Silver Condor Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera) for: Ed Wood (1994) USA

BAFTA Awards

2005 Nominated BAFTA Children's Award Best Feature Film for: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). Shared with: Richard D. Zanuck

2004 Nominated David Lean Award for Direction for: Big Fish (2003)

British Animation Awards

2006 Won BAA Best Feature for "Corpse Bride" for: Corpse Bride (2005). Shared with: Mike Johnson

Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards

2008 Nominated Critics Choice Award Best Director for: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

2004 Nominated Critics Choice Award Best Director for: Big Fish (2003)

Cannes Film Festival

1995 Nominated Golden Palm for: Ed Wood (1994)

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

2004 Nominated CFCA Award Best Director for: Big Fish (2003)

1995 Nominated CFCA Award Best Director for: Ed Wood (1994)

1990 Nominated CFCA Award Best Director for: Batman (1989)

Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards

2007 3rd place DFWFCA Award Best Director for: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

DVD Exclusive Awards

2001 Nominated Video Premiere Award Best Internet Video Premiere for: The World of Stainboy (2000)
Atom/Shockwave

David di Donatello Awards

2004 Nominated David Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero) for: Big Fish (2003)

Daytime Emmy Awards

1990 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Animated Program for: "Beetlejuice" (1989). Shared with: Clive A. Smith, Robin Budd, Michael Hirsh & Patrick Loubert (producers); David Geffen (executive producer); Lenora Hume (supervising producer); Stephen Hodgins (coordinating producer); Patsy Cameron & Tedd Anasti (story editors). Tied with "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" (1988)

Empire Awards, UK

2009 Nominated Empire Award Best Director for: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Golden Globe Awards

2008 Nominated Golden Globe Best Director - Motion Picture for: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Hugo Awards

1994 Nominated Hugo Best Dramatic Presentation for: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Shared with: Michael McDowell adaptation); Caroline Thompson (screenplay); Henry Selick (director)

1990 Nominated Hugo Best Dramatic Presentation for: Batman (1989). Shared with: Bob Kane (characters); Warren Skaaren (screenplay); Sam Hamm (screenplay, story)

Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists

2010 Nominated Silver Ribbon Best 3D Film Director (Regista del Miglior Film in 3D) for: Alice in Wonderland (2010)

2008 Nominated Silver Ribbon Best Non-European Director (Regista del Miglior Film Non-Europeo) for: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

2006 Nominated Silver Ribbon Best Director - Foreign Film (Regista del Miglior Film Straniero) for: Corpse Bride (2005)

2000 Nominated Silver Ribbon Best Director - Foreign Film (Regista del Miglior Film Straniero) for: Sleepy Hollow (1999)

National Board of Review, USA

2007 Won NBR Award Best Director for: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Ordre des Arts et des Lettres France (Order of Arts and Letters)

2010 Awarded the insignia of Chevalier of Arts and Letters from Minister of Culture, Frédéric Mitterrand

Ottawa International Animation Festival

1984 Won Audience Award for: Vincent (1982)

PGA Awards

2010 Nominated Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures for: 9 (2009). Shared with: Jim Lemley & Timur Bekmambetov

2006 Nominated Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award Animated Motion Picture for: Corpse Bride (2005). Shared with: Allison Abbate

Sant Jordi Awards

1992 Won Sant Jordi Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera) for: Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Satellite Awards

1997 Nominated Golden Satellite Award Best Motion Picture - Animated or Mixed Media for: James and the Giant Peach (1996). Shared with: Denise Di Novi

1991 Nominated Golden Satellite Award Best Motion Picture - Animated or Mixed Media for: Mars Attacks! (1996)

ShoWest Convention, USA

1990 ShoWest Award Director of the Year

Venice Film Festival

2007 Career Golden Lion

2005 Won Future Film Festival Digital Award for: Corpse Bride (2005). Shared with: Mike Johnson

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Movies are like an expensive form of therapy for me.

I've always been misrepresented. You know, I could dress in a clown costume and laugh with the happy people but they'd still say I'm a dark personality.

I remember when I was younger, I had these two windows in my room, nice windows that looked out onto the lawn, and for some reason my parents walled them up and gave me this little slit window that I had to climb up on a desk to see out of. To this day I never asked them why; I should ask them.

Anybody who knows me knows I would never read a comic book. And I certainly would never read anything written by Kevin Smith.

I wouldn't know a good script if it bit me in the face.

In Hollywood, they think drawn animation doesn't work anymore, computers are the way. They forget that the reason computers are the way is that Pixar makes good movies. So everybody tries to copy Pixar. They're relying too much on the technology and not enough on the artists. The fact that Disney closed down its cel animation division is frightening to me. Someday soon, somebody will come along and do a drawn-animated film, and it'll be beautiful and connect with people, and they'll all go, 'Oh, we've got to do that!' It's ridiculous.

If you've ever had that feeling of loneliness, of being an outsider, it never quite leaves you. You can be happy or successful or whatever, but that thing still stays within you.

Submit Quotes

His father Bill Burton worked for the Burbank Parks and Recreation Department and his mother Jean Burton owned a gift shop called 'Cats Plus'.

When he was 10 years old, Burton went to live with his grandmother until he reached high school, much to the dismay of his parents.

Burton’s work is marked by a series of interests that are as confessional as they are coherent. His heroes, who often display an artistic bent, are outcasts from regular society, a society that Burton likes to reveal as being weird and often pernicious beneath the gloss. His films may be Hollywood blockbusters, but they are self-portraits as revealing as those of any nouvelle vague artist.

Like many of his central characters Tim Burton grew up a loner. Raised in Burbank, California, he withdrew from family life into a world dominated by horror movies – Vincent Price was his hero – and drawing cartoons. This artistic talent won him a Disney Scholarship to study animation at the California Institute of Arts. After graduating he became an apprentice animator though his talent was constricted by the studio’s house style.

Credits his former fiancee, Lisa Marie, as his muse. She is often in his projects or is paid homage in them.

He is a "Bollywood" fan.

Is a big fan of Italian director Mario Bava.

He is a big fan of "nudie" director Russ Meyer.

Nearly everywhere he goes, he carries a pocket-size sketchbook and a small watercolor kit.

He usually dresses in black, because he doesn't like spending too much time matching colors.

He once said he never remembers his dreams, apart from five recurring dreams, one of them involving the girl he was in love with when he was a teenager and another involving his parents' bedroom.

Johnny Depp is a godfather of his son Billy Ray Burton.

He has a phobia of chimpanzees.

Burton has stated his favorite films are Dracula AD 1972, The Wicker Man, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, The War of the Gargantuas, and The Omega Man.

Cameos

Singles (1992)

Hoffa (1992)

The Nightmare Before Christmas (deleted scene)

Men in Black 3 (2012)