D.W. Griffith
D.W. Griffith
Biography
David Llewelyn Wark Griffith was a premier pioneering American film director. He is best known as the director of the controversial and groundbreaking 1915 film The Birth of a Nation and the subsequent film Intolerance (1916). Griffith's film The Birth of a Nation made pioneering use of advanced camera and narrative techniques, and its immense popularity set the stage for the dominance of the feature-length film. It also proved extremely controversial at the time and ever since for its negative depiction of Black Americans and their supporters, and its positive portrayal of slavery and the Ku Klux Klan. Griffith responded to his critics with his next film, Intolerance, intended to show the dangers of prejudiced thought and behavior. The film was not the financial success that its predecessor had been, but was received warmly by critics. Several of his later films were also successful, but high production, promotional, and roadshow costs often made his ventures commercial failures. Even so, he is generally considered one of the most important figures of early cinema.
Known For
Personal Info
Known For
Directing
Known Credits
742
Gender
Male
Birthday
1875-01-22 (150 years old)
Place of Birth
LaGrange, Kentucky, USA
Acting

2014

Flashback: The First World War as Self (archive footage)

2008

Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies as Self (archive footage)

2002

The Tramp and the Dictator as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

1998

Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists as Self (archive footage)

1988

American Experience as Self

1961

The Legend of Rudolph Valentino as Self (archive footage)

1936

San Francisco as Orchestra Conductor (uncredited)

1915

Enoch Arden as Mr. Ray

1912

Two Daughters of Eve as At Stage Door

1911

The Adventures of Billy as On Bench

1909

At the Altar as Not available

1909

The Politician's Love Story as Man - First Couple

1909

1776, or The Hessian Renegades as Not available

1909

The Girls and Daddy as At Black & Tan Ball

1908

The Fatal Hour as Policeman

1908

The Black Viper as Rescuer

1908

The Stage Rustler as Phil Bowen

1908

The Man in the Box as Station Agent

1908

The Heart of O Yama as Footman

1908

The Invisible Fluid as Mailman

1908

The King's Messenger as Messenger

1908

The Music Master as Not available

1908

The Sculptor's Nightmare as Not available

1908

Yellow Peril as Mr. Phlipp

1908

Her First Adventure as Father

1908

Classmates as Extra

1908

When Knights Were Bold as Not available

1908

The King of the Cannibal Islands as Cannibal in Top Hat

1908

Deceived Slumming Party as Reginald O.C. Wittington

1908

Balked at the Altar as Not available

1908

The Kentuckian as Not available

1908

The Red Girl as Man on Footpath

1908

Cupid’s Pranks as Not available

1908

Professional Jealousy as Extra on stage

1908

Hulda's Lovers as Not available

1908

Caught by Wireless as Paddy

1908

Falsely Accused! as Cop in Court

1908

A Calamitous Elopement as Policeman

1908

'Ostler Joe as Lover

1908

At the French Ball as Husband

1908

A Famous Escape as Prisoner

1908

Old Isaacs, the Pawnbroker as Doctor, Charity Worker
Crew

2025

Key of Gibraltar Assistant Director of Photography

1951

Footlight Varieties Director

1936

San Francisco Second Assistant Director

1931

The Struggle Director

1931

The Struggle Original Music Composer

1931

The Struggle Producer

1931

The Struggle Screenplay

1930

Abraham Lincoln Director

1929

Lady of the Pavements Director

1928

Drums of Love Director

1927

The King of Kings Assistant Director

1926

The Sorrows of Satan Director

1926

The Sorrows of Satan Producer

1925

Sally of the Sawdust Director

1925

That Royle Girl Director

1924

America Director

1924

Isn't Life Wonderful Director

1924

America Producer

1924

Isn't Life Wonderful Producer

1923

The White Rose Director

1923

The White Rose Writer

1923

The White Rose Producer

1922

One Exciting Night Director

1922

One Exciting Night Producer

1921

Orphans of the Storm Director

1921

Dream Street Director

1921

Dream Street Producer

1921

Orphans of the Storm Producer

1921

Orphans of the Storm Screenplay

1921

Dream Street Writer

1920

Way Down East Director

1920

The Love Flower Director

1920

The Love Flower Writer

1920

The Idol Dancer Director

1920

The Love Flower Producer

1920

Way Down East Producer

1920

Way Down East Writer

1919

True Heart Susie Director

1919

Scarlet Days Director

1919

The Greatest Question Director

1919

The Fall of Babylon Director

1919

The Mother and the Law Screenplay

1919

The Fall of Babylon Producer

1919

True Heart Susie Producer

1919

The Greatest Question Producer

1919

Scarlet Days Producer

1918

Hearts of the World Director

1918

The Hun Within Writer

1918

The Great Love Producer

1918

The Great Love Director

1918

The Great Love Writer

1918

Hearts of the World Producer

1917

Betsy's Burglar Supervising Producer

1917

A Girl of the Timber Claims Supervising Producer

1916

The Half-Breed Producer

1916

Fifty-Fifty Producer

1916

The Missing Links Production Supervisor

1916

The Missing Links Writer

1916

The Social Secretary Producer

1916

The Wood Nymph Story

1916

Hoodoo Ann Writer

1916

Betty of Greystone Supervisor of Production Resources

1915

The Birth of a Nation Producer

1915

The Birth of a Nation Original Music Composer

1915

The Lily and the Rose Producer

1915

Ghosts Producer

1915

Double Trouble Production Supervisor

1915

Old Heidelberg Supervising Producer

1915

The Lamb Story

1914

Waifs Director

1914

The Escape Director

1914

Judith of Bethulia Director

1914

Brute Force Director

1914

Home, Sweet Home Director

1913

Just Gold Writer

1913

A Chance Deception Director

1913

Brothers Director

1913

If We Only Knew Director

1913

Near To Earth Director

1913

The Stolen Loaf Director

1913

The Sorrowful Shore Director

1913

The Enemy's Baby Director

1913

His Mother's Son Director

1913

The Perfidy of Mary Director

1913

The Mothering Heart Director

1913

Death's Marathon Director

1913

The Yaqui Cur Director

1913

The Wanderer Director

1913

The House of Darkness Director

1913

The Mothering Heart Producer

1913

Her Mother's Oath Director

1913

Her Mother's Oath Writer

1913

His Mother's Son Director

1913

The Adopted Brother Director

1913

Three Friends Director

1913

The Sheriff's Baby Director

1911

The Unveiling Director

1911

Italian Blood Director

1910

The Call Writer

1910

The Call Director

1910

On the Reef Writer

1910

The Duke’s Plan Director

1910

On the Reef Director

1910

The Duke’s Plan Writer

1909

A Rude Hostess Writer

1909

A New Trick Writer

1909

Tragic Love Director

1909

A Corner in Wheat Writer

1909

The Eavesdropper Writer

1909

A Fool's Revenge Director

1909

The Eavesdropper Director

1909

A Fool's Revenge Writer

1909

A Burglar’s Mistake Director

1909

The Expiation Writer

1909

The Expiation Director

1909

In Little Italy Director

1909

His Lost Love Writer

1909

In the Window Recess Director

1909

Leather Stocking Director

1909

The Hindoo Dagger Director

1909

The Hindoo Dagger Writer

1916

Macbeth Producer

1916

Let Katie Do it Story

1916

Don Quixote Supervisor of Production Resources

1915

The Birth of a Nation Presenter

1915

Enoch Arden Writer

1915

The Birth of a Nation Director

1914

The Life of General Villa Supervising Producer

1914

Home, Sweet Home Writer

1914

The Odalisque Supervising Producer

1913

Broken Ways Director

1913

Fate Director

1913

The Unwelcome Guest Director

1913

The Coming of Angelo Director

1913

The Little Tease Writer

1913

The Little Tease Director

1913

Two Men of the Desert Screenplay

1913

Two Men of the Desert Director

1913

The Reformers Director

1913

Oil and Water Director

1913

The Wanderer Writer

1913

A Timely Interception Director

1913

Just Gold Director

1913

The Left-Handed Man Director

1913

A Misunderstood Boy Director

1913

Madonna of the Storm Director

1912

Brutality Writer

1912

Heredity Director

1912

My Hero Director

1912

My Hero Writer

1912

The Chief's Blanket Director

1912

An Unseen Enemy Director

1912

The Old Actor Director

1912

The New York Hat Director

1912

So Near, Yet So Far Director

1912

Blind Love Director

1912

The Mender of Nets Director

1912

The Painted Lady Director

1912

The Eternal Mother Director

1912

A Beast at Bay Director

1912

Friends Director

1912

The Lesser Evil Director

1912

Under Burning Skies Director

1912

The Massacre Director

1912

The Narrow Road Director

1912

For His Son Director

1912

The Sands of Dee Director

1912

The Sunbeam Director

1912

The Massacre Writer

1912

Brutality Director

1912

Man's Genesis Director

1912

A Pueblo Legend Director

1912

Friends Writer

1912

The Painted Lady Writer

1912

Billy's Stratagem Director

1912

The Informer Director

1912

My Baby Director

1912

The One She Loved Director

1912

A Pueblo Legend Writer

1912

The Inner Circle Director

1912

An Indian Summer Director

1912

Lena and the Geese Director

1912

Iola's Promise Director

1912

Just Like a Woman Director

1912

Home Folks Director

1912

Fate's Interception Director

1912

A Temporary Truce Director

1912

His Lesson Director

1912

Man's Genesis Writer

1912

The Mender of Nets Writer

1912

The God Within Director

1912

Gold and Glitter Director

1912

A Cry for Help Director

1912

Two Daughters of Eve Director

1912

A Siren of Impulse Director

1912

Lena and the Geese Producer

1912

The Root of Evil Director

1912

A String of Pearls Director

1911

The Lonedale Operator Producer

1911

The Lonedale Operator Director

1911

His Trust Director

1911

Enoch Arden: Part II Director

1911

Enoch Arden: Part I Director

1911

The Miser's Heart Director

1911

The Battle Director

1911

A Country Cupid Director

1911

Fate's Turning Director

1911

His Trust Fulfilled Director

1911

Saved from Himself Director

1911

The Squaw's Love Director

1911

The Indian Brothers Director

1911

Swords and Hearts Director

1911

Fighting Blood Director

1911

A Terrible Discovery Director

1911

The Primal Call Director

1911

The Italian Barber Director

1911

The Rose of Kentucky Director

1911

His Daughter Director

1911

The Making of a Man Director

1911

Enoch Arden Director

1911

When a Man Loves Director

1911

Three Sisters Director

1911

Madame Rex Director

1911

A Decree of Destiny Director

1911

The Long Road Director

1911

Fisher Folks Director

1911

The Diamond Star Director

1911

The Two Paths Director

1911

Bobby the Coward Director

1911

A Woman Scorned Director

1911

The Failure Director

1911

Love in the Hills Director

1911

Conscience Director

1911

Her Awakening Director

1911

The Trail of Books Director

1910

The Fugitive Director

1910

In the Border States Director

1910

The Unchanging Sea Director

1910

Ramona Director

1910

An Arcadian Maid Director

1910

As It Is in Life Director

1910

Winning Back His Love Director

1910

Wilful Peggy Director

1910

The Usurer Director

1910

Faithful Director

1910

The Oath and the Man Director

1910

Rose o' Salem Town Director

1910

A Child of the Ghetto Director

1910

What the Daisy Said Director

1910

A Flash of Light Director

1910

Her Terrible Ordeal Director

1910

The Lesson Director

1910

Over Silent Paths Director

1910

The Modern Prodigal Director

1910

Love Among the Roses Director

1910

The Two Brothers Director

1910

The Golden Supper Director

1910

The Rocky Road Director

1910

In Old California Director

1910

The Thread of Destiny Director

1910

In Life's Cycle Director

1910

A Plain Song Director

1910

In the Season of Buds Director

1910

The Newlyweds Director

1910

The Twisted Trail Director

1910

A Rich Revenge Director

1910

A Victim of Jealousy Director

1910

A Child's Impulse Director

1910

The Call to Arms Director

1910

Simple Charity Director

1910

Waiter No. 5 Director

1910

Ramona Writer

1910

Sunshine Sue Director

1910

Unexpected Help Director

1910

His Last Burglary Director

1910

The Final Settlement Director

1910

Gold Is Not All Director

1910

The Gold Seekers Director

1910

Thou Shalt Not Director

1910

The Man Director

1910

The Purgation Director

1910

A Child's Faith Director

1910

The Impalement Director

1910

His Sister-In-Law Director

1910

A Summer Idyll Director

1910

The Converts Director

1910

Taming a Husband Director

1910

The Way of the World Director

1910

The Marked Time-Table Director

1910

A Mohawk's Way Director

1910

The Broken Doll Director

1910

Serious Sixteen Director

1910

Two Little Waifs Director

1910

A Salutary Lesson Director

1910

A Midnight Cupid Director

1910

Her Father's Pride Director

1910

The Iconoclast Director

1910

Little Angels of Luck Director

1910

A Child's Stratagem Director

1910

The Last Deal Writer

1910

The Last Deal Director

1910

His Last Dollar Director

1910

The Rocky Road Writer

1910

The Newlyweds Writer

1909

The Sealed Room Director

1909

What Drink Did Writer

1909

Confidence Writer

1909

Mrs. Jones Entertains Director

1909

A Corner in Wheat Director

1909

A Sweet Revenge Writer

1909

I Did It Director

1909

The Curtain Pole Writer

1909

The Curtain Pole Director

1909

The Lonely Villa Director

1909

Those Awful Hats Director

1909

The Mended Lute Director

1909

The Golden Louis Director

1909

The Little Darling Director

1909

Lady Helen's Escapade Director

1909

The Redman's View Director

1909

The Gibson Goddess Director

1909

The Renunciation Director

1909

Nursing a Viper Director

1909

Lucky Jim Director

1909

Edgar Allan Poe Director

1909

What Drink Did Director

1909

The Country Doctor Director

1909

Resurrection Director

1909

Confidence Director

1909

Those Awful Hats Writer

1909

Her First Biscuits Director

1909

At the Altar Director

1909

The Cord of Life Director

1909

Getting Even Director

1909

Pippa Passes Director

1909

The Lure of the Gown Director

1909

Twin Brothers Director

1909

The Son's Return Screenplay

1909

The Son's Return Director

1909

The Light That Came Director

1909

The Little Darling Writer

1909

The Broken Locket Writer

1909

In Old Kentucky Director

1909

At the Altar Writer

1909

A Strange Meeting Director

1909

Nursing a Viper Writer

1909

The Suicide Club Director

1909

The Broken Locket Director

1909

The Awakening Director

1909

The Way of Man Director

1909

One Touch of Nature Director

1909

The Maniac Cook Writer

1909

The Welcome Burglar Director

1909

The Maniac Cook Director

1909

Love Finds a Way Director

1909

The Honor of Thieves Director

1909

Love Finds a Way Writer

1909

The Sacrifice Director

1909

A Rural Elopement Director

1909

The Cord of Life Writer

1909

The Sacrifice Writer

1909

A Rural Elopement Writer

1909

Fools of Fate Director

1909

Two Memories Director

1909

Two Memories Writer

1909

Sweet and Twenty Director

1909

The Little Teacher Director

1909

The Day After Director

1909

The Day After Producer

1909

The Golden Louis Writer

1909

His Wife's Visitor Director

1909

The Peachbasket Hat Director

1909

The Slave Director

1909

His Duty Director

1909

They Would Elope Director

1909

The Faded Lilies Director

1909

The Necklace Director

1909

Tender Hearts Director

1909

The Seventh Day Director

1909

His Lost Love Director

1909

Oh, Uncle! Director

1909

What's Your Hurry? Director

1909

The Restoration Director

1909

The Trick that Failed Director

1909

A Midnight Adventure Director

1909

The Test Director

1909

To Save Her Soul Director

1909

Through the Breakers Director

1909

The Way of Man Writer

1909

The Country Doctor Writer

1909

Getting Even Writer

1909

The Girls and Daddy Director

1909

Comata, the Sioux Director

1909

A Sweet Revenge Director

1909

The Children's Friend Director

1909

Wanted, a Child Director

1909

Pranks Director

1909

A Corner in Wheat Producer

1909

The Jilt Writer

1909

Mr. Jones’ Burglar Director

1909

The Jilt Director

1909

The Note in the Shoe Director

1909

The Prussian Spy Director

1909

The Medicine Bottle Director

1909

The Prussian Spy Writer

1909

Those Boys! Writer

1909

The Roue’s Heart Writer

1909

A Wreath in Time Writer

1909

The Roue’s Heart Director

1909

The Road to the Heart Director

1909

Those Boys! Director

1909

A Troublesome Satchel Director

1909

The Winning Coat Writer

1909

A Wreath in Time Director

1909

The Winning Coat Director

1909

The Wooden Leg Director

1909

The Wooden Leg Writer

1909

A Baby's Shoe Director

1909

The Brahma Diamond Director

1909

The Deception Director

1909

A Baby's Shoe Writer

1909

The Brahma Diamond Writer

1909

Drive for a Life Writer

1909

Drive for a Life Director

1909

Eloping with Auntie Director

1909

Jealousy and the Man Director

1909

His Ward's Love Director

1909

Eradicating Aunty Director

1909

His Wife's Mother Director

1909

His Wife's Mother Writer

1909

His Ward's Love Writer

1909

Eradicating Aunty Writer

1909

To Save Her Soul Writer

1909

Tragic Love Writer

1909

A New Trick Director

1909

A Rude Hostess Director

1909

The Mills of the Gods Director

1909

Edgar Allan Poe Writer

1909

Pippa Passes Writer

1909

The Gibson Goddess Writer

1909

The Renunciation Writer

1909

What's Your Hurry? Writer

1909

A Strange Meeting Writer

1909

The Restoration Writer

1909

Oh, Uncle! Writer

1909

The Faded Lilies Writer

1909

The Slave Writer

1909

Tender Hearts Writer

1909

The French Duel Director

1908

An Awful Moment Writer

1908

The Fight for Freedom Director

1908

For a Wife's Honor Director

1908

For Love of Gold Director

1908

The Man and the Woman Director

1908

The Black Viper Director

1908

Romance of a Jewess Director

1908

The Fatal Hour Director

1908

Money Mad Director

1908

Balked at the Altar Director

1908

The Song of the Shirt Director

1908

After Many Years Director

1908

An Awful Moment Director

1908

The Red Girl Director

1908

The Heart of O Yama Director

1908

The Vaquero's Vow Director

1908

Concealing a Burglar Director

1908

The Devil Director

1908

The Call of the Wild Director

1908

The Guerrilla Director

1908

A Smoked Husband Director

1908

The Barbarian Ingomar Director

1908

The Valet's Wife Director

1908

The Pirate's Gold Director

1908

The Reckoning Director

1908

The Helping Hand Director

1908

Mr. Jones at the Ball Director

1908

The Helping Hand Writer

1908

The Music Master Writer

1908

Money Mad Writer

1908

The Zulu's Heart Director

1908

The Zulu's Heart Writer

1908

Mixed Babies Writer

1908

The Planter's Wife Director

1908

The Planter's Wife Writer

1908

The Ingrate Director

1908

The Ingrate Writer

1908

A Woman's Way Director

1908

A Woman's Way Writer

1908

The Stolen Jewels Director

1908

The Stolen Jewels Writer

1908

'Ostler Joe Author

1908

The Outlaw Author