Roger Donaldson

<h2 id="life-and-career">Life and career</h2>
Donaldson was born in <a href="/facts/Ballarat/8FFdS0Cz">Ballarat</a>, Victoria, where he attended <a href="/facts/Ballarat_High_School/DyCXTdT5">Ballarat High School</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a> In 1965 he emigrated to <a href="/facts/New_Zealand/4mpSlJdg">New Zealand</a>, where he established a small <a href="/facts/Photography/ezLPT43M">still photography</a> business and began making advertisements. Donaldson was also directing documentaries, including an adventure series featuring <a href="/facts/Everest/hspjxkgv">Everest</a>-conquering New Zealander, <a href="/facts/Edmund_Hillary/Iwde7Uch">Sir Edmund Hillary</a>, as well as his first ventures into drama. Donaldson and actor/director <a href="/facts/Ian_Mune/QR1QSSTN">Ian Mune</a> collaborated on a number of projects for television, including anthology series Winners and Losers, based on short stories by New Zealand authors.
In 1976, Donaldson directed and produced his first feature, <a href="/facts/Sleeping_Dogs_(1977_film)/VAGVhq4h">Sleeping Dogs</a>. The film starred Mune and <a href="/facts/Sam_Neill/eU9xlxTV">Sam Neill</a> as two men fighting for their lives in a totalitarian New Zealand. He followed it with Smash Palace, starring <a href="/facts/Bruno_Lawrence/j8uqLKrh">Bruno Lawrence</a> as a man who kidnaps his daughter after his marriage disintegrates.
Donaldson's international break came when producer <a href="/facts/Dino_de_Laurentiis/ve4F4T5L">Dino de Laurentiis</a> invited him to direct an adaptation of <a href="/facts/Mutiny_on_the_Bounty_(novel)/5tPAfBur">Mutiny on the Bounty</a>, after <a href="/facts/Lawrence_of_Arabia_(film)/vNRUvxuM">Lawrence of Arabia</a> director <a href="/facts/David_Lean/chVpdHLz">David Lean</a> left the project. The film, released as <a href="/facts/The_Bounty_(1984_film)/N0klGelE">The Bounty</a>, starred Anthony Hopkins as <a href="/facts/William_Bligh/wpB13C4m">William Bligh</a> and <a href="/facts/Mel_Gibson/abjahglo">Mel Gibson</a> as mutineer <a href="/facts/Fletcher_Christian/RaLFT633">Fletcher Christian</a>. Donaldson was nominated for a <a href="/facts/Golden_Palm/R57obDSr">Golden Palm</a> at the 1984 <a href="/facts/Cannes_Film_Festival/4FU7Kbfc">Cannes Film Festival</a> for the film.
Donaldson went on to direct many popular and successful movies. His breakthrough American hit was the thriller No Way Out, starring Kevin Costner and <a href="/facts/Gene_Hackman/jkoIQvlp">Gene Hackman</a>. <a href="/facts/Cocktail_(1988_film)/DYMTHENo">Cocktail</a>, starring <a href="/facts/Bryan_Brown/r2hmmKQy">Bryan Brown</a> and Tom Cruise, was panned by critics but did very well at the box office, based largely on Cruise's starpower. The volcano disaster movie Dante's Peak, starring Pierce Brosnan and <a href="/facts/Linda_Hamilton/AuaqDjFP">Linda Hamilton</a>, helped restore Donaldson's status after a string of less successful films. Thirteen Days, a political thriller starring Kevin Costner, adapted The Kennedy Tapes, a book by <a href="/facts/Ernest_R._May/wCj5YG9Q">Ernest R. May</a> and <a href="/facts/Philip_Zelikow/2qP9whKC">Philip Zelikow</a>, which was a detailed account of the <a href="/facts/Cuban_Missile_Crisis/GmDGYcWA">Cuban Missile Crisis</a>. He also directed science fiction tale <a href="/facts/Species_(film)/meAR0FCw">Species</a>, and in 2003, the Al Pacino and <a href="/facts/Colin_Farrell/S8XjTH1B">Colin Farrell</a> film <a href="/facts/The_Recruit_(film)/C1Lys1ra">The Recruit</a>. Donaldson wrote and directed <a href="/facts/The_World%27s_Fastest_Indian/oS5YIS1L">The World's Fastest Indian</a>, which released in 2005. The film starred Anthony Hopkins and depicted <a href="/facts/Burt_Munro/NdaABtuX">Burt Munro</a>'s successful attempts at motorcycle speed records at <a href="/facts/Bonneville_Salt_Flats/0zbo4pKb">Bonneville Salt Flats</a> in the 1950s.
His son <a href="/facts/Chris_Donaldson/zXr7xszH">Chris</a> is a sprinter who has represented New Zealand at the <a href="/facts/Olympic_Games/TXbdPIVS">Olympic</a> level in 100m and 200m events.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a> His daughter <a href="/facts/India_Donaldson/QDj2N3yc">India</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a> is also a filmmaker. Her debut feature <a href="/facts/Good_One_(film)/sHRJPm3d">Good One</a> made its premiere at the <a href="/facts/Sundance_Film_Festival/30mSTkES">Sundance Film Festival</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a> and also screened at the <a href="/facts/Cannes_Film_Festival/4FU7Kbfc">Cannes Film Festival</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a>
In the <a href="/facts/2018_Birthday_Honours_(New_Zealand)/w1YEcvR5">2018 Queen's Birthday Honours</a>, Donaldson was appointed an <a href="/facts/Officer_of_the_New_Zealand_Order_of_Merit/q5yhcwBe">Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit</a>, for services to film.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a>

<h2 id="filmography">Filmography</h2>
<h3>Film</h3>
<table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Director</th><th>Producer</th><th>Writer</th></tr><tr><td>1977</td><td><a href="/facts/Sleeping_Dogs_(1977_film)/VAGVhq4h">Sleeping Dogs</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>1980</td><td><a href="/facts/Nutcase_(film)/0Hh3jVEP">Nutcase</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>1981</td><td><a href="/facts/Smash_Palace/7tSw9SUc">Smash Palace</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td>1984</td><td><a href="/facts/The_Bounty_(1984_film)/N0klGelE">The Bounty</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>1985</td><td><a href="/facts/Marie_(1985_film)/Bg2mcpgG">Marie</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>1987</td><td><a href="/facts/No_Way_Out_(1987_film)/jDtCLBxE">No Way Out</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>1988</td><td><a href="/facts/Cocktail_(1988_film)/DYMTHENo">Cocktail</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>1990</td><td><a href="/facts/Cadillac_Man/wN7flwx1">Cadillac Man</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>1992</td><td><a href="/facts/White_Sands_(film)/7Iv4Mmwk">White Sands</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>1994</td><td><a href="/facts/The_Getaway_(1994_film)/G9y9Xxw8">The Getaway</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>1995</td><td><a href="/facts/Species_(film)/meAR0FCw">Species</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>1997</td><td><a href="/facts/Dante%27s_Peak/bM7u5BWE">Dante's Peak</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>2000</td><td><a href="/facts/Thirteen_Days_(film)/lPWzuwAI">Thirteen Days</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>2003</td><td><a href="/facts/The_Recruit_(film)/C1Lys1ra">The Recruit</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>2005</td><td><a href="/facts/The_World%27s_Fastest_Indian/oS5YIS1L">The World's Fastest Indian</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td>2008</td><td><a href="/facts/The_Bank_Job/AsgASPca">The Bank Job</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td><a href="/facts/Seeking_Justice/zwXE2bqc">Seeking Justice</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td><a href="/facts/The_November_Man/K6m44mF7">The November Man</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td></tr></tbody></table>
Documentary film

<table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Director</th><th>ExecutiveProducer</th></tr><tr><td>2004</td><td>The Making of "Sleeping Dogs"</td><td>No</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td><a href="/facts/McLaren_(film)/sJ12w0DJ">McLaren</a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td></tr></tbody></table>
Short film

<ul><li>Lawyers (2010)</li></ul>
<h3>Television</h3>
<table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Director</th><th>Producer</th><th>Writer</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td>1971</td><td><a href="/facts/Burt_Munro/NdaABtuX">Burt Munro</a>: Offerings to the God of Speed</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>TV Short</td></tr><tr><td>1974</td><td>Derek</td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>Yes</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1975–1976</td><td>Winners & Losers</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1999</td><td>Fearless</td><td>No</td><td>Executive</td><td>No</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
TV movies

<ul><li>Survey (1972)</li>
<li>Jocko (1981)</li></ul>

<h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2>
<ul><li>Schneider, Steven Jay, ed. (2007). 501 Movie Directors. London: Cassell Illustrated. p. 488. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9781844035731. <a href="/facts/OCLC_(identifier)/Yqad8waq">OCLC</a> <a href="https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1347156402">1347156402</a>.</li></ul>
<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002044/">Roger Donaldson</a> at <a href="/facts/IMDb_(identifier)/uWrqVYVy">IMDb</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">Screen, NZ On. "Roger Donaldson | NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 4 February 2024. <a href="https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/roger-donaldson/biography" target="_blank">https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/roger-donaldson/biography</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">"Roger Donaldson - Biography". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 18 August 2023. <a href="https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/51681%7C0/Roger-Donaldson/#biography" target="_blank">https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/51681%7C0/Roger-Donaldson/#biography</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">"Queen's Birthday honours list 2018". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018. <a href="https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2018" target="_blank">https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2018</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">Gliddon, Greg (5 June 2018). "This Ballarat-born director is credited with inventing New Zealand's film industry". The Courier. Retrieved 7 October 2021. <a href="https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5448537/this-ballarat-born-director-is-credited-with-inventing-new-zealands-film-industry/" target="_blank">https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5448537/this-ballarat-born-director-is-credited-with-inventing-new-zealands-film-industry/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">The-Sports.org entry for Chris Donaldson <a href="http://www.the-sports.org/athletics-donaldson-chris-results-identity-s5-c2-b4-o39-w14168.html" target="_blank">http://www.the-sports.org/athletics-donaldson-chris-results-identity-s5-c2-b4-o39-w14168.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">Clement, Nick (28 August 2021). "The Roger Donaldson Interview » We Are Cult". We Are Cult. Retrieved 8 August 2024. <a href="https://wearecult.rocks/the-roger-donaldson-interview" target="_blank">https://wearecult.rocks/the-roger-donaldson-interview</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">Laffly, Tomris (21 January 2024). ""…The Relationship Between This Father and Daughter is Forever Changed": India Donaldson on Her Sundance-Premiering Wilderness Drama, Good One - Filmmaker Magazine". Filmmaker Magazine | Publication with a focus on independent film, offering articles, links, and resources. Retrieved 8 August 2024. <a href="https://filmmakermagazine.com/124799-interview-india-donaldson-good-one/" target="_blank">https://filmmakermagazine.com/124799-interview-india-donaldson-good-one/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Ross, Rafa Sales (8 August 2024). "Out of Step: Good One's India Donaldson on intergenerational creative forces • Journal • A Letterboxd Magazine". letterboxd.com. Retrieved 8 August 2024. <a href="https://letterboxd.com/journal/good-one-india-donaldson-interview/" target="_blank">https://letterboxd.com/journal/good-one-india-donaldson-interview/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">"Queen's Birthday honours list 2018". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018. <a href="https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2018" target="_blank">https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2018</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Roger Donaldson open-in-new

Roger Donaldson