Quentin Tarantino
Born 1963 · Age 63
American filmmaker, screenwriter, actor and author known for stylized violence, sharp dialogue and pop-culture references; two-time Academy Award winner; films have grossed >$1.9B worldwide.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Knoxville, Tennessee
Quentin Jerome Tarantino born to Connie McHugh and Tony Tarantino.
Family moves to Los Angeles
Returned to Los Angeles with his mother; mother married musician Curtis Zastoupil soon after and family moved to Torrance, California.
Mother divorces Curtis Zastoupil; brief relocation
After his mother's divorce and a misdiagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma, Tarantino was sent to live with grandparents in Knoxville for a period before returning to Torrance.
Early screenplay — Captain Peachfuzz
At age 14 wrote an early screenplay, Captain Peachfuzz and the Anchovy Bandit, inspired by the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit.
Shoplifting incident & theatre involvement; drops out of high school
Grounded for shoplifting Elmore Leonard's novel The Switch; attended Torrance Community Theater and dropped out of Narbonne High School at about 15.
Early jobs — usher at adult movie theater
Worked (after lying about his age) as an usher at the Pussycat Theater in Torrance; held a number of odd jobs through the 1980s.
Worked at Video Archives (start of five-year stint, approximate)
Became a clerk at the Video Archives store in Manhattan Beach; developed reputation for vast film knowledge and recommendations (worked there about five years).
First Hollywood job — Maximum Potential (production assistant)
Worked with Roger Avary as production assistant on Dolph Lundgren exercise video Maximum Potential (credited work in 1986).
Co-wrote Love Birds In Bondage (short; unfinished)
Co-wrote and was involved in the short Love Birds In Bondage with Scott Magill (film later unfinished; Magill died in 1987).
Directed My Best Friend's Birthday (unfinished)
Co-wrote, directed, edited and starred in the amateur black-and-white feature My Best Friend's Birthday; left uncompleted but some dialogue reused later in True Romance.
TV acting role — The Golden Girls
Appeared as an Elvis impersonator in 'Sophia's Wedding: Part 1' (The Golden Girls); initial payment helped support Reservoir Dogs preproduction.
Script sales — True Romance and Natural Born Killers (early 1990s)
Sold screenplays that became True Romance (1993) and provided story credit on Natural Born Killers (1994); earned paid writing assignments and exposure in Hollywood.
Debut feature — Reservoir Dogs released & Sundance screening
Wrote, directed, and acted in Reservoir Dogs; screened at Sundance and became an independent hit, launching his directing career.
True Romance released (screenplay credit)
Tarantino's screenplay True Romance adapted and released as a feature film (Tony Scott directed).
Pulp Fiction released — major breakthrough
Wrote, directed and acted in Pulp Fiction; non-linear narrative and graphic violence gained critical acclaim and popular success.
Palme d'Or — Pulp Fiction wins Cannes top prize
Pulp Fiction won the Palme d'Or at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival.
Academy Award — Best Original Screenplay for Pulp Fiction
Won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (shared with Roger Avary) for Pulp Fiction at the 1995 Oscars.
Founded Rolling Thunder Pictures with Miramax
Launched distribution label 'Quentin Tarantino Presents' / Rolling Thunder Pictures to release indie and foreign films in the US.
Wrote and acted in From Dusk till Dawn
Provided screenplay and acted (as Richie Gecko) in Robert Rodriguez's From Dusk till Dawn; later spawned sequels and a TV series.
Directed Jackie Brown (adaptation of Elmore Leonard)
Adapted and directed Jackie Brown, a homage to blaxploitation cinema; received positive reviews and considered a comeback for Pam Grier.
Rolling Thunder Pictures shut down by Miramax
The distribution boutique ceased operations by 1997 due to poor sales.
Public controversy — Spike Lee criticized use of racial slurs
Spike Lee criticized Tarantino's use of the N-word in films like Jackie Brown and Pulp Fiction; generated public debate and exchanges.
Broadway debut — Wait Until Dark
Made major Broadway stage debut playing the villain Harry Roat Jr. in Wait Until Dark; received unfavorable reviews for his performance.
Produced US release of Iron Monkey
Produced the U.S. release of Hong Kong martial-arts film Iron Monkey; the release made over $14 million worldwide.
Kill Bill: Volume 1 released
Wrote and directed Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (part of a two-volume martial-arts revenge epic); originally conceived as a single film.
Controversial defense of Roman Polanski
In a 2003 Howard Stern interview Tarantino defended Roman Polanski's conduct from 1977; when resurfaced in 2018 he apologized publicly.
Kill Bill: Volume 2 released & Cannes jury president
Released second volume of Kill Bill and served as president of the Cannes Film Festival jury in May 2004.
Brought Hero to US as 'Presented by' project
Presented the Chinese martial-arts film Hero in the U.S.; Hero opened at #1 and earned $53.5M in the U.S.
Sin City contribution & CSI directing nomination
Credited as 'Special Guest Director' on a Sin City sequence; directed CSI episode 'Grave Danger' (May 2005) and was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Directing.
Death Proof released (Grindhouse double feature)
Directed Death Proof, paired with Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror as Grindhouse; box office low but generally positive reviews.
Presented Hostel — box-office opening success
Presented (as 'Quentin Tarantino Presents') Hostel which opened at #1 with a $20.1M opening weekend (2006 release noted).
Principal photography begins — Inglourious Basterds
Filming for Inglourious Basterds (provisionally titled 'Inglorious Bastards') began in October 2008.
Announced plan to retire after tenth film (age 60 target)
Publicly stated intent to retire from filmmaking after making his tenth movie and at around age 60 (statement made 2009).
Inglourious Basterds released — critical and commercial success
Released August 2009; opened #1 in US/Canada opening weekend; earned multiple Oscar nominations including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
Purchased New Beverly Cinema
Bought the historic New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles and pledged to preserve film projection (35 mm) and the theater's programs.
Production begins — Django Unchained
Began production on Django Unchained, a 'southern' spaghetti-western revenge film about slavery and vengeance.
Django Unchained released — highest grossing to date
Released December 2012; became Tarantino's highest grossing film to date with approximately $426.1M worldwide.
Academy Award — Best Original Screenplay for Django Unchained
Won his second Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay at the 2013 Oscars for Django Unchained.
The Hateful Eight title revealed; script leaked
On Jan 11, 2014 the film's title The Hateful Eight was revealed; the script was leaked later that month prompting public response from Tarantino.
Live reading of The Hateful Eight script
Directed a live reading of the leaked (first-draft) script at the Ace Hotel's United Artists Theater as part of the Live Read series.
Filming begins on The Hateful Eight (new draft)
Filming proceeded in January 2015 using a new draft of the script with a different ending than the leaked version.
The Hateful Eight released in 70mm roadshow
The Hateful Eight opened Dec 25, 2015 as a 70 mm roadshow presentation before wide digital release Dec 30.
Relationship with Daniella Pick begins (publicly noted)
Began dating Daniella Pick (daughter of Israeli singer Svika/Tzvika Pick); engagement and later marriage followed.
Reported development — film about the Manson Family murders
Reports surfaced in July 2017 that his next project would involve a story about the Manson Family murders.
Public response to Weinstein allegations
On Oct 18, 2017 Tarantino discussed being told about Weinstein's misconduct and acknowledged he should have done more; later expressed regret.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood announced
February 2018 announced Once Upon a Time in Hollywood starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie; filming in summer 2018.
Uma Thurman statement regarding Weinstein and Tarantino
Uma Thurman said in The New York Times she had reported Weinstein's assault to Tarantino; Tarantino had confronted Weinstein earlier and banned further contact.
Married Daniella Pick
Married Israeli singer Daniella Pick in Los Angeles (marriage took place in November 2018).
Premiere — Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Cannes)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and received a standing ovation; later theatrical release July 2019.
Golden Globe awards for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Won Golden Globes in 2020 (including Best Screenplay and Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood).
Became a recognized critic on Rotten Tomatoes
In June 2020 was added as an officially recognized critic on Rotten Tomatoes; began publishing film reviews and essays on New Beverly Cinema site.
Published debut novel — Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: A Novel
Published a novelization of his film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (his debut novel released in 2021).
Purchased Vista Theatre in Los Angeles
Announced purchase of the Vista Theatre and intention to keep it a first-run theater projecting films on film stock.
Apology/regret in Joe Rogan interview about Weinstein handling
In June 2021 on Joe Rogan's podcast, Tarantino expressed regret for not pressing Weinstein further and reflected on the relationship.
Announced plans to shoot eight-episode TV series
In November 2022 revealed plans to shoot an eight-episode television series in 2023; details remained limited.
Cinema exhibition — active programming at New Beverly
Since 2014 increased active programming at New Beverly; continues to show prints from his personal collection and curate retrospectives.
Said no hurry to make final film; to write stage play
At the 2025 Sundance Film Festival said he is in 'no hurry' to make his final (tenth) film and prefers to write a stage play first.
Hosted tribute screenings at 2025 Cannes Film Festival
Hosted special screenings of George Sherman's Red Canyon and Comanche Territory at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
Career total — films grossed over $1.9 billion
By summary career figures, Tarantino's films have grossed more than $1.9 billion worldwide.
Key Achievement Ages
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