Director · Actor
John Huston
Born 5 August 1906 · Nevada, Missouri, USA — died 28 August 1987
John Huston (1906–1987) was an American director, screenwriter and actor who directed 37 features, usually adapting novels and often writing the scripts himself. His films often follow flawed groups pursuing doomed quests. His debut, The Maltese Falcon, helped define film noir, and he remained a major Hollywood figure for decades.
Key films
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
His directorial debut, a landmark of film noir that established him as a major new director.
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
A classic tale of greed and ruin that brought him Oscars for directing and screenwriting.
The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
A influential heist drama that shaped the template for later caper films.
The African Queen (1952)
An adventure-romance starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, one of his best-loved films.
The Man Who Would Be King (1975)
A late-career adaptation of Kipling, a long-planned project that is widely admired as one of his best.
Key awards
- 1948: Academy Award for Best Director (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre)
- 1948: Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre)
- 1983: AFI Life Achievement Award
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 149
- 1929Hell's Heroes · as Church Member (uncredited)Actor
- 1929Two AmericansActor
- 1941The Maltese FalconDirector
- 1942Across the PacificDirector
- 1942In This Our LifeDirector
- 1942Winning Your WingsDirector
- 1943Report from the AleutiansDirector
- 1943Report from the Aleutians · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1944Tunisian VictoryDirector
- 1945The Battle of San Pietro · as NarratorActor
- 1945The Battle of San PietroDirector
- 1946Let There Be LightDirector
- 1948The Treasure of the Sierra MadreDirector
- 1948The Treasure of the Sierra Madre · as American in Tampico in White Suit (uncredited)Actor
- 1948Key LargoDirector
- 1949We Were Strangers · as Señor MuñozActor
- 1949We Were StrangersDirector
- 1950The Asphalt JungleDirector
- 1951The Red Badge of Courage · as Grizzled Union Veteran (uncredited)Actor
- 1951The Red Badge of CourageDirector
- 1951The Screen Director · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1952The African QueenDirector
- 1952Moulin RougeDirector
- 1953Beat the DevilDirector
- 1956Moby Dick · as Barman / Ship's Lookout (voice) (uncredited)Actor
- 1956Moby DickDirector
- 1957Heaven Knows, Mr. AllisonDirector
- 1958The Barbarian and the GeishaDirector
- 1958The Roots of HeavenDirector
- 1960The UnforgivenDirector
- 1961The Misfits · as (uncredited)Actor
- 1961The MisfitsDirector
- 1962Freud: The Secret Passion · as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)Actor
- 1962Freud: The Secret PassionDirector
- 1963The List of Adrian MessengerDirector
- 1963The List of Adrian Messenger · as Lord Ashton (uncredited)Actor
- 1963The Cardinal · as Kardinal GlennonActor
- 1964The Night of the IguanaDirector
- 1964On the Trail of the Iguana · as SelfActor
- 1966The Bible: In the Beginning... · as NoahActor
- 1966The Bible: In the Beginning...Director
- 1966The Legend of Marilyn Monroe · as NarratorActor
- 1967Casino Royale · as McTarryActor
- 1967Casino RoyaleDirector
- 1967Reflections in a Golden EyeDirector
- 1968Candy · as Dr. Arnold DunlapActor
- 1968Rocky Road to Dublin · as SelfActor
- 1969A Walk with Love and Death · as Robert the ElderActor
- 1969A Walk with Love and DeathDirector
- 1969Sinful DaveyDirector
- 1969De Sade · as The AbbeActor
- 1970Myra Breckinridge · as Buck LonerActor
- 1970The Kremlin Letter · as AdmiralActor
- 1970The Kremlin LetterDirector
- 1970The Deserter · as General MilesActor
- 1970The Unfinished Journey of Robert Kennedy · as NarratorActor
- 1970Ride This Way Grey Horse · as DirectorActor
- 1971Man in the Wilderness · as Captain Filmore HenryActor
- 1971The Bridge in the Jungle · as SleighActor
- 1972Fat CityDirector
- 1972The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean · as Grizzly AdamsActor
- 1972The Life and Times of Judge Roy BeanDirector
- 1973Battle for the Planet of the Apes · as The LawgiverActor
- 1973The MacKintosh ManDirector
- 1974Chinatown · as Noah CrossActor
- 1975The Man Who Would Be KingDirector
- 1975The Wind and the Lion · as John HayActor
- 1975Breakout · as Harris WagnerActor
- 1976Sherlock Holmes in New York · as Professor James MoriartyActor
- 1976Hollywood on Trial · as NarratorActor
- 1976IndependenceDirector
- 1976Circasia · as RingmasterActor
- 1977The Hobbit · as Gandalf the Grey (voice)Actor
- 1977Tentacles · as Ned TurnerActor
- 1977Angela · as HoganActor
- 1978The Bermuda Triangle · as EdwardActor
- 1978The Biggest Battle · as Sean O'HaraActor
- 1978B.Traven: A Mystery Solved · as SelfActor
- 1979The Visitor · as Jerzy ColsowiczActor
- 1979Wise Blood · as GrandfatherActor
- 1979Wise BloodDirector
- 1979Winter Kills · as Pa KeganActor
- 1979Love and BulletsDirector
- 1979Jaguar Lives! · as Ralph RichardsActor
- 1979John Huston's DublinActor
- 1979City Lights: John Huston · as SelfActor
- 1980The Return of the King · as Gandalf (voice)Actor
- 1980PhobiaDirector
- 1980Head On · as Clarke HillActor
- 1980Agee · as SelfActor
- 1980Happy Birthday, Marilyn! · as SelfActor
- 1981Escape to VictoryDirector
- 1982AnnieDirector
- 1982Annie · as Actor on Radio (uncredited)Actor
- 1982Cannery Row · as NarratorActor
- 1982The Orson Welles Story · as SelfActor
- 1982Lights! Camera! Annie! The Making of a Major Hollywood Musical · as SelfActor
- 1982Creativity with Bill Moyers: John Huston · as Self - IntervieweeActor
- 1983Lovesick · as Larry Geller, M.D.Actor
- 1983A Minor Miracle · as Father CardenasActor
- 1983American Caesar · as Self - HostActor
- 1983Errol Flynn: Portrait of a Swashbuckler · as SelfActor
- 1984Under the VolcanoDirector
- 1984Buñuel · as SelfActor
- 1984Observations Under the Volcano · as SelfActor
- 1984Notes from Under the Volcano · as SelfActor
- 1984To The Western WorldActor
- 1985The Black Cauldron · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1985Prizzi's HonorDirector
- 1985George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey · as SelfActor
- 1985Epic · as The Narrator (US version)Actor
- 1985Herman Melville: Damned in Paradise · as NarratorActor
- 1986Momo · as Meister HoraActor
- 1986Directed by William Wyler · as SelfActor
- 1987The DeadDirector
- 1987Mister Corbett's Ghost · as Soul CollectorActor
- 1988John Huston: The Man, the Movies, the Maverick · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1990Welles' Language · as SelfActor
- 1991Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker · as Glennon (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1995Orson Welles: The One-Man BandActor
- 1997Bogart: Here's Looking at You, Kid · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1997Bogart: The Untold Story · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1998Intimate Portrait: Sean Connery · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2000Federico Fellini's Autobiography · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2001Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies · as SelfActor
- 2002Making 'The Misfits' · as Self - Director (archive footage)Actor
- 2003Discovering Treasure: The Story of 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre' · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2004Pelé Forever · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2004The Making of Rocky Road to Dublin · as Self (Archive Footage)Actor
- 2005Filmmakers vs. Tycoons · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2010Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2010Embracing Chaos: Making The African Queen · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2011Marilyn at the Movies · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2012Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2014Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles · as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)Actor
- 2017Five Came Back · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2017Arthur Miller: Writer · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2017Ava Gardner: Life Is Bigger Than the Movies · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2017Anjelica Huston on James Joyce: A Shout in the Street · as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)Actor
- 2018The Other Side of the Wind · as J.J. 'Jake' HannafordActor
- 2018They'll Love Me When I'm Dead · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2019Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast · as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)Actor
- 2020Babenco: Tell Me When I Die · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2021John Huston: Adventures of a Free Soul · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2021Morceaux de Cannes · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2022An Oral History of: The Name of the Rose · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2023MCAINE: An Anagram of Cinema · as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)Actor
- 2023The Myth of Marilyn Monroe · as Self (voice)Actor
- 2026100 Years of Marilyn Monroe · as (archive footage)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.