Brian De Palma

Contemporary film director who has been, at times, as controversial as he has been successful. With movies such as Carrie (1976) and Body Double (1984), De Palma honed a stylized, violent directorial approach that was seen by some as misogynistic and by others as a pale imitation of De Palma's cinematic hero, Alfred Hitchcock. In more recent years, De Palma has broadened his approach and subject matter, enjoying more success with films such as The Untouchables (1987) and Mission: Impossible (1996). De Palma was married to the actress Nancy Allen, who appeared in several of his films, most notably, Dressed to Kill (1980).