David Winning
A versatile Canadian director who carved a niche in science fiction and thrillers, shaping genre television and film for decades.
Born 1961 (age 65)·Canadian film maker·Birthday: May 8·Baby Boomers
Biography
Born in Calgary, David Winning began making Super 8 films as a teenager, a hands-on start that defined his scrappy, multi-hyphenate career. He moved to Los Angeles in the 1980s, becoming a reliable force in the direct-to-video and television worlds. Winning’s name became a familiar credit on cult genre series like 'Goosebumps' and 'Flash Gordon,' where his ability to conjure suspense and visual flair on tight budgets stood out. Beyond horror and sci-fi, he directed family films and dramas, demonstrating a range often unseen by mainstream audiences. His journey from independent Canadian filmmaker to a steady presence in Hollywood’s genre landscape speaks to a durable, self-made craftsmanship.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
David was born in 1961, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1961
#1 Movie
101 Dalmatians
Best Picture
West Side Story
#1 TV Show
Wagon Train
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1961Born
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1966Started school
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1974Became a teenager
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Could drive
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1979Could vote
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Turned 21
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1991Turned 30
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 40
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 50
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 60
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 65 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Directed over 20 feature films spanning science fiction, thriller, and family genres.
- Helmed multiple episodes of the popular television series 'Goosebumps' in the 1990s.
- Wrote and directed the early sci-fi feature 'Storm' (1987), gaining cult recognition.
- Served as a producer and editor on numerous projects, maintaining creative control across production stages.
Did You Know?
He made his first feature film, 'The Killer Instinct,' while still a teenager.
Winning is a trained pilot and has incorporated aviation sequences into his films.
He provided the voice for the character 'Megahertz' in the animated series 'Super Dave.'
“If you want to make a film, pick up a camera and start shooting.”
