Sam Mendes Brief Biography

Samuel Alexander "Sam" Mendes, CBE (born 1 August 1965) is an English stage and film director. He is best known for directing American Beauty (1999), which earned him the Academy and Golden Globe Award for Best Director; the crime film Road to Perdition (2002); the James Bond movie Skyfall (2012), and his dark re-inventions of the stage musicals Cabaret (1994), Oliver! (1994) and Company (1996), as well as Gypsy (2003). He will direct an original stage musical for the first time with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2013).

In 2000, Mendes was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for "services to drama", and in 2005 received a lifetime achievement award from the Directors Guild of Great Britain.

Sam Mendes News

• Sam Mendes says he won't direct next James Bond film
• 'Skyfall' crosses $1 billion in worldwide box office
• Kate Winslet and Ned Rocknroll secretly marry