Age: 63
Birthday: 25th August
Tim Burton is an American film director, producer, writer and artist. He is known for his gothic fantasy and horror films such as Beetlejuice (1988), Edward Scissorhands (1990), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Corpse Bride (2005), and Frankenweenie (2012). Burton also directed the superhero films Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992), the sci-fi film Planet of the Apes (2001), the fantasy-drama Big Fish (2003), the musical adventure film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), and the fantasy films Alice in Wonderland (2010) and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016).
Burton has often worked with actors Johnny Depp, and Helena Bonham Carter (his former domestic partner), and composer Danny Elfman (who has composed scores for all but three of the films Burton has directed). He wrote and illustrated the poetry book The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories, published in 1997.
BAFTA AWARD NOMINATIONS: 1
2004 - Best Director: BIG FISH
How do you rate Tim Burton's films?
WATCH TIM BURTON THIS WEEK
ON TV:
FILM: Corpse Bride (2005)
Sunday 31st October, ITV2, 2:10pm
ALSO ON AMAZON PRIME
Perfect Halloween entertainment with this stop-motion animation from the gothic fantasy director.
FILM: Beetlejuice (1988)
Sunday 31st October, Channel 5, 5:35pm
If you don't think it's the best film ever made, then you've probably not seen it! Stewart's all-time favourite film is a ghoulish comedy.
Sunday 31st October, Great! Movies, 6:50pm
ALSO ON NETFLIX & DISNEY+
Possibly Burton's most popular movie, a wonderful fairytale take on Frankenstein style gothic horror, with Johnny Depp as the boy with scissors for hands!
FILM: Mars Attacks! (1996)
Friday 5th November, TCM, 3:15pm
Delightfully wacky sci-fi comedy as a group of Martians take over the Earth with a star-studded cast being zapped away.
FILM: Planet of the Apes (2001)
Friday 5th November, Great Movies!, 9:00pm
ALSO ON DISNEY+
Even a Burton misfire is still worth seeing, with this reimagining of the '60s sci-fi film.
ON NETFLIX...
FILM: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) (Age 18)
Not one for the kids! This gruesome violent take on the Stephen Sondheim musical is a perfect match for Burton and his two favourite actors.
ON DISNEY+
FILM: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
He didn't direct but Burton is the creative genius behind the story and characters and produced this classic Halloween meets Christmas animation.
FILMS: Frankenweenie (1984) / Frankenweenie (2012)
Way back before his first feature film, Burton made a short film about a young boy who brings his dog back from the dead. A nice little spin on Frankenstein. Then in 2012 the director revisited the story with a fun animated film in the vein of classic horror movies.
What's your favourite Tim Burton film?
Make sure you are booked in for this week's DRAMA CLASSES
