Nationality American Role Screenwriter | Name Robert Young | |
Awards Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts, US & Canada, Satellite Auteur Award Nominations Independent Spirit Award for Best Director Movies The Illegal, Extremities, Triumph of the Spirit, Short Eyes, Dominick and Eugene Similar People Michael Roemer, Arie Verveen, Edward James Olmos, Tom Hulce, Gregorio Cortez | ||
Occupation screenwriter, director | ||
Robert Milton Young, usually known as Robert M. Young (born November 22, 1924 in New York City, New York), is an American multi-award winning screenwriter, director, cinematographer and producer. In 1985 he was a member of the jury at the 14th Moscow International Film Festival. He has frequently cast Edward James Olmos in his movies, directing him in Alambrista! (1977), Saving Grace (1986), Triumph of the Spirit (1989), Talent for the Game (1991), Roosters (1993), Slave of Dreams (1995) and Caught (1996). He produced Olmos's directorial debut, American Me (1992).
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Early life and education
Young was born in New York City in 1924. His father was a cameraman who later owned a film laboratory. Robert began college at MIT to become a chemical engineer. He left after two years to join the Navy in World War II and served in the Pacific in New Guinea and in the Philippines. Upon returning to America after the war he decided to study English Literature at Harvard University.
He also developed an interest in filmmaking and graduated from Harvard University in 1949.
Early career
After graduation, Young formed a cooperative partnership with two friends making educational films. In 1960, he worked for NBC making public affairs programs for NBC White Paper. In 1960, on behalf of NBC, he went to the American South to make the film Sit-In about the civil rights protests and sit-ins. The film won a Peabody Award.
He later left NBC to pursue narrative film work.