Trivia

Received a special thanks credit in Mean Streets (1973) for introducing Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro to one another.

De Palma bases his most famous cinematic predilection, voyeurism, on a specific childhood incident. When he was a child, his parents split up, his mother accusing his father of infidelity. The young De Palma spent several days stalking his dad with recording equipment, hoping to find evidence to confirm his mother's suspicions.

Has said that Scarface (1983) and Body Double (1984) are the two films of his that have been attacked the most. Dressed to Kill (1980) also received a lot of negative attention as well.

He is the godfather of Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving's son Max.

He was one of film critic Pauline Kael's favorite directors, and she wrote rave reviews for some of his films.

In the 1970s, De Palma helped a close friend on a film project. He helped audition and interview actors. When the film was shot, DePalma did some uncredited writing on an opening "scrawl," a device the friend thought of at the last minute to help explain events in the film, so the audience would not be confused. The friend was George Lucas and the film was Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977).

Has directed 3 actors to Oscar nominations: Sissy Spacek (Best Actress, Carrie (1976)), Piper Laurie (Best Supporting Actress, Carrie (1976)), and Sean Connery (Best Supporting Actor, The Untouchables (1987)). Connery won an Oscar for his performance.

His three favorite films are Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Red Shoes (1948) and Vertigo (1958).

He was originally going to direct Taxi Driver (1976). In fact, it was he who introduced Martin Scorsese to screenwriter Paul Schrader.

Revealed in an interview with French TV that a dream project since he started making movies has been an adaptation of the Alfred Bester novel "The Demolished Man". He said it's still a dream project because of its incalculable cost to produce.

Is a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen and directed him in the music video "Dancing in the Dark".

Tom Cruise asked him to return as director for Mission: Impossible II (2000), but he declined.

He really wanted to direct Cruising (1980) but his producers could not obtain the rights to the material, so he made Dressed to Kill (1980) instead.

He was asked to direct Fatal Attraction (1987), but turned it down, feeling it was too similar to Play Misty for Me (1971). He also felt that Michael Douglas was not a good leading man, but has since admitted he was wrong about that.

Is good friends with Quentin Tarantino; who has named him as a giant influence.

Holds the dubious distinction of being the director with the most nominations for Worst Director at the Razzie Awards. He was nominated for Dressed to Kill (1980), Scarface (1983), Body Double (1984), The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) and Mission to Mars (2000), but failed to win for any of these films.

He was going to direct The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) in the early 1990s with Kevin Costner in the lead role. However when The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) proved to be a box office disaster the studio withdrew their offer to De Palma and Costner went on to do The Bodyguard (1992).

He was considered to direct The Truman Show (1998).

Brian has said that he has a friendly rivalry with director Martin Scorsese.

Two of his films are based on television shows: The Untouchables (1987) and Mission: Impossible (1996).

Though it's already known he assisted George Lucas several times while Lucas was making Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), he was a little skeptic and critical about the final product, after seeing for the first time, quoting "What is this crap about the force?". Source: Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003).

Wrote the role of the call girl in Dressed to Kill (1980) specifically with his then wife Nancy Allen in mind.

Good friends with Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, and Martin Scorsese.

He refuses to give DVD/ BLU RAY audio commentaries for his films & like a lot of other major filmmakers; prefers to let his work speak for itself.

He was considered to direct Thelma & Louise (1991).

He was asked to direct Flashdance (1983), but turned it down in favour of Scarface (1983).

Won top prize in regional Science Fair in high school. Project was "An Analog Computer to Solve Differential Equations." Cf. computer nerd in Dressed to Kill (1980).

Two of his films, Sisters (1972) and Blow Out (1981), are in the Criterion Collection.

De Palma graduated from Friends' Central School, a small quaker school outside of Philadelphia

Went to see Vertigo (1958) at Radio City Music Hall when it was originally released in 1958.

Member of the 'Platform' jury at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2016.

Italian-American.

First child with Gale Anne Hurd, Lolita, born September 19, 1991.

De Palma hasn't shot a film in America since Mission to Mars (2000). His last 5 features were shot in France, Bulgaria, Jordan, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands.

Second daughter, Piper De Palma, born October 21 1996 in Palo Alto, California.

He was originally assigned to direct The Accused (1988).

He did two films based on stories involving Al Capone: Scarface (1983), an updated remake of Scarface (1932), a film adaptation of a novel based on Capone that moved the action from 1920s Chicago to then-present-day Miami; and The Untouchables (1987), an adaptation of the memoir by Eliot Ness about the group of special agents who, under Ness, led to the fall of Capone.

Is a Democrat.

Uncle of actor Cameron De Palma.

He has directed one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Carrie (1976).

He was nominated for the 2023 New Jersey Hall of Fame in the Performing Arts and Entertainment category.

Younger brother of photographer Bart De Palma.

He was nominated for the 2021 New Jersey Hall of Fame In the performing arts category.

Ex-stepfather of The O.C. (2003) actress Willa Holland and Brianna Holland.

Brian was very competitive with his oldest brother Bruce when they were growing up.

He was nominated for the 2022 New Jersey Hall of Fame in the Performing Arts and Entertainment category.

Retrospective at the 35th Turin International Film Festival in 2017 (24th Nov. - 2nd Dec.).

Retrospective at the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 2002 (6th Feb. - 4th March).

Retrospective at the Cinémathèque française in Paris in 2018 (31st May - 4th July).

Had 2 projects with Steven Spielberg (Congo and Starfire) rejected by studios.