Oliver Stone Trivia

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After graduating from New York University, he worked as a cabdriver and a xerox messenger to support himself. (imdb.com)

Was set to begin filming his fourth Vietnam film 'Pinkville' in late 2007. However, after the Writers' strike began, the producers pulled out, and Bruce Willis moved on. Stone then turned his attention to making a W. (2009) which will star Josh Brolin. (imdb.com)

Frequently casts Frank Whaley. (imdb.com)

Because of his specialty with Vietnam era period pieces, he was one of the first directors to be offered American Gangster (2007) in 2001. After long consideration, he decided to pursue making his passion project, Alexander (2004), instead. (imdb.com)

Has directed four actors into Best Actor Oscar nominations, and three actors to Best Supporting Actor nominations. Lead roles were James Woods (Salvador (1986)), Michael Douglas (Wall Street (1987)), Tom Cruise (Born on the Fourth of July (1989)) and Anthony Hopkins (Nixon (1995)). Supporting roles were Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger ("Platoon") and Tommy Lee Jones (JFK (1991)). (imdb.com)

Known for the political content of his films, Stone was a member of the Class of 1968 at Yale University along with US President Bill Clinton administration adviser Strobe Talbot and future President George W. Bush (John Kerry was also there at the same time as Stone, though he was several classes ahead of '68). Stone left Yale after only one year (he failed all his second-semester freshman classes) and ended up joining the army and fighting in Vietnam. He never returned to graduate from Yale. (imdb.com)

Received two Academy Award nominations for best original screenplay in the same year, 1987 (Salvador (1986) and Platoon (1986)) but lost to Woody Allen for Hannah and Her Sisters (1986). (imdb.com)

Although he is a two-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker, it's been consistently difficult for him to acquire actors of his preference for most of the films he has directed. Casting Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday (1999) and Tom Cruise in Born on the Fourth of July (1989) are the most significant exceptions where Stone's top choice was either available or agreed to partake in an Oliver Stone production. (imdb.com)

Was planning to make a film about Eva Perón, but after several disagreements with Argentinian President Carlos Saúl Menem he abandoned the project. He later received a token credit as a writer for Evita (1996), despite having made no input to the script. (imdb.com)

Friends with Lloyd Kaufman, founder and president of Troma. (imdb.com)

The same drum theme playing in the beginning of JFK (1991) (for which he was a producer), plays three times in The Day Reagan Was Shot (2001) (TV) (for which he was an executive producer). (imdb.com)

Wrote a collegiate letter of recommendation for Claire Danes when she applied to his alma mater, Yale University. She was quickly accepted. (imdb.com)

So far the World Trade Center is the only film out of his feature films to be rated below the R rating. (imdb.com)

Interviewed in "Directors Close Up: Interviews with Directors Nominated for Best Film by the Directors Guild of America", ed. by Jeremy Kagan, Scarecrow Press, 2006. (imdb.com)

His 11-minute student film made at NYU is called Last Year in Viet Nam (1971). (imdb.com)

Is a friend and admirer of Cuban Premier Fidel Castro, and shot a documentary about the world's longest reigning Communist leader, titled Comandante (2003). It was to air on HBO in May 2003, but due to protests by anti-Castro Cuban-American activists, it was shelved until later. (imdb.com)

Oliver's father met his mother while he was President Dwight D. Eisenhower aide in WWII in France. As a child he was raised by a nanny because his mother frequently took vacations to France. He grew up as a child of privilege. (imdb.com)

Has sought Warren Beatty for two of his movies (Nixon (1995) and Wall Street (1987)). Beatty declined them both, and the parts went to Anthony Hopkins and Michael Douglas respectively. Both received Oscar nominations for their roles. (imdb.com)

As of 2004, Stone is attached to direct several projects. "Spite House", which he wrote and will direct about Vietnam. "The Fountainhead", based on the Ayn Rand novel. "Lennon", a biopic of John Lennon, a biopic of Margaret Thatcher, and a biopic of sorts about an attempted assassination plot by the Republican party against President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. (imdb.com)

Born at 9:58am-EDT (imdb.com)

To date, World Trade Center is the only one of his war-related films to be made with government cooperation (by the Port Authority). (imdb.com)

Was voted the 43rd Greatest Director of all time by Entertainment Weekly. (imdb.com)

On September 14, 1967, he left for Vietnam and was assigned to the 2nd Platoon of Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, stationed near the Cambodian border, as "Pvt. Bill Stone" (fearing that "Oliver" was too effeminate). (imdb.com)

Sought Marlon Brando for two of his films: U Turn (1997) and Salvador (1986). James Woods who played the character in Salvador (1986) that Brando had turned down, received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Jon Voight, who played the role meant for Brando in U Turn (1997), received a Razzie for Worst Supporting Actor. (imdb.com)

World Trade Center is his first PG-13 rated film. (imdb.com)

Often talks about the experience of his father Louis Stone taking him to lose his virginity to a prostitute in his mid-teens. (imdb.com)

His mother is French. (imdb.com)

Has worked with all of the Baldwin brothers. He cast Alec in Talk Radio (1988) and the other brothers made appearances in Born on the Fourth of July (1989). (imdb.com)

Took a year`s absence from Yale in 1965 to teach at a Catholic private school in Vietnam. (imdb.com)

As of this date (May 2008), World Trade Center (2006) is the only one of his war-related films to be made with government cooperation (by the Port Authority). (imdb.com)

Following the furor over JFK (1991), Stone addressed the U.S. Senate over the continued secrecy of documents relating to the John F. Kennedy assassination. Partly through his efforts, the government began declassifying documents. (imdb.com)

Was attached to direct American Psycho (2000) with Leonardo DiCaprio in talks to star as Patrick Bateman. After DiCaprio left the project to make The Beach (2000/I) Stone left it also. (imdb.com)

Directed 8 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: James Woods, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Michael Douglas, Tom Cruise, Tommy Lee Jones, Anthony Hopkins and Joan Allen. Douglas won an Academy Award for Wall Street (1987). (imdb.com)

Was taught by Martin Scorsese at New York University Film School. (imdb.com)

Directed Comedian Rodney Dangerfield in his first and only dramatic role in Natural Born Killers (1994). (imdb.com)

Is a friend and admirer of Cuban Premier Fidel Castro, and shot a documentary about the world`s longest reigning Communist leader, titled Comandante (2003). It was to air on HBO in May 2003, but due to protests by anti-Castro Cuban-American activists, it was shelved and has never been aired on HBO or made available on home video in the US. (imdb.com)

Shares the exact same birthday as good friend and star of some his films, Tommy Lee Jones. Both were born on September 15, 1946. (imdb.com)

Underwent infantry training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. (imdb.com)

Speaks French fluently. (imdb.com)

Says he kicked a cocaine habit by moving to France while writing Scarface (1983). (imdb.com)

Arrested for drunken driving and possession of hashish. [June 1999] (imdb.com)

His father Louis Stone was a successful stockbroker on Wall Street, then he suffered some financial setbacks due to bad investments and a bitter divorce from Oliver`s mother Jacqueline. The movie Wall Street (1987) is supposed to be modeled after Lou. (imdb.com)

Children: With Elizabeth Stone (divorced) Sean Stone, Michael Jack Stone. With Chong Son Chong (girlfriend), Tara Chong Stone. (imdb.com)

In Vietnam Stone won the Bronze Star for Valor and the Purple Heart with First Oak Leaf Cluster. Stone was jailed for marijuana possession in Mexico at the age of 21. (imdb.com)

Did a tour of duty in Vietnam. (imdb.com)

Educated at Yale and New York University. (imdb.com)

Born in NYC (imdb.com)