Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. (born July 24, 1952) is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Achievement in Directing for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, and won the Palme d'Or at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival for his film Elephant. He lives in Portland, Oregon.
His early career was devoted to directing television commercials in the Pacific Northwest. In his films, he has dealt with themes concerning homosexuality and other marginalized subcultures.
His filmography as writer and director includes an adaptation of Tom Robbins' novel Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, which features a diverse cast (Keanu Reeves, Roseanne Barr, Uma Thurman, and k.d. lang, with cameos by William S. Burroughs and Heather Graham, among others); and My Own Private Idaho, also starring Reeves as well as River Phoenix.
He wrote the screenplays for most of his early movies, and wrote one novel, Pink. A book of his photography has also been published, called 108 Portraits.
Known For
The Trainer
Gus Van Sant
2024
who is Gus Van Sant?
Himself
2024
Nicole Kidman: Eyes Wide Open
Self (interview)
2023
At the Video Store
Self
2019
Zeroville
Film Archive Curator
2019
Illegal Civilization 3
Self
2018
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Willamette Week Editor
2018
Xavier Dolan: Bound to Impossible
Self
2016
I Don't Belong Anywhere: The Cinema of Chantal Akerman
Self
2015
About Cinema
Self
2015
The Canyons
Dr. Campbell
2013
The Greatest Event in Television History
Self · (1 episode)
2012
Reflecting On A Journey: Good Will Hunting 15 Years Later
Self
2012
A Special Day
Self
2012
The Advocate for Fagdom
Self
2011
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
Self · (1 episode)
2011
Portlandia
Gus Van Sant · (1 episode)
2011
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within
Self
2010
Making Paranoid Park
2008
Critic
Self
2008
In the Mood for Doyle
Self
2007
Paranoid Park
Guy Reading Newspaper (uncredited)
2007
Here’s Looking at You, Boy
Self
2007
Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema
Self
2006
Last Days
Phone Voice (voice)
2005
The Making of ‘My Own Private Idaho’
Self
2005
On the Set of 'Elephant': Rolling Through Time
Himself
2004
Leçon de Cinéma
Self · (1 episode)
2004
The Making of Last Days
Himself
2004
Saltlake Van Sant
Self
2003
About Elephant
Self
2003
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Gus Van Sant
2001
Rescued from the Closet
Self
2001
Finding Forrester
Library Assistant (uncredited)
2000
Psycho Path
Self - Director
2000
The Making of Drugstore Cowboy
1999
Strange Parallel
Self
1998
Guns on the Clackamas
1995
Made in the USA
Self
1993
Thank You for Supporting the Arts
Psycho
Man Talking to Man in Cowboy Hat (uncredited)
1998
The Director's Vision: Hollywood's Best Discuss Their Craft
himself
1998
Hi Octane
Self · (1 episode)
1994
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Funky Monks
Self
1991
My Own Private Idaho
Man Behind Hotel Counter (uncredited)
1991
Drugstore Cowboy
Himself (uncredited)
1989
Junior
Himself
1988
Mala Noche
Guy at Hotel (uncredited)
1987
Five Ways to Kill Yourself
1987