Jonathan Demme

Robert Jonathan Demme was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter.

He rose to prominence in the 1980s with his comedy films Melvin and Howard (1980), Swing Shift (1984), Something Wild (1986), and Married to the Mob (1988), as well as the critically acclaimed concert film Stop Making Sense (1984), in collaboration with the band Talking Heads.

He became best known for directing The Silence of the Lambs (1991), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Director.

He later directed the acclaimed films Philadelphia (1993) and Rachel Getting Married (2008).

• Born: February 22, 1944, Baldwin, New York, United States
• Died: April 26, 2017, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States
• Spouse: Joanne Howard (m. 1987–2017), Evelyn Purcell (m. 1970–1984)
• Children: Brooklyn Demme, Ramona Demme, Josephine Demme
• Awards: Academy Award for Best Director