Born in 1933 in London, John Boorman was educated by the Jesuits and worked as a critic for radio and print before entering the film business. Starting in television as an assistant film editor, Boorman later worked as a director completing over fifty documentaries with the BBC. He made his film directorial debut in 1965 with "Having a Wild Weekend," starring the Dave Clark Five. Returning to the BBC, he made a documentary on the American film pioneer D.W. Griffith.
In 1966 Boorman made his Hollywood debut with the critically acclaimed feature "Point Blank" starring Lee Marvin. He followed this with another Lee Marvin film "Hell in the Pacific," which co-starred Toshiro Mifune.
Returning to England, Boorman's next project was "Leo the Last" starring Marcello Mastroiani, for which he won the Directoprors Award at the 1970 Cannes Film Festival. He then produced and directed "Deliverance" starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds and Ned Beatty. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, Best Picture and Best Director.
Boorman first used Ireland as a film location with "Zardoz" in 1973 and again with the Oscar nominated "Excalibur" in 1981. He served as Chairman of the National Film Studios of Ireland from 1975 to 1983, and was appointed as the first Chairman of the Irish Film Board.
In 1987 Boorman won another Oscar nomination for his autobiographical story "Hope and Glory", relating his own experiences as a child after World War II. The film earned 5 Oscar nominations in all. The sequel "Queen & Country" was released in 2014 and won Best Picture and Best Director at the California Independent Film Festival. He was co-editor of the annual film publication Projections, along with Walter Donohue - with the first volume beginning in 1992 and the last volume being released in 2002. In 1996 Boorman directed a documentary entitled "Lee Marvin: a Personal Portrait by John Boorman" which chronicles the life and career of one of Boorman's closest friends and colleagues.
Continuing his association with Ireland, long since his adopted home, Boorman completed "The General" in 1997. This controversial version of the life of the notorious Irish criminal Martin Cahill, won Best Film at the British Film Awards and brought Boorman a second Cannes Director's Prize.
In 2006 he released The Tiger's Tail, which was set in contemporary Ireland and featured Brendan Gleeson and Kim Cattrell in starring roles.
Boorman founded Merlin Films in 1989 with financier Kieran Corrigan.
John lives in Wicklow , Ireland and continues to direct. In February 2010, John was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Irish Film and Television Awards for his invaluable contribution to Irish film and cinema.