Michael Apted

Having displayed a fondness for both documentaries and feature films, versatile director Michael Apted struck a creative balance between both worlds that was matched by very few of his contemporaries. After establishing himself in his native England with the documentary series "7 Up," as well as numerous episodes of various television shows, Apted journeyed to America, where he garnered instant credibility with "Coal Miner's Daughter" (1980), widely considered to be one of the best musical biopics ever made. He achieved further box office success with the crime thriller "Gorky Park" (1983). Apted directed Sigourney Weaver as Dian Fossey in "Gorillas in the Mist" (1988), which he followed with the compelling courtroom drama "Class Action" (1991). While continuing the "7 Up" documentaries throughout the decades, the director continued to work in the feature world as well, and took the reins of the James Bond franchise with "The World Is Not Enough" (1999). He found further success in directing episodic television - particularly on the acclaimed HBO series "Rome" (2005-07), and could take pride in a long and venerable career.