Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
A husband-and-wife team who turned a quirky road trip into an Oscar-winning film that captured the messy heart of the American family.
Born 1958 (age 68)·American filmmakers·Birthday: October 20·Baby Boomers
Biography
Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris began their creative journey not in Hollywood, but in the kinetic world of music videos, shaping the visual identities of 1990s alternative rock giants. Their transition to feature films was a masterclass in patience and vision, culminating in the 2006 indie sensation 'Little Miss Sunshine.' With a modest budget and a stellar ensemble cast, they crafted a poignant, darkly funny portrait of a dysfunctional family that resonated globally, winning two Academy Awards and proving smart, character-driven stories could thrive. Their subsequent work, from the magical realism of 'Ruby Sparks' to the historical sports drama 'Battle of the Sexes,' continues to explore outsiders and societal pressures with a distinctive blend of warmth and sharp observation. As a directing duo, their collaborative process is seamless, bringing a documentarian's eye for authentic human behavior to every project, whether for the big screen or streaming series.
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.
Jonathan was born in 1958, 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 Jonathan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1958
#1 Movie
South Pacific
Best Picture
Gigi
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Jonathan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1958Born
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1963Started school
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1971Became a teenager
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1974Could drive
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
1976Could vote
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Turned 21
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
1988Turned 30
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 40
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 50
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 60
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 68 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Directed 'Little Miss Sunshine,' which won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin).
- Their debut feature was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2007.
- Pioneered influential music videos for acts like The Smashing Pumpkins and R.E.M. in the 1990s.
- Directed the critically acclaimed film 'Battle of the Sexes,' starring Emma Stone and Steve Carell.
Did You Know?
They met while students at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Before filmmaking, Valerie Faris was a competitive gymnast.
They initially turned down the 'Little Miss Sunshine' script, only to reconsider years later.
They run a commercial and video production company called Bob Industries.
“We're always looking for that thing that feels like it hasn't been seen before.”
