Directing
John Waters
Born April 22, 1946Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Biography
John Samuel Waters Jr. (born April 22, 1946) is an American filmmaker, writer, actor, and artist. He rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films, including Multiple Maniacs (1970), Pink Flamingos (1972) and Female Trouble (1974). Waters wrote and directed the comedy film Hairspray (1988), which was later adapted into a hit Broadway musical and a 2007 musical film. Other films he has written and directed include Desperate Living (1977), Polyester (1981), Cry-Baby (1990), Serial Mom (1994), Pecker (1998), and Cecil B. Demented (2000). His films contain elements of post-modern comedy and surrealism. As an actor, Waters has appeared in Sweet and Lowdown (1999), 'Til Death Do Us Part (2007), Mangus! (2011), Excision (2012), Suburban Gothic (2014), and has appeared in the Child's Play franchise with Seed of Chucky (2004) and third season of the television series Chucky (2024). He hosted and produced the television series John Waters Presents Movies That Will Corrupt You (2006). Throughout his career, Waters has often collaborated with actor and drag queen Divine and his regular cast of the Dreamlanders. More recently, he performs in his touring one-man show This Filthy World. Waters also works as a visual artist and across different media, such as installations, photography, and sculpture. The audiobooks he narrated for his books Carsick and Mr. Know-It-All were nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album in 2015 and 2020, respectively. In 2018, Waters was named an officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in France. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.
Highlights
Known For
Seed of Chucky
2004
Hairspray
2007
Pink Flamingos
1972
Hairspray
1988
Serial Mom
1994
Cry-Baby
1990
Something Wild
1986
Movie Credits
Filmography
125 movies
As Time Goes By
2024
Anarchy TV
1998
Pink Flamingos
1972
Mr. J (narration) (uncredited) • Director • Producer • Director of Photography • Editor • Writer
Multiple Maniacs
1970
Original Music Composer • Director • Writer • Producer • Director of Photography • Editor
Mondo Trasho
1969
Reporter (voice) (uncredited) • Original Music Composer • Editor • Director of Photography • Producer • Writer • Director
