
Samuel Fuller
Samuel Michael Fuller (August 12, 1912 – October 30, 1997) was an American screenwriter, novelist and film director known for low-budget genre movies with controversial themes.
He was born Samuel Michael Fuller in Worcester, Massachusetts, the son of Benjamin Rabinovitch, a Jewish immigrant from Russia, and Rebecca Baum, a Jewish immigrant from Poland. After immigrating to America, the family's surname was changed from Rabinovitch to "Fuller" possibly by inspiration of a Doctor who arrived in America on the Mayflower. At the age of 12, he began working in journalism as a newspaper copyboy. He became a crime reporter in New York City at age 17, working for the New York Evening Graphic. He broke the story of Jeanne Eagels' death. He wrote pulp novels and screenplays from the mid-1930s onwards. Fuller also became a screenplay ghostwriter but would never tell interviewers which screenplays that he ghost-wrote explaining "that's what a ghost writer is for".
During World War II, Fuller joined the United States Army infantry. He was assigned to the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, and saw heavy fighting. He was involved in landings in Africa, Sicily, and Normandy and also saw action in Belgium and Czechoslovakia. In 1945 he was present at the liberation of the German concentration camp at Falkenau and shot 16 mm footage which was used later in the documentary Falkenau: The Impossible. For his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star, the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart. Fuller used his wartime experiences as material in his films, especially in The Big Red One (1980), a nickname of the 1st Infantry Division.
After his controversial film "White Dog" was shelved by Paramount pictures, Fuller moved to France, and never directed another American film. Fuller eventually returned to America. He died of natural causes in his California home. In November 1997, the Directors Guild held a three hour memorial in his honor, hosted by Curtis Hanson, his long time friend and co-writer on White Dog. He was survived by his wife Christa and daughter Samantha.
Known For









Credits
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A Fuller Life 2013Self★ 6.6
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Scene Missing 2012Self★ 6.3
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Nuits transparentes 2011★ NR
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Sodankylä Forever 2010Self★ NR
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Carmel 2009★ 7
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Filmmakers in Action 2006Self (archive footage)★ 6.8
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Edge of Outside 2006Self (archive footage)★ 5.8
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War Correspondent (uncredited)★ 8.5
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Himself (archive footage)★ 6
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Necro not(to b)e 2003Sé stesso★ NR
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Self★ 5.8
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The End of Violence 1997Louis★ 5.3
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Self★ 6.4
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Somebody to Love 1994Sam Silverman★ 5.2
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Self★ 6.9
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Himself★ NR
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Anything for John 1993Self★ 6
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Sam★ 4.2
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Elimelek★ 4.7
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La Vie de Bohème 1992Gassot★ 7.5
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Where Is Musette? 1992self★ NR
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Shock Corridor 1992himself★ NR
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Chef de bureau Newsweek★ 6
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Self★ NR
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Sons 1990Father★ 5
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Street of No Return 1989Police Commissioner★ 5.1
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David Lansky 1989★ 8
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Himself★ NR
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Samuel Fuller★ 7
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Le capitaine américain★ NR
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Boss★ 5.7
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Van Meer★ 5.9
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★ NR
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The Bleeding Star 1987★ NR
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Hooray For Holyrood 1986Self★ NR
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Himself★ NR
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★ NR
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Thieves After Dark 1984Zoltan★ 4.7
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Self★ NR
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Colonel Sharp★ 2.7
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White Dog 1982Charlie Felton★ 6.6
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Hammett 1982Old Man in Pool Hall★ 6.3
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The State of Things 1982Joe★ 6.5
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The Big Red One 1980War Correspondent (uncredited)★ 6.7
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1941 1979Interceptor Commander★ 5.8
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Cinématon 1978N°602★ 4.3
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The American Friend 1977The American★ 7.1
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Scott Joplin 1977Impresario★ 6.1
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The Young Nurses 1973Doc Haskell★ 3.9
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The Last Movie 1971Sam★ 5.7
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Interviewee★ NR
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Brigitte et Brigitte 1966Self★ 6.1
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Pierrot le Fou 1965Samuel Fuller (uncredited)★ 7.4
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House of Bamboo 1955Japanese policeman (uncredited)★ 6.1