Joel Schumacher

Biography

Joel T. Schumacher (August 29, 1939 – June 22, 2020) was an American film director, screenwriter, producer, and costume designer. He was raised in New York City by his mother and suffered from substance abuse at a young age. He became a fashion designer after graduating from Parsons School of Design, but would continue suffering from substance abuse and high levels of debt until the early 1970s. He first entered film-making as a production and costume designer before gaining writing credits on Car Wash, Sparkle, and The Wiz. He received little attention for his initial theatrically released films, The Incredible Shrinking Woman and D.C. Cab, but rose to prominence after directing St. Elmo's Fire (1985), The Lost Boys (1987), and The Client (1994). Schumacher was selected to replace Tim Burton as director of the Batman franchise and oversaw Batman Foreve (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997). After the Batman franchise Schumacher directed smaller-budgeted films, including Tigerland (2000) and Phone Booth (2002). He directed The Phantom of the Opera, which was released to mixed reviews in 2004. His final directorial work was for two episodes of House of Cards (2013).

Most Known For

Radioman

as Self

BRATS

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Side by Side

as Self

Heckler

as Self

Very Ralph

as Self

Everything Is Copy

as Self

Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall

as Self

Welcome to Hollywood

as Joel Schumacher

The Batmobile

as Self

Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel

as Self

Halston

as Self

Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight

as Self

Riddle Me This: Why Is Batman Forever?

as Self - Director

Making of Phone Booth

as Self

Bloodsucking Cinema

as Self

Stupidity

as Self

What the Folk?... Behind the Scenes of 'Queer as Folk'

as Himself

Coming Attractions: The History of the Movie Trailer

as Self

Holy the Sabbath

as Narrator