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Van Sant, who has owned a home in Darien, turns 46 on Thursday. The film director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author was born July 24, 1952, in Louisville, Ky.
Van Sant started his career as a production assistant to writer/director Ken Shapiro.
As a filmmaker, Van Sant has repeatedly focused his work on those existing on society's fringes, beginning with his 1985 film "Mala Noche."
His early career was devoted to directing television commercials in the Pacific Northwest. His filmography as writer and director includes a 1994 adaptation of Tom Robbins' 1976 novel "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues," which features a diverse cast; and "My Own Private Idaho" (1991), starring River Phoenix.
He wrote the screenplays for most of his early movies, and has written one novel, "Pink."
He has released two musical albums: "Gus Van Sant" and "18 Songs About Golf." A book of his photography has also been published, called "108 Portraits."
He is a two-time nominee for the Academy Award for Best Director—for "Good Will Hunting" in 1997 and "Milk" in 2008, both of which were also nominated for Best Picture. He won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for his film "Elephant" (2003).
Van Sant's 2011 project "Restless" was screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
Van Sant's most recent film, "Promised Land," was released on Dec. 28, 2012. His next project will be the American live action version of "Death Note.:
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