Sam Mendes

Samuel Alexander Mendes (born August 1, 1965) is a British stage and film director born in Reading, Berkshire, England. Although English by birth, he is the son of a Portuguese Catholic father and a Jewish mother was born in England. His father, Peter, is the son of the writer Alfred Mendes, author of the novels Black Fauns and Pitch Lake, and part of the group around CLR James and Albert Gomes which produced the Beacon literary magazine in the early 1930s. His secondary education was at Magdalen College School, Oxford, and he later attended the University of Cambridge. As a stage director, he is probably best known for his 1998 production of Cabaret, starring Alan Cumming.

Related Topics:
August 1 - 1965 - British - Stage - Film director - Reading - Berkshire - England - Portuguese - Catholic - Jewish - CLR James - Albert Gomes - The Beacon - Magdalen College School - Oxford - University of Cambridge - Stage director - Cabaret - Alan Cumming

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As a film director, he is best known for his debut film, American Beauty, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Director.

Related Topics:
Film director - American Beauty - Academy Award

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In 2000, Mendes was made a Commander of the British Empire.

Related Topics:
2000 - Commander of the British Empire

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After a string of romances with actresses, including Cameron Diaz, Calista Flockhart and Rachel Weisz, Sam married English actress Kate Winslet on May 24, 2003 in the West Indies. Their first child, Joe Alfie Winslet-Mendes, was born on December 22, 2003. Mendes also has a step-daughter, Mia Honey Threapleton, from Winslet's first marriage to English assistant director Jim Threapleton.

Related Topics:
Cameron Diaz - Calista Flockhart - Rachel Weisz - Kate Winslet - May 24 - 2003 - West Indies - December 22 - Jim Threapleton

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