John Landis

John Landis Bio

John Landis is an American film director, comedian, screenwriter, actor, and producer born in Chicago, Illinois on August 3, 1950. He is best known for directing the comedy films National Lampoon’s Animal House, The Blues Brothers, An American Werewolf in London, Trading Places, Three Amigos, Coming to America, and Beverly Hills Cop III. He is also known for directing Michael Jackson’s music videos for “Thriller” and “Black or White.” Landis started his film career as a mailboy at 20th Century Fox. In 1973 he made his directorial debut and acting debut on the film Schlock. He has since been a director, writer, producer, or actor on the films Death Race 2000, 1941, The Blues Brothers, Coming Soon, Into the Night, Clue, Spies Like Us, Coming to America, Oscar, Innocent Blood, The Stupids, Diamonds, The Axe, Look, Burke and Hare and others. He has also been part of the television shows Dream On, Weird Science, The Stand, Slasher, Psych, Fear Itself, Franklin & Bash, Sliders, George Burns Comedy Week and more. Throughout his career he has been nominated for a number of awards and has won a Primetime Emmy Award, a Phoenix Film Festival Award, an NAACP Image Award and others.