Robert Altman
He shattered Hollywood conventions with sprawling, talky films that captured the beautiful chaos of American life.
1925–2006 (age 81)·American filmmaker·Birthday: February 20·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Robert Altman spent his early career making industrial films and television episodes, a boot camp that gave him the technical chops and stubborn independence to upend the movie business. His breakthrough, 1970's 'MASH,' was a Korean War satire that felt like a direct commentary on Vietnam, setting the template for his signature style: a cacophony of overlapping dialogue, a sprawling ensemble cast, and a deep distrust of institutions. For the next three decades, he moved with restless energy between genres, from the country music panorama of 'Nashville' to the British drawing-room drama of 'Gosford Park,' always finding the messy human pulse beneath any setting. Though often at odds with studios, his late-career renaissance proved his vision was timeless, turning intimate character studies like 'The Company' and 'A Prairie Home Companion' into poignant final statements.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Robert was born in 1925, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Robert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1925
#1 Movie
The Gold Rush
Robert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1925Born
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1930Started school
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1938Became a teenager
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1941Could drive
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1943Could vote
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1946Turned 21
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1955Turned 30
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 40
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 50
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 60
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 70
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 80
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2006Died at 81
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
Key Achievements
- Won the Palme d'Or at Cannes for his Korean War satire 'MASH' in 1970.
- Directed 'Nashville,' a panoramic 1975 film featuring 24 major characters that critiqued American politics and celebrity.
- Received an Academy Honorary Award in 2006 for a career that 'revolutionized the art and craft of filmmaking.'
- Earned five nominations for the Academy Award for Best Director over his long career.
Did You Know?
He often allowed actors to wear their own clothes and write some of their own dialogue to foster authenticity.
His film 'The Player' opens with an 8-minute, unbroken tracking shot that is a masterclass in cinematic technique.
He served as a B-24 co-pilot in World War II, flying over 50 bombing missions.
He founded the 'Lucky 13' poker club, which included fellow directors and actors.
“Filmmaking is a chance to live many lifetimes.”
