Person Details

Birthday: 1912-08-12 14:22:49

Death: 1997-10-30 14:22:49

Aliases: Sam Fuller

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Worcester, Massachusetts, US

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 128

TV Involvements: 7


Most Famous Work

Biography

Samuel Michael Fuller (August 12, 1912 – October 30, 1997) was an American screenwriter, novelist and film director known for low-budget genre movies with controversial themes. He was born Samuel Michael Fuller in Worcester, Massachusetts, the son of Benjamin Rabinovitch, a Jewish immigrant  from Russia, and Rebecca Baum, a Jewish immigrant from Poland. After immigrating to America, the family's surname was changed from Rabinovitch to "Fuller" possibly by inspiration of a Doctor who arrived in America on the Mayflower.  At the age of 12, he began working in journalism  as a newspaper  copyboy. He became a crime reporter  in New York City at age 17, working for the New York Evening Graphic. He broke the story of Jeanne Eagels' death.  He wrote pulp novels and screenplays  from the mid-1930s onwards. Fuller also became a screenplay  ghostwriter  but would never tell interviewers which screenplays that he ghost-wrote explaining "that's what a ghost writer is for". During World War II, Fuller joined the United States Army infantry. He was assigned to the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, and saw heavy fighting. He was involved in landings in Africa, Sicily, and Normandy  and also saw action in Belgium and Czechoslovakia. In 1945 he was present at the liberation of the German concentration camp at Falkenau  and shot 16 mm footage which was used later in the documentary Falkenau: The Impossible. For his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star, the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart.  Fuller used his wartime experiences as material in his films, especially in The Big Red One (1980), a nickname of the 1st Infantry Division. After his controversial film "White Dog" was shelved by Paramount pictures, Fuller moved to France, and never directed another American film. Fuller eventually returned to America. He died of natural causes in his California home. In November 1997, the Directors Guild held a three hour memorial in his honor, hosted by Curtis Hanson, his long time friend and co-writer on White Dog. He was survived by his wife Christa and daughter Samantha.

Most Famous Work

Scene of the Crime
Average
6

Scene of the Crime

(1970) Writer
The Virginian
Average
7

The Virginian

(1962) Director
Shock Corridor
Average
7

Shock Corridor

(1963) Screenplay
The Big Red One
Average
7

The Big Red One

(1980) Writer
The Dick Powell Show
Average
4

The Dick Powell Show

(1961) Director
The Naked Kiss
Average
7

The Naked Kiss

(1964) Writer
White Dog
Average
7

White Dog

(1982) Screenplay
Pickup on South Street
Average
7

Pickup on South Street

(1953) Screenplay

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
2013 Self
2012 Self
2011 N/A
2010 Self
2009 N/A
2006 Self (archive footage)
Self (archive footage)
2005 Himself (archive footage)
War Correspondent (uncredited)
2002 Self
1997 Louis
1996 Self
1995 Self
1994 Sam Silverman
Self
Himself
1993 Self
Sam
1992 Elimelek
Gassot
self
himself
1990 Chef de bureau Newsweek
Self
Father
1989 Police Commissioner
N/A
Himself
1988 Samuel Fuller
Le capitaine américain
1987 Boss
Van Meer
N/A
N/A
1986 Himself
Himself
1985 N/A
1984 Zoltan
Himself
1982 Colonel Sharp
Charlie Felton
Old Man in Pool Hall
Joe
1980 War Correspondent (uncredited)
1979 Interceptor Commander
1978 N°602
1977 Impresario
The American
1975 Self
1973 Doc Haskell
1971 Sam
1967 Interviewee
1966 Self
1965 Samuel Fuller (uncredited)
1955 Japanese policeman (uncredited)
Year Character Movie/Tv

Writing

Year Role Movie/Tv
2013 Book
2005 Writer
1994 Writer
1990 Screenplay
Writer
Writer
1989 Screenplay
Dialogue
1986 Story
1984 Writer
1982 Screenplay
1980 Writer
1978 Screenplay
1974 Screenplay
1973 Story
1972 Writer
1970 Writer
1969 Screenplay
1968 Screenplay
1967 Writer
1964 Writer
1963 Screenplay
1962 Writer
Screenplay
1961 Writer
1959 Writer
Writer
Writer
1957 Screenplay
Writer
Screenplay
1954 Writer
Screenplay
1953 Screenplay
1952 Writer
Novel
1951 Screenplay
Story
Writer
1950 Writer
1949 Writer
Writer
1945 Story
1943 Screenplay
Story
1941 Story
1940 Original Story
Screenplay
1939 Writer
1938 Story
Story
Story
Screenplay
1937 Screenplay
1936 Story
Screenplay
Year Role Movie/Tv

Directing

Year Role Movie/Tv
2005 Director
1990 Director
Director
Director
1989 Director
1984 Director
1982 Director
1980 Director
1978 Director
1972 Director
1970 Director
1969 Director
1964 Director
1963 Director
1962 Director
Director
1961 Director
Director
1959 Director
Director
Director
1957 Director
Director
Director
1955 Director
1954 Director
1953 Director
1952 Director
1951 Director
Director
1950 Director
1949 Director
1945 Director
Year Role Movie/Tv

Production

Crew

Year Role Movie/Tv
1955 Additional Dialogue
Year Role Movie/Tv

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