Schlesinger, John

SCHLESINGER, JOHN (1926–2003), English director. Schlesinger was born in London. Educated at Oxford, he toured in repertory until 1959 and then directed BBC-TV films. His first feature film was A Kind of Loving (1962), followed by Billy Liar (1963), Darling (Oscar nomination for Best Picture and Best Director, 1965), Far from the Madding Crowd (1967), Midnight Cowboy (Academy Award winner for Best Picture and Best Director, 1969), Sunday, Bloody Sunday (1971), The Day of the Locust (1975), Marathon Man (1976), Yanks (1979), The Falcon and the Snowman (1985), Madame Sousatzka (1988), The Innocent (1993), and Cold Comfort Farm (1995). Schlesinger directed several plays, including Timon of Athens for the Royal Shakespeare Company. He was one of the most important British filmmakers of the post-1960 period.