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Oliver Parker

Highest Rated: 89% The Great Escaper (2023)

Lowest Rated: 8% Payback Season (2012)

Birthday: Sep 6, 1960

Birthplace: London, England, UK

Born to English aristocracy (railroad executive Sir Peter Parker and writer Lady Gillian), director-screenwriter Oliver Parker transitioned from minor acting roles in films like "Hellbound: Hellraiser 2" and "Nuns on the Run" to a prolific career as a BAFTA Award-nominated filmmaker, acclaimed for his lush onscreen adaptations of British literary classics. The London theater vet first gained major notice in the U.K. with a recurring role on the long-running BBC medical drama "Casualty," though he achieved breakthrough success in movies with his feature directing debut, "Othello" (1995). The Shakespeare adaptation starred Laurence Fishburne as the Moor of Venice and Kenneth Branagh as the villainous Iago, a role Parker himself performed on stage early in his career. Critics praised Parker's sexually charged vision of the Bard's legendary tragedy, hailing the arrival of a bold new cinematic talent. He further solidified his reputation as a daring interpreter of canonized literature by writing and directing three films based on work by Oscar Wilde: BAFTA- and Golden Globe-nominated "An Ideal Husband" (1999) and "The Importance of Being Earnest" (2002), both starring Rupert Everett; and "Dorian Gray" (2009), featuring Ben Barnes as Wilde's diabolically vain hero. A producer and director of Ealing Studios' series of "St. Trinian's" girls' school comedies, Parker also took the helm of another U.K.-based film franchise, directing "Johnny English Reborn," the follow-up to comedian Rowan Atkinson's spy-spoof hit "Johnny English."

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Highest rated movies

89% 84% The Great Escaper
Watchlist
87% 84% Emily Watchlist
85% 69% An Ideal Husband
Watchlist
68% 64% Othello
Watchlist
57% 72% The Importance of Being Earnest
Watchlist
56% 95% Common People
Watchlist
55% 60% Nightbreed Watchlist 53% 57% Swimming With Men Watchlist
43% 39% Dorian Gray
Watchlist
39% 45% Johnny English Reborn
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
89% 84% The Great Escaper Director - 2023
87% 84% Emily Executive Producer $1.1M 2022
53% 57% Swimming With Men Director $19.6K 2018
31% 36% Dad's Army Director - 2016
No Score Yet 98% Leviathan: The Story of Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II Unknown (Character) - 2015
56% 95% Common People Film Editing - 2013
22% 29% Truth or Die Film Editing - 2012
8% 12% Payback Season Film Editing - 2012
No Score Yet No Score Yet Riot From Wrong Film Editing - 2012
39% 45% Johnny English Reborn Director $8.3M 2011
14% 45% St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold Director - 2009
43% 39% Dorian Gray Director - 2009
32% 55% St. Trinian's Director - 2007
No Score Yet 23% I Really Hate My Job Director - 2007
29% 32% Fade to Black Director - 2006
57% 72% The Importance of Being Earnest Director,
Writer
$8.4M 2002
85% 69% An Ideal Husband Bunbury (Character),
Director,
Writer
$18.5M 1999
68% 64% Othello Director $2.2M 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet Shepherd on the Rock Simon McIntyre (Character) - 1993
55% 60% Nightbreed Peloquin (Character) $8.9M 1990

TV

Credit
73% 81% Funny Woman Director 2022