Brian De Palma is an American film director, screenwriter and producer whose stylish, suspenseful thrillers have made him one of the most distinctive directors of his generation. Best known for Carrie, Scarface and The Untouchables, he is a master of the set piece, building long, bravura sequences that other directors study and imitate, and a filmmaker whose work is as provocative as it is entertaining.
| Full Name | Brian Russell De Palma |
| Date of Birth | September 11, 1940 |
| Age | 86 years old (as of November 2026) |
| Birthplace | Newark, New Jersey, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Profession | Film director, screenwriter, producer |
| Known For | Carrie, Scarface, The Untouchables |
| Wife | Darnell Gregorio (married 1995) |
| Children | Two daughters |
| Net Worth | Approx. $40 million (Celebrity Net Worth, 2025) |
Who Is Brian De Palma?
Brian De Palma is a director whose films are instantly recognisable for their visual daring. He loves split screens, long tracking shots, slow motion and elaborate set pieces, and he has used those tools to make some of the most memorable thrillers in American cinema. He is often described as the most Hitchcockian of American directors, a comparison he has always welcomed, and his films are filled with nods to the master of suspense.
De Palma emerged in the 1970s as part of the New Hollywood generation, alongside directors such as Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola, and he quickly established himself with a series of bold, stylish films. Carrie in 1976, based on Stephen King’s first novel, was a box-office hit and earned Oscar nominations for Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie. Scarface in 1983, starring Al Pacino as the Cuban gangster Tony Montana, was a commercial disappointment on release but has since become a cultural phenomenon, quoted and referenced across music, film and fashion.
Early Life & Background
Brian Russell De Palma was born on September 11, 1940, in Newark, New Jersey, the son of an orthopaedic surgeon father and a housewife mother. He grew up in Philadelphia, where he attended Quaker schools and developed an early interest in science, winning a regional science fair with a project on computers, before turning to film as a teenager.
He studied at Columbia University in New York, where he began making short films, and then earned a master’s degree in theatre at Sarah Lawrence College. His early films were experimental and independent, including Greetings in 1968, which introduced a young Robert De Niro, and Hi, Mom! in 1970. Those films showed his gift for satire and his willingness to push boundaries, qualities that would define his later work.
De Palma has been married three times. His first wife was actress Nancy Allen, who starred in several of his films, and his current wife is Darnell Gregorio, whom he married in 1995. He has two daughters, Lolita and Piper, and he has lived for many years in New York and in France.
Career
De Palma’s career is built on a series of striking, often controversial films. Dressed to Kill in 1980 was a stylish erotic thriller, Blow Out in 1981 starred John Travolta as a sound engineer who records a murder, and Body Double in 1984 was a playful, voyeuristic homage to Hitchcock. The Untouchables in 1987, starring Kevin Costner as Eliot Ness and Sean Connery in an Oscar-winning role as Jim Malone, was a box-office hit and one of the most acclaimed films of the decade.
He followed it with Casualties of War in 1989, a Vietnam drama starring Michael J. Fox and Sean Penn, Carlito’s Way in 1993, reuniting him with Al Pacino, and Mission: Impossible in 1996, the first film in the long-running franchise, which grossed more than $450 million worldwide. Later films included Snake Eyes in 1998, Femme Fatale in 2002 and The Black Dahlia in 2006.
Like fellow genre master John Carpenter, De Palma’s influence on younger directors is enormous, and his set pieces, the prom scene in Carrie, the staircase shootout in The Untouchables, the chainsaw scene in Scarface, are among the most famous in cinema. He has also been a mentor to younger filmmakers, and his work continues to be studied in film schools around the world. He remains, like Oliver Stone, one of the most distinctive American directors of his generation.
Facts About Brian De Palma
- Brian De Palma’s film Carrie was based on Stephen King’s first published novel.
- He directed the first Mission: Impossible film in 1996, which launched the franchise.
- His early films introduced a young Robert De Niro, who starred in Greetings in 1968.
- He has been married to Darnell Gregorio since 1995, and he has two daughters.
- He is known for his elaborate set pieces, including the staircase shootout in The Untouchables.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Brian De Palma?
Brian De Palma was born on September 11, 1940, which makes him 86 years old as of November 2026.
How tall is Brian De Palma?
Brian De Palma is 5 feet 10 inches tall (1.78 metres).
Who is Brian De Palma married to?
Brian De Palma has been married to Darnell Gregorio since 1995. He has two daughters.
What is Brian De Palma’s net worth?
Brian De Palma’s net worth is estimated at approximately $40 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth in 2025.
What is Brian De Palma best known for?
Brian De Palma is best known for directing Carrie, Scarface, The Untouchables and Mission: Impossible.