David Cronenberg is a Canadian film director, screenwriter, and actor. He is known as a principal originator of the genre commonly known as body horror, with his films exploring visceral bodily transformation, infectious diseases, and the intertwining of the psychological, physical, and technological. Cronenberg is best known for exploring these themes through sci-fi horror films such as Shivers (1975), Scanners (1981), Videodrome (1983) and The Fly (1986), though he has also directed dramas, psychological thrillers and gangster films.
He also directed the psychological thriller Dead Ringers (1988), the surrealist drama Naked Lunch (1991), erotic thriller Crash (1996), the action thriller A History of Violence (2005), the gangster film Eastern Promises (2007), the erotic historical drama A Dangerous Method (2011), the drama Cosmopolis (2012), the satirical drama Maps to the Stars (2014), and the science fiction horror film Crimes of the Future (2022). Six of his films were selected to compete for the Palme d'Or. He is known for frequently collaborating with actor Viggo Mortensen.
Film
Year Title Credited as Notes DirectorWriterProducerEditorCinematographer1969Stereo1970Crimes of the Future1975Shivers1977Rabid1979Fast Company1981Scanners1983Videodrome From Stephen King's 1979 novel1986Remake of Kurt Neumann's 1958 film1988Dead Ringers1991Naked LunchPartly adapted from William S. Burroughs's 1959 novel and biographical sources1993M. Butterfly1996Crash From J. G. Ballard's 1973 novel1999Existenz2002Spider20052007Eastern Promises20112012Cosmopolis From Don DeLillo's 2003 Novel2014Maps to the Stars2022Crimes of the Future2024
Acting roles YearTitle Role Notes 1967 Black Zero Nude scene Uncredited 1975 Shivers Infected Crowd Member 1983 Videodrome Max Renn (Helmet Scenes) 1985 Into the Night Ed's supervisor in the boardroom Cameo 1986 The Fly Gynecologist in the dream sequence 1988 Dead Ringers Obstetrician Uncredited cameo 1990 Nightbreed Dr. Philip K. Decker 1992 Blue 1994 Trial by Jury Director Boozecan Stan Coleburn Henry & Verlin Doc Fisher 1995 To Die For Man at the Lake Cameo Blood and Donuts Crime Boss 1996 The Stupids Postal supervisor Cameo Extreme Measures Hospital Lawyer 1998 Last Night Duncan The Grace of God Psychiatrist 1999 Resurrection Father Rousell 2002 Jason X Dr. Wimmer 2010 Barney's Version O'Malley Director No. 2 Cameo 2020 Disappearance at Clifton Hill Walter Falling Proctologist 2026 Ready or Not 2: Here I Come Mr. Chester Danforth
Short films YearTitleDirectorWriterProducer Notes Ref. 1966 Transfer Also editor and cinematographer 1967 From the Drain 2000 Camera Made for the 2000 Toronto International Film Festival's Preludes program 2007 At the Suicide of the Last Jew in the World in the Last Cinema in the World Also actor, segment of anthology To Each His Own Cinema(Chacun son cinéma) 2013 The Nest 2021 The Death of David Cronenberg Co-directed by Caitlin Cronenberg 2023 Four Unloved Women, Adrift on a Purposeless Sea, Experience the Ecstasy of Dissection
Television TV films Year Title Credited as Notes DirectorWriterProducerEditorCinematographer1971Jim Ritchie SculptorDocumentary shortLetter from MichelangeloTourettes1972Don ValleyFort YorkLakeshoreWinter GardenScarborough BluffsIn the Dirt
TV series Year TitleDirectorWriter EpisodesRef. 1972 Program X "Secret Weapons" and "Nothing to Declare" 1976 Peep Show "The Victim" and "The Lie Chair" Teleplay "The Italian Machine" 1988 Friday the 13th: The Series "Faith Healer" 1991 Scales of Justice "Regina vs Horvath" and "Regina vs Logan"
Acting roles YearTitle Role Note Ref. 1997 The Newsroom Himself Episode "Meltdown: Part 1" 2003 Alias Dr. Brezzel 2 episodes 2013 Rewind Benjamin Rourke TV movie 2017 Pig Goat Banana Cricket Dr. Cronenbird (Voice) Episode "The Goofy Turkey Zone" 2019 Disappearance at Clifton Hill Walter Bell Alias Grace Reverend Verringer 4 episodes 2020–2024Star Trek: DiscoveryDr. Kovich / Agent DanielsRecurring role, 8 episodes2021SlasherSpencer GallowayMain role (season 4)
Commercials Titles Client Product Agency Production company Ref. Hot Showers Ontario Hydro Energy conservation Burghardt Wolowich Crunkhorn The Partners' Film Company Ltd. Laundry Cleaners Timers Bistro William Neilson Ltd. Cadbury Caramilk Scali McCabe, Sloves (Canada) Ltd. Surveillance Transformation Nike International Nike Air 180 Wieden and Kennedy
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