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.
2013
as Self
2012
as Self
2011
2010
as Self
2009
2006
as Self (archive footage)
2006
as Self (archive footage)
2005
as War Correspondent (uncredited)
2005
as Himself (archive footage)
2002
as Self
1997
as Louis
1996
as Self
1995
as Self
1994
as Sam Silverman
1994
as Self
1994
as Himself
1993
as Self
1993
as Sam
1992
as Elimelek
1992
as Gassot
1992
as self
1992
as himself
1990
as Chef de bureau Newsweek
1990
as Self
1990
as Father
1989
as Police Commissioner
1989
1989
as Himself
1988
as Samuel Fuller
1988
as Le capitaine américain
1987
as Boss
1987
as Van Meer
1987
1987
1986
as Self
1986
as Himself
1985
1984
as Zoltan
1984
as Himself
1982
as Colonel Sharp
1982
as Charlie Felton
1982
as Old Man in Pool Hall
1982
as Joe
1980
as War Correspondent (uncredited)
1979
as Interceptor Commander
1978
as N°602
1977
as The American
1977
as Impresario
1973
as Doc Haskell
1971
as Sam
1967
as Interviewee
1966
as Self
1965
as Samuel Fuller (uncredited)
1955
as Japanese policeman (uncredited)