David O. Russell

David Owen Russell was raised in Larchmont, New York,{{cite magazine |title=The Hang-Up Artist |magazine=New York |date=April 29, 1996 |first=Chris |last=Smith |page=40 |volume=29 |issue=17}}{{cite news |title=How filmmaker David O. Russell learned to master the Hollywood hustle |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=December 14, 2013 |first=Simon |last=Houpt |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/how-david-o-russell-learned-to-master-the-hollywood-hustle/article15948905/?page=all |access-date=October 30, 2014 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215173607/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/how-david-o-russell-learned-to-master-the-hollywood-hustle/article15948905/?page=all |archive-date=February 15, 2015}} in an upper middle-class household.{{cite news |title=This film is part of me |first=B Ruby |last=Rich |date=November 1, 2004 |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/london2004/story/0,,1340841,00.html |access-date=May 1, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820230259/http://film.guardian.co.uk/london2004/story/0%2C%2C1340841%2C00.html |archive-date=August 20, 2007}} His parents worked for Simon & Schuster; his father, Bernard, was the vice president of sales for the company,{{cite news |first=David |last=Jenkins |title=The nutty director |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=2006-10-05 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3632260/The-nutty-director.html |access-date=September 19, 2012 |url-access=subscription |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502170533/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3632260/The-nutty-director.html |archive-date=2009-05-02 |quote= ...his mother - Maria, an Italian Catholic from Brooklyn ... his father Bernard, the Jewish son of a butcher, who became a sales executive for Simon & Schuster}} and his mother, Maria, was a secretary there.{{cite news |title=David O. Russell: In Conversation |first=Neal |last=Gabler |date=December 11, 2013 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/magazine/david-o-russell-in-conversation.html |access-date=October 30, 2014 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716193206/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/magazine/david-o-russell-in-conversation.html |archive-date=July 16, 2014}} His father was from a Russian-Jewish family, and his mother was Italian-American (of Lucanian descent).{{Cite news |title=For David O. Russell, it takes family |last=Pfefferman |first=Naomi |date=January 23, 2013 |work=Jewish Journal |url=http://jewishjournal.com/mobile_20111212/112269/ |access-date=October 30, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030141008/http://www.jewishjournal.com/the_ticket/item/for_david_o._russell_it_takes_family |archive-date=October 30, 2014 |quote=... Russian-Jewish on his father’s side of the family and Italian-Catholic on his mother’s... Russell’s Jewish grandfather, a butcher on the Upper West Side of Manhattan who had lost many of his relatives in concentration camps...}}{{cite magazine |title=David O. Russell to Receive Italian-American Icon Award |first=Ariston |last=Anderson |date=October 13, 2014 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-o-russell-receive-italian-740416 |access-date=October 31, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141120013258/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-o-russell-receive-italian-740416 |archive-date=November 20, 2014 |quote=The New York-born director is of Lucanian origin on his mother’s side.}} His paternal grandfather, a butcher from the Upper West Side of Manhattan, lost many of his relatives in concentration camps.

When he was 13, Russell made his first film for a school project and used a Super 8 film camera to film people in New York City.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBrXCSNriVA |title=David O. Russell speaks about first childhood film at AFI FEST presented by Audi |type=video |publisher=YouTube |date=November 9, 2013 |access-date=October 30, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731224655/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBrXCSNriVA |archive-date=July 31, 2016}} He attended Mamaroneck High School,{{cite news |title=David O. Russell's Oscar Nomination Tops Mamaroneck News This Week |work=Daily Voice |date=January 19, 2014 |url=http://mamaroneck.dailyvoice.com/news/david-o-russell-s-oscar-nomination-tops-mamaroneck-news-week |access-date=October 30, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030072318/http://mamaroneck.dailyvoice.com/news/david-o-russell-s-oscar-nomination-tops-mamaroneck-news-week |archive-date=October 30, 2014 }} where he was voted "Class Rebel".{{cite news |title=David O. Russell & Jason Schwartzman |first=Nathan |last=Rabin |newspaper=The A.V. Club |date=October 6, 2004 |url=https://www.avclub.com/article/david-o-russell-jason-schwartzman-13893 |access-date=October 30, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030074211/http://www.avclub.com/article/david-o-russell-jason-schwartzman-13893 |archive-date=October 30, 2014}} He fell in love with film in his teens (his favorite movies included Taxi Driver, Chinatown, and Shampoo) but aspired to become a writer; Russell started a newspaper in high school and wrote short stories. As his parents worked in the publishing industry, he grew up in a household filled with books.{{cite web |title=Outstanding Director Award – David O. Russell |first=Mirass |last=Jalil |date=February 17, 2014 |publisher=Santa Barbara City College |url=http://sbccfilmreviews.org/?p=30003 |access-date=October 31, 2014 |url-status= dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031084434/http://sbccfilmreviews.org/?p=30003 |archive-date=2014-10-31}}

In 1981, Russell received his A.B. degree from Amherst College, where he majored in English and political science.{{cite news |title=David O Russell |first=Rebecca |last=Flint Marx |date=2016 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/166478/David-O-Russell/biography |url-access=subscription |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305095404/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/166478/David-O-Russell/biography |archive-date=March 5, 2016}} He wrote his senior thesis on the United States intervention in Chile from 1963 to 1973.{{cite web |title=Before They Were Stars |publisher=Amherst College |date=Spring 2011 |url=https://www.amherst.edu/aboutamherst/magazine/issues/2011spring/stars |access-date=October 30, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109110832/https://www.amherst.edu/aboutamherst/magazine/issues/2011spring/stars |archive-date=November 9, 2014}}

After graduating from Amherst, Russell traveled to Nicaragua and taught in a Sandinista literacy program. He worked in waitering, bartending, and catering. Some of his bartending colleagues included members of the Blue Man Group. He worked for a booksellers' association and later became a community organizer in Maine. He used video equipment to document slums and bad housing conditions, which later became a documentary of Lewiston, Maine.{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/david-o-russell-interview-the-fighter/ |title=Interview: David O. Russell Talks Incest and Music in 'The Fighter,' Plus 'Uncharted' And Other Projects From The Past |publisher=Slash Film |date=February 20, 2011 |first=David |last=Chen |access-date=October 30, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141030054926/http://www.slashfilm.com/david-o-russell-interview-the-fighter/ |archive-date=October 30, 2014 }} Russell was a political activist{{cite magazine |url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/david-o-russell#_ |title=DAVID O. RUSSELL |magazine=Interview Magazine |first=Louis |last=C.K. |access-date=October 31, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031093557/http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/david-o-russell#_ |archive-date=October 31, 2014 }} and canvassed and raised money in neighborhoods; he also did community work in Boston's South End. In addition to working in several day jobs, he began to write short films.

Russell directed a documentary about Panamanian immigrants in Boston,{{cite book|title=Post-Pop Cinema: The Search for Meaning in New American Film |url=https://archive.org/details/postpopcinemasea0000mays |url-access=registration |author=Jesse Fox Mayshark |publisher=Praeger |date=2007 |isbn=978-0-275-99080-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/postpopcinemasea0000mays/page/93 93] }} which led to a job as a production assistant on a PBS series called Smithsonian World. In 1987, Russell wrote, produced, and directed Bingo Inferno: A Parody on American Obsessions, a short film about an obsessive bingo-playing mother.{{cite book|title=Post-Pop Cinema: The Search for Meaning in New American Film |url=https://archive.org/details/postpopcinemasea0000mays |url-access=registration |author=Jesse Fox Mayshark |publisher=Praeger |date=2007 |isbn=978-0-275-99080-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/postpopcinemasea0000mays/page/94 94] }} Two years later, he made another short titled Hairway to the Stars, which featured Bette Davis and William Hickey.{{cite web |url=http://history.sundance.org/films/779/hairway_to_the_stars |title=Hairway to the Stars |publisher=Sundance Film Festival |access-date=October 31, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031113013/http://history.sundance.org/films/779/hairway_to_the_stars |archive-date=October 31, 2014 }} Both shorts were shown at the Sundance Film Festival.

After Russell made an award-winning short film for a Boston television station, he received grants from the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Instead of the money going towards a feature about a fortune cookie writer, he decided to make Spanking the Monkey, a film about an incestuous mother-son relationship.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/santa-barbara-film-fest-david-676315 |title=Santa Barbara Film Fest: David O. Russell Steals the Show at Tribute |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |date=February 1, 2014 |first=Scott |last=Feinberg |access-date=October 31, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310200837/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/santa-barbara-film-fest-david-676315 |archive-date=March 10, 2014 }} As a result, Russell had to return the funds to the NEA. Spanking the Monkey, the 1994 independent dark comedy, was his first directorial effort. The film was produced by Dean Silvers, and starred Jeremy Davies as a troubled young man and Alberta Watson as his lonely mother. Despite the controversial subject matter, the film received positive reviews{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spanking_the_monkey/ |title=Spanking the Monkey Reviews |website=Rotten Tomatoes |date=July 15, 1994 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211154846/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spanking_the_monkey/ |archive-date=February 11, 2010 }} and won him Best First Screenplay and Best First Feature from the Independent Spirit Awards, as well as the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival.{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111252/awards |title=Awards for Spanking the Monkey |website=IMDb |access-date=January 26, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111175630/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111252/awards |archive-date=January 11, 2010 }}

His next project was the Miramax comedy Flirting with Disaster (1996), his second collaboration with Dean Silvers, and first with Harvey Weinstein. The film follows a neurotic man (Ben Stiller) who travels with his wife (Patricia Arquette) and a high-strung caseworker (Téa Leoni) to find his biological parents. The film also starred Mary Tyler Moore, George Segal, Alan Alda, Josh Brolin, Richard Jenkins, and Lily Tomlin. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival, and was well received by most critics.{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/flirting_with_disaster/ |title=Flirting with Disaster Reviews |website=Rotten Tomatoes |date=March 22, 1996 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128063259/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/flirting_with_disaster/ |archive-date=January 28, 2010 }} Roger Ebert said of the direction, "Russell finds the strong central line all screwball begins with, the seemingly serious mission or quest, and then throws darts at a map of the United States as he creates his characters."{{cite news |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19960329/REVIEWS/603290302 |title=Roger Ebert's review of Flirting with Disaster |access-date=January 26, 2010 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111173138/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19960329%2FREVIEWS%2F603290302 |archive-date=January 11, 2012 }} Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a 'B' and declared it "one of the ha-ha funniest comedies currently at a theater near you."{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,291980,00.html |title=Lisa Schwarzbaum's review of Flirting with Disaster |access-date=January 26, 2010 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 5, 1996 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223123355/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C291980%2C00.html |archive-date=December 23, 2009 }}

File:David O Russell 2011 Shankbone.JPG in 2011]]

The success of those two films led to the satirical Gulf War black comedy Three Kings (1999), starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube and Spike Jonze. Adapted from an earlier script by former stand-up comic John Ridley, the film follows three American GIs who devise a plan to steal hidden Kuwaiti gold during the 1991 Iraqi uprising against Saddam Hussein. Filmed in the deserts of Arizona, California and Mexico, and featuring actual Iraqi refugees as extras, Russell used several unique cinematic techniques to achieve a feeling of realism. He filmed using handheld cameras and Steadicam, and shot on Ektachrome slide photography stock that was cross processed in colour negative chemicals, to reproduce "the odd colour of the newspaper images [of the Gulf War]."{{citation needed|date=July 2013}} He also insisted on filming all of the explosions in one shot, unlike a typical action film. Three Kings was released in 1999 and was his biggest critical and financial success. It grossed $60 million in the United States and over $100 million worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=threekings.htm |title=Box Office Mojo: Three Kings |access-date=January 26, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214074141/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=threekings.htm |archive-date=February 14, 2010 }} It holds a 94% at Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus "Three Kings successfully blends elements of action, drama, and comedy into a thoughtful, exciting movie on the Gulf War."{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/three_kings/ |title=Three Kings Movie Reviews |website=Rotten Tomatoes |date=October 1999 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209082113/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/three_kings/ |archive-date=February 9, 2010 }}

Russell's next project was the existential comedy I Heart Huckabees (2004). During pre-production in 2003, it was reported that Jude Law dropped the film to star in Christopher Nolan's The Prestige (2006), but after Russell headlocked Nolan at a Hollywood party, demanding that "his fellow director show artistic solidarity and give up his star in order to save Huckabees", Nolan dropped Law from his film. The film ended up receiving mixed reviews and failed at the box office,{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/i_heart_huckabees/ |title=I Heart Huckabees Movie Reviews |website=Rotten Tomatoes |date=September 10, 2004 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118154101/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/i_heart_huckabees/ |archive-date=January 18, 2010 }} but collaborator Jennifer Lawrence called it her favorite David O. Russell film.{{cite web|title=Jennifer Lawrence's Favorite David O. Russell Movie? Hint: It's Not 'American Hustle'|date=February 4, 2014 |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-news/jennifer-lawrence-favorite-david-o-russell-movie-hint-020128652.html|access-date=March 31, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407102702/https://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-news/jennifer-lawrence-favorite-david-o-russell-movie-hint-020128652.html|archive-date=April 7, 2014}}

Nailed is a political comedy co-written by Russell and Kristin Gore, and stars Jessica Biel, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tracy Morgan, Catherine Keener, Paul Reubens, James Brolin and Kirstie Alley. Production was delayed or shut down four times in 2008, resulting in IATSE shutting down production because the crew was not getting paid.{{cite web|last=Finke|first=Nikki|title=David O. Russell Film Shut Down 4th Time|url=https://deadline.com/2008/06/david-o-russells-nailed-shut-down-4th-time-6130/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=June 22, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602082202/http://www.deadline.com/2008/06/david-o-russells-nailed-shut-down-4th-time/|archive-date=June 2, 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/2009/05/05/jessica-biel-mourns-david-o-russells-nailed|title=Jessica Biel Mourns David O. Russell's Nailed|publisher=/Film|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609060030/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/05/05/jessica-biel-mourns-david-o-russells-nailed/|archive-date=June 9, 2009|access-date=June 29, 2009}} Actor James Caan left mid-production "due to creative differences and [the] split was amicable."{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2008/04/23/james-caan-quits-david-o-russells-nailed/|title=Caan Quits David O. Russell's 'Nailed'|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=April 23, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109041431/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20194500%2C00.html|archive-date=January 9, 2015}} The film revolves around the character of Alice Eckle (played by Jessica Biel) who gets accidentally shot in the head with a nail by a clumsy workman, eliciting wild sexual urges. The uninsured Eckle goes on a crusade to Washington to fight for the rights of the bizarrely injured. She meets an immoral congressman (Jake Gyllenhaal) who takes advantage of her sex drive and capitalizes on her crusade as Eckle heads into her own career in politics.{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i00627c6566fe8f5f3b0aa2ea5a779a15|title=Gyllenhaal in bed with Biel for 'Nailed'|work=The Hollywood Reporter | first=Gregg|last=Goldstein}} Russell ceased working on the film in 2010;{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-o-russell-quits-long-25461|title=David O. Russell quits long-delayed 'Nailed'|author1=Alex Ben Block|author2=Kim Masters|date=July 13, 2010|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108213324/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-o-russell-quits-long-25461|archive-date=January 8, 2015}} it was retitled Accidental Love and was released on VOD on February 10, 2015, before a limited release on March 20, 2015 {{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/02/06/david-o-russell-film-you-were-never-supposed-see|title=The David O. Russell Film You Were Never Supposed to See|first=Jeff|last=Labrecque|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=February 6, 2015|access-date=February 10, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209074950/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/02/06/david-o-russell-film-you-were-never-supposed-see|archive-date=February 9, 2015}}

In 2010, Russell returned with The Fighter, a biographical sports drama produced by and starring Mark Wahlberg. The film focuses on junior welterweight boxer Mickey Ward's rise to claim the WBU Light Welterweight title, as well as his difficult relationship with his mother, Alice Ward (Melissa Leo), and his older half-brother Dickie Eklund (Christian Bale). The film became a major critical and financial success, grossing $125 million,{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fighter10.htm |title=Box Office Mojo: The Fighter |access-date=January 26, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628133908/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fighter10.htm |archive-date=June 28, 2010 }} and appearing on several critics' year-end top ten lists.{{cite web |url=http://moviecitynews.com/2011/01/the-top-tens-january-12-2011/ |title=The Top Tens: January 12, 2011 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117115804/http://moviecitynews.com/2011/01/the-top-tens-january-12-2011/ |archive-date=January 17, 2011 }} The Fighter also received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director for Russell, the first of his career,{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/83/nominees.html |title=Nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards |access-date=January 26, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110125153005/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/83/nominees.html |archive-date=January 25, 2011 }} and earned awards for both Bale and Leo, for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.

File:Jennifer Lawrence 2016 interview.jpg to three Academy Award nominations and a win for Silver Linings Playbook]]

Silver Linings Playbook was adapted from the serio-comic novel by Matthew Quick.{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/david-o-russell-to-direct-the-silver-linings-playbook/ |title=David O. Russell to Direct The Silver Linings Playbook |date=March 28, 2009 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208142854/http://www.slashfilm.com/david-o-russell-to-direct-the-silver-linings-playbook/ |archive-date=December 8, 2012 }} Bradley Cooper plays Pat and Robert De Niro, who starred with Cooper in Limitless, co-stars as his father. Jennifer Lawrence plays the lead female role of Tiffany. She commented about Russell, "He's really my favorite director since I started watching movies."{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-2012-jennifer-lawrence-hunger-games-silver-linings-playbook-368945 |title=Toronto 2012: New-Found Fame Stressing 'Hunger Games' Jennifer Lawrence |access-date=September 9, 2012 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Etan |last=Vlessing |date=September 9, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120909211408/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-2012-jennifer-lawrence-hunger-games-silver-linings-playbook-368945 |archive-date=September 9, 2012 }} The cast also includes Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker and the veteran Bollywood actor Anupam Kher.{{cite web |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/anupam-kher-teams-up-with-robert-de-niro/194699-8-66.html |title=Anupam Kher teams up with Robert De Niro |access-date=October 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227203254/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/anupam-kher-teams-up-with-robert-de-niro/194699-8-66.html |archive-date=December 27, 2013 }} The film was released in the United States and Canada on November 16, 2012.{{cite web |url=http://geektyrant.com/news/2010/12/8/anne-hathaway-to-star-in-david-o-russells-the-silver-lining.html |title=Anne Hathaway To Star In David O. Russell's THE SILVER LINING PLAYBOOK |date=December 8, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711094827/http://geektyrant.com/news/2010/12/8/anne-hathaway-to-star-in-david-o-russells-the-silver-lining.html |archive-date=July 11, 2012 }} The film received critical acclaim and was a financial success.{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/silver_linings_playbook|title= Silver Linings Playbook|website= Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate= June 14, 2024}}{{cite web|url= http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=silverliningsplaybook.htm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203508/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=silverliningsplaybook.htm|url-status= dead|archive-date= 2016-03-03|title= Silver Linings Playbook (2012)|website= Box Office Mojo|accessdate= June 14, 2024}}

Silver Linings Playbook is about a former teacher named Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper), who has bipolar disorder, and moves back in with his family. He is initially obsessive about reuniting with his spouse after having discovered her with a lover and assaulting the man; however, the story explores the development of his relationship with Tiffany Maxwell (Jennifer Lawrence). The film was inspired by Devereaux Glenholme School, a 12-month special education boarding school in Washington, CT. Russell's son is currently{{when|date=May 2022}} a student there, and Russell stated, "I was so familiar with the issues in the story that I knew how emotional and funny and original it could be. Without this community I would never have made this film."{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203897404578079010275638472|title=Big Bashes, Intimate Affairs |access-date=October 25, 2012 | work=The Wall Street Journal}}{{cite news| url=http://theglenholmeschool.org/news_highlights/david_o.htm| title=The Glenholme School News| access-date=December 5, 2012| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307042011/http://theglenholmeschool.org/news_highlights/david_o.htm| archive-date=March 7, 2013}}

Russell received the numerous awards including the Hollywood Director Award at the 16th annual Hollywood Film Awards and an Indie Impact Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival for his work on the film,{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/goldstandard/la-et-mn-david-o-russell-hollywood-film-awards-20120928,0,1189732.story |title=David O. Russell to be honored at Hollywood Film Awards |access-date=September 28, 2012 |work=Los Angeles Times |first=Susan |last=King |date=September 28, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005220208/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/goldstandard/la-et-mn-david-o-russell-hollywood-film-awards-20120928%2C0%2C1189732.story |archive-date=October 5, 2012 }}{{cite news|last=Sneider|first=Jeff|title=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/david-o-russell-lands-variety-s-indie-impact-award-1118064048/|work=Hyphenate to be feted at 10 Directors to Watch event in Palm Springs|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315022214/http://variety.com/2012/film/news/david-o-russell-lands-variety-s-indie-impact-award-1118064048/|archive-date=March 15, 2015}} as well as two Independent Spirit Awards (Best Director, Best Screenplay), two Satellite Awards (Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay), a British Academy Film Award (Adapted Screenplay), and the American Film Institute Award for Movie of the Year.{{cite web|title=Spirit Awards 2013|url=http://www.spiritawards.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109182028/http://www.spiritawards.com/|archive-date=January 9, 2015|access-date=January 9, 2015}}{{cite web|title=International Press Academy|url=http://www.pressacademy.com/award_cat/current-nominees/|work=2012 Winners|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106163109/http://www.pressacademy.com/award_cat/current-nominees/|archive-date=November 6, 2015}}{{cite web|title=BAFTA Film|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2013/film|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628203604/http://awards.bafta.org/award/2013/film|archive-date=June 28, 2015}}{{cite web|title=AFI Movies of the Year|url=http://www.afi.com/afiawards/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217040846/http://www.afi.com/afiawards/|archive-date=December 17, 2012}} Silver Linings Playbook won the People's Choice Award at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival and garnered four Golden Globe Award nominations (with one win for Jennifer Lawrence, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy) and eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director (Russell), Best Adapted Screenplay (Russell), Best Actor in a Leading Role (Bradley Cooper), Best Actress in a Leading Role (winner, Jennifer Lawrence), Best Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro), Best Supporting Actress (Jacki Weaver) and Best Film Editing (Jay Cassidy and Crispin Struthers).{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/awards/silver-linings-wins-toronto-s-people-s-choice-1118059320/ |title='Silver Linings' wins Toronto's People's Choice |access-date=September 16, 2012 |work=Variety |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917213442/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118059320/ |archive-date=September 17, 2012 }}{{cite web |last=The Oscars |title=2013 Oscar Nominees |url=http://oscar.go.com/nominees |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110035828/http://oscar.go.com/nominees |archive-date=January 10, 2013 }}

File:Introducing the Excellence in Mental Health Act (8454670932).jpg

Russell's next project was American Hustle (2013), a comedy based on the ABSCAM scandal of the 1970s. The film's plot revolved around skilled con artists Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) being forced to work for unhinged FBI Agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). Their complicated operation eventually involves Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) of Camden, New Jersey, as well as Irving's unpredictable wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence). The film reunited Russell with Bale and Adams after The Fighter, as well as with Cooper, Lawrence, and De Niro after Silver Linings Playbook.{{cite web|last1=Lemire|first1=Christy|title=American Hustle Movie Review & Film Summary (2013)|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/american-hustle-2013|website=Roger Ebert|access-date=July 31, 2016|date=December 13, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814144135/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/american-hustle-2013|archive-date=August 14, 2016}} Saïd Taghmaoui, the Iraqi captain from Three Kings, also makes an appearance. The film received seven Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture Comedy & Best Director for Russell, and three wins including Best Motion Picture Comedy, Best Actress for Amy Adams and Best Supporting Actress for Jennifer Lawrence.{{cite web|title=Winners & Nominees 2014|url=http://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/2014|website=Golden Globes|publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press Association|access-date=July 31, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623142920/http://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/2014|archive-date=June 23, 2016}} Additionally, the film received ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress,{{cite web|title=The 85th Academy Awards|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2013|website=Oscars|date=October 7, 2014 |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|access-date=July 31, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801231346/http://oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2013|archive-date=August 1, 2016}} along with a Screen Actors Guild Award win for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.{{cite web|title=The 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards|url=http://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/20th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards|website=Screen Actors Guild Awards|publisher=SAG-AFTRA|access-date=July 31, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121164642/http://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/20th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards|archive-date=January 21, 2014}}

In January 2014, it was announced that Russell would rewrite and direct a comedy-drama film about American inventor and entrepreneur Joy Mangano, a struggling Long Island single mother of three children. Jennifer Lawrence played the lead role in the film entitled Joy (2015).{{cite news|last1=Fleming |first1=Mike Jr.|title='American Hustle's David O Russell, Jennifer Lawrence Circle Joy Mangano Story At Fox 2000|url=https://deadline.com/2007/04/imitation-is-the-sincerest-form-of-flattery-2000/|access-date=June 7, 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=January 30, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607104834/http://www.deadline.com/2014/01/american-hustles-david-o-russell-jennifer-lawrence-circle-joy-mangano-story-at-fox-2000/|archive-date=June 7, 2014}} Principal photography began on February 17, 2015,{{cite news|last1=Ellison|first1=Megan|work=Twitter|title=Megan Ellison|url=https://twitter.com/meganeellison/status/567783625244934144|access-date=February 17, 2015|date=February 17, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305140225/https://twitter.com/meganeellison/status/567783625244934144|archive-date=March 5, 2016}} and the film, titled Joy, was released on December 25, 2015.{{cite news|last1=Busch|first1=Anita|title=David O. Russell's 'Joy' Gets Christmas 2015 Release Date|url=https://deadline.com/2014/06/david-o-russells-joy-gets-christmas-2015-release-date-741460/|access-date=June 7, 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=June 6, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608092817/http://www.deadline.com/2014/06/david-o-russells-joy-gets-christmas-2015-release-date/|archive-date=June 8, 2014}} The film received mixed to positive reviews, focusing mainly on the strong central performance by actor Jennifer Lawrence, Russell's direction, and the supporting performances by Diane Ladd, Robert De Niro, and others.{{cite web|title=Joy (2015)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/joy_2014/|website=Rotten Tomatoes|date=December 25, 2015 |access-date=July 31, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619021359/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/joy_2014/|archive-date=June 19, 2016}} Featured music in the film was a driving force behind the narrative, including a reworked a cappella version of Cream's "I Feel Free".{{cite web|title=Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard Covers Cream for "Joy" Soundtrack|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2015/12/13/alabama-shakes-brittany-howard-covers-cream-for-joy-soundtra.html|publisher=ABC News Radio|access-date=July 31, 2016|date=December 13, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917013141/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2015/12/13/alabama-shakes-brittany-howard-covers-cream-for-joy-soundtra.html|archive-date=September 17, 2016}} Strong box office greeted the film's first five days, with a $5900-per-screen average, and 25 million dollars in gross receipts, according to Box Office Mojo; it grossed a worldwide total of over $101 million.{{cite web|title=Joy (2015)|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=joy.htm|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=July 31, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160718044520/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=joy.htm|archive-date=July 18, 2016}} The film was nominated for 2 Golden Globe Awards, including Best Musical or Comedy, and Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for Jennifer Lawrence, which she won.{{cite web|title=Winners & Nominees 2016|url=http://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees|website=Golden Globes|publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press Association|access-date=July 31, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708174545/http://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees|archive-date=July 8, 2016}} Lawrence was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, the film's only Oscar nomination.{{cite web|title=The 88th Academy Awards|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2016|website=Oscars|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|access-date=July 31, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520195204/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2016|archive-date=May 20, 2016}}

Written and directed by Russell, Past Forward was a short film collaboration between the director and Prada. A clip of the film premiered in September 2016 at Milan Fashion Week, and premiered November 2016 in Los Angeles. In the short film, Russell uses three actors for the same roles including Kuoth Wiel, Freida Pinto and Allison Williams. The film has been described as a "surreal dreamscape with an eclectic cast replaying scenes in shifting combinations".{{cite web|last1=Calvario|first1=Liz|title=David O. Russell's Prada Short Film 'Past Forward' Is a Surreal Dreamscape – Watch|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/11/david-o-russell-prada-short-film-past-forward-allison-williams-1201747731/|website=IndieWire|date=November 17, 2016|access-date=November 23, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121150523/http://www.indiewire.com/2016/11/david-o-russell-prada-short-film-past-forward-allison-williams-1201747731/|archive-date=November 21, 2016}}

In January 2020, it was announced that Russell would be writing and directing Amsterdam, produced by Regency Enterprises. Russell teamed up with Christian Bale for the third time,{{Cite news |title=Christian Bale, David O. Russell in Talks to Team on New Regency Movie |first=Dave|last=McNary |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/christian-bale-david-o-russell-new-regency-movie-1203470136/ |work=Variety |date=January 16, 2020|access-date=February 12, 2020}} with Margot Robbie also joining the film.{{cite web |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=February 11, 2020 |title=Margot Robbie Joins Christian Bale in David O. Russell Drama |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/margot-robbie-joins-christian-bale-david-o-russell-drama-1278861 |newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=February 12, 2020}} In October 2020 it was announced that John David Washington had joined the cast of the film, with filming scheduled to begin in January 2021.{{Cite web|title=John David Washington Joins Margot Robbie in David O. Russell's Movie {{!}} Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-david-washington-joins-margot-robbie-in-david-o-russell|access-date=October 12, 2020|website=www.hollywoodreporter.com|date=October 10, 2020}} The same month that filming began, Rami Malek and Zoe Saldaña joined the cast.{{Cite web|last=N'Duka|first=Amanda|date=January 13, 2021|title=Rami Malek & Zoe Saldana Join David O. Russell New Regency Film|url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/rami-malek-zoe-saldana-david-o-russell-new-regency-1234672072/|access-date=January 14, 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} A trailer was released in July 2022, announcing the casting of Chris Rock, Anya Taylor-Joy, Mike Myers, Michael Shannon, Andrea Riseborough, Matthias Schoenaerts, Alessandro Nivola, Taylor Swift, and Robert De Niro. The film received negative reviews{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/amsterdam_2022|title= Amsterdam (2022)|website= Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate= June 14, 2024}} with Manohla Dargis of The New York Times writing, "Throughout, Russell keeps going and moving, moving and going, but the momentum never builds the way it should, and the big reveal lands flat partly because he never seems taken with the history he's latched onto or comfortable with its heaviness".{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/06/movies/amsterdam-review-christian-bale.html|title= 'Amsterdam' Review: A Madcap Mystery With Many Whirring Parts|work= The New York Times|date= October 6, 2022|accessdate= June 14, 2024|last1= Dargis|first1= Manohla}} The film was a box-office bomb, with estimated losses for the studio of over $100 million.{{cite web|url= https://deadline.com/2022/10/amsterdam-box-office-flop-david-o-russell-movie-1235140204/|title= 'Amsterdam' Stands To Lose Nearly $100 Million: What This Means For Upscale Movies|website= Deadline Hollywood|date= October 10, 2022|accessdate= June 14, 2024}}

It was announced in May 2023 that Will Ferrell had entered early negotiations to star as football legend John Madden in the film biopic Madden, with Russell set to direct from a screenplay by Cambron Clark.{{cite web |last1=Grobar |first1=Matt |title=Will Ferrell Circling John Madden Role In Amazon/MGM's Madden With David O. Russell On Board To Direct – The Dish |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/madden-will-ferrell-david-o-russell-team-for-amazon-mgm-movie-1235381096/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=26 May 2023 |date=May 26, 2023}} In August the following year, the part was recast for Nicolas Cage.[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/nicolas-cage-to-play-john-madden-1235976155/ Nicolas Cage to Play John Madden in David O. Russell-Directed Biopic]

{{Main|David O. Russell's unrealized projects}}

David O. Russell was on the board of Ghetto Film School (GFS), an organization founded in 2000 to educate American storytellers.{{cite magazine |url=http://hauteliving.com/2016/02/haute-living-dr-chiu-david-o-russell-celebrate-the-oscars/602868/ |title=Haute Living, Dr. Chiu & David O. Russell Celebrate the Oscars |magazine=Haute Living |access-date=May 17, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229081131/http://hauteliving.com/2016/02/haute-living-dr-chiu-david-o-russell-celebrate-the-oscars/602868/ |archive-date=February 29, 2016 }} Russell learned about GFS in 2002 from two students who introduced him to Joe Hall, president of Ghetto Film School.{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-hall/ea-hanks-q-a-with-joe-hal_b_69050.html |title=E.A. Hanks: Q & A With Joe Hall Of Ghetto Film School |access-date=October 19, 2007 |work=The Huffington Post |date=October 19, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212063957/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-hall/ea-hanks-q-a-with-joe-hal_b_69050.html |archive-date=December 12, 2013 }}{{cite magazine |url=http://hauteliving.com/2016/01/one-on-one-with-david-o-russell/597929/ |title=One-on-One with David O. Russell |magazine=Haute Living |access-date=May 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803111615/http://hauteliving.com/2016/01/one-on-one-with-david-o-russell/597929/ |archive-date=August 3, 2016 }} Shortly after, Russell joined the board of the organization.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-ghetto-film-school-debuts-in-la-david-o-russell-on-board-of-directors-20140616-story.html |title=Ghetto Film School debuts in L.A., David O. Russell on board of directors |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=May 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606001125/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-ghetto-film-school-debuts-in-la-david-o-russell-on-board-of-directors-20140616-story.html |archive-date=June 6, 2016 }} Along with fellow board members, Russell brought filmmaker friends, industry and movie studio professionals to donate money and lend their time teaching classes to support young black and Latino filmmakers from the South Bronx and Harlem.{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/film-school-set-for-bronx-1118002359/ |title=Film school set for Bronx |access-date=April 12, 2009 |work=Variety |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108113112/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002359?refCatId=13 |archive-date=November 8, 2012 }}

On June 16, 2014, Ghetto Film School opened its new branch in Los Angeles.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-ghetto-film-school-debuts-in-la-david-o-russell-on-board-of-directors-20140616-story.html |title=Ghetto Film School debuts in L.A., David O. Russell on board of directors |access-date=June 16, 2014 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 16, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618024643/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-ghetto-film-school-debuts-in-la-david-o-russell-on-board-of-directors-20140616-story.html |archive-date=June 18, 2014 }} This was thanks in part to Russell with an assist from 21st Century Fox co-COO James Murdoch. In October 2015, Russell and Jim Gianopulos hosted the premiere of Ghetto Film School Los Angeles fellows' thesis film Demon's Gate.{{cite web|last1=Lenker|first1=Margaret|title=David O. Russell and Jim Gianopulos Host Ghetto Film School's Thesis Premiere|url=https://variety.com/2015/scene/vpage/david-o-russell-ghetto-film-school-thesis-demons-gate-1201627588/|website=Variety|date=October 27, 2015|access-date=April 14, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424013743/http://variety.com/2015/scene/vpage/david-o-russell-ghetto-film-school-thesis-demons-gate-1201627588/|archive-date=April 24, 2016}}

Editor Jay Cassidy worked with Russell on Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, Joy, and Amsterdam. Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten also edited several films for Russell.{{cite web|last1=Fleming |first1=Mike Jr.|title=Deadline's The Contenders: Film Editors Of 'Joy' Talk The Art Of Collaboration With David O. Russell|url=https://deadline.com/2015/12/joy-movie-editors-jay-cassidy-alan-baumgarten-oscar-contenders-1201671699/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=July 31, 2016|date=December 23, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122121324/http://deadline.com/2015/12/joy-movie-editors-jay-cassidy-alan-baumgarten-oscar-contenders-1201671699/|archive-date=January 22, 2016}} Producers Dean Silvers, Megan Ellison, and Jonathan Gordon have worked with him two and three times, respectively.{{cite web|title=Dean Silvers|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/dean-silvers-p111498|website=AllMovie|access-date=September 4, 2021}}{{cite web|title=Jonathan Gordon|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/jonathan-gordon-p27797|website=AllMovie|access-date=July 31, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219103216/http://www.allmovie.com/artist/jonathan-gordon-p27797|archive-date=February 19, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Megan Ellison|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/megan-ellison-p671473|website=AllMovie|access-date=July 31, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219102711/http://www.allmovie.com/artist/megan-ellison-p671473|archive-date=February 19, 2017}} Linus Sandgren was cinematographer for American Hustle and Joy.{{cite web|last1=Knight|first1=Chris|title=Joy review: A broken roller coaster|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/arts/movies/joy-review-a-broken-roller-coaster|website=National Post|access-date=July 31, 2016|date=December 23, 2015}}

Russell was married to Janet Grillo, who was a producer at Fine Line Features, from 1992 to 2007. He has been with his partner, Holly Davis, since 2007.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/american-hustle-director-david-o-676880 |title=The Wild Imagination of David O. Russell: 'I'm an ADD Guy' |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |date=February 5, 2014 |first=Stephen |last=Galloway |access-date=October 30, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122100237/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/american-hustle-director-david-o-676880 |archive-date=January 22, 2015 }} Davis is a costume designer. Russell has two children: one with Grillo and an adopted son with Davis.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/12/10/inside-the-last-days-of-american-hustle/3920519/ |work=USA Today |title=Exclusive: Inside the last days of 'American Hustle' |date=December 11, 2013 |first=Andrea |last=Mandell |access-date=October 30, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007094613/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/12/10/inside-the-last-days-of-american-hustle/3920519/ |archive-date=October 7, 2014 }} He resides in Santa Monica, California.{{cite web |url=http://www.filmcomment.com/entry/interview-david-o.-russell-american-hustle |title=Interview: David O. Russell |publisher=filmcomment.com |date=February 14, 2014 |first=Scott |last=Foundas |access-date=October 31, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031084822/http://www.filmcomment.com/entry/interview-david-o.-russell-american-hustle |archive-date=October 31, 2014 }}

He is an advocate for mental illness treatment and support, and an active supporter of autism research. Russell's efforts saw him named the Essential Puzzle Piece honoree by the Light Up the Night Gala for Autism.{{cite web|last1=Goldstein|first1=Meredith|title=Director David O. Russell honored at Light Up the Night gala|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2015/03/29/director-david-russell-honored-light-night-gala/t7YCMZrWrlxA6qSuLaNKML/story.html|website=Boston Globe|access-date=June 12, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705073441/https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2015/03/29/director-david-russell-honored-light-night-gala/t7YCMZrWrlxA6qSuLaNKML/story.html|archive-date=July 5, 2015}} In 2013, Russell visited Washington, D.C., to meet with vice president Joe Biden and Sen. Debbie Stabenow to discuss a new bill regarding mental healthcare.{{cite web|last1=Zakarin|first1=Jordan|title=Bradley Cooper, David O. Russell Introduce Legislation to Congress, Meet With Biden|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bradley-cooper-david-o-russell-419621|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 8, 2013|access-date=June 16, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223170357/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bradley-cooper-david-o-russell-419621|archive-date=February 23, 2015}} In May 2014, Russell participated in a panel at Paley Center for the Media that discussed projects that have brought to light the stigmas and suffering associated with mental illness.{{cite web|last1=Cheney|first1=Alexandra|title=David O. Russell, Brian Grazer on Tackling Stigma of Mental Illness|url=https://variety.com/2014/biz/lifestyle/david-o-russell-brian-grazer-mental-illness-1201175613/|website=Variety|date=May 8, 2014|access-date=June 16, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709112323/http://variety.com/2014/biz/lifestyle/david-o-russell-brian-grazer-mental-illness-1201175613/|archive-date=July 9, 2015}} Russell serves on the creative council of Represent.Us, a nonpartisan anti-corruption organization.{{Cite news|url=https://represent.us/about/|title=About {{!}} Represent.Us|newspaper=End corruption. Defend the Republic.|language=en-US|access-date=November 1, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023054916/https://represent.us/about/|archive-date=October 23, 2016}}

In December 2011, Russell's 19-year-old transgender niece, Nicole Peloquin, filed a police report alleging Russell had sexually assaulted her.{{Cite web |last=Jackman |first=Josh |date=October 25, 2017 |title=American Hustle director David O. Russell 'groped his transgender niece' |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/10/25/joy-and-american-hustle-director-david-o-russell-groped-his-transgender-teenage-niece/ |access-date=September 21, 2022|website=PinkNews |language=en-GB}} The case was closed without any charges being filed because the alleged assault had no witnesses.{{Cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-zap-ent-david-russell-groping-story.html |title=David O. Russell won't face charges for groping transgender niece |date=January 7, 2012 |agency=Zap2It |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=October 20, 2017 |language=en-US}} According to the police report, Russell offered to help Peloquin with abdominal exercises, during which his hand hovered above her genitals. After inquiring about the hormones she used to increase breast size, Russell slipped his hands under her shirt and felt both breasts.

Russell confirmed that the incident happened, but told police that Peloquin was "acting very provocative toward him" and invited him to feel her breasts. He also admitted to being "curious about the breast enhancement." This incident was also directly mentioned in the 2014 Sony Pictures hack.{{Cite news |title = Exclusive: Sony Emails Blast David O. Russell for Allegedly 'Feeling Up' Transgender Niece |last1 = Boot |first1 = William |work = The Daily Beast |date = December 14, 2014 |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/exclusive-sony-emails-blast-david-o-russell-for-allegedly-feeling-up-transgender-niece}}

Over the years, Russell has been combative and abusive towards actors in his films, including George Clooney, Lily Tomlin, and Amy Adams.{{cite web|url= https://consequence.net/2021/06/david-o-russell-controversies-timeline/#:~:text=George%20Clooney%20detailed%20his%20own,on%20set%20led%20to%20a|title= A Timeline of David O. Russell's Biggest Controversies|website= Consequence Film|date= June 2, 2021|accessdate= July 6, 2022}} His reputation extends off-set, as Russell physically assaulted Christopher Nolan in 2003 at a party in Hollywood, where he put Nolan in a headlock.{{cite news |title=The Nudist Buddhist Borderline Abusive Love-In |date=September 19, 2004 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/19/movies/the-nudist-buddhist-borderlineabusive-lovein.html |access-date=July 7, 2022 |url-access=subscription}}{{Cite web |last=Zhan |first=Jennifer |date=September 28, 2022 |title=A Timeline of the Allegations Against Amsterdam Director David O. Russell |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/09/david-o-russell-abuse-assault-allegations-timeline.html |access-date=September 29, 2022 |website=Vulture |url-access=subscription}}

During filming, news spread of Russell and George Clooney nearly having a fistfight on the set of Three Kings. In a 2000 interview, Clooney described his confrontation with Russell after tensions on the set had been steadily increasing. According to Clooney, Russell was demeaning the crew verbally and physically. Clooney felt this was out of line and told Russell, "David, it's a big day. But you can't shove, push or humiliate people who aren't allowed to defend themselves." After that, the confrontation escalated when, according to Sharon Waxman in her book, Rebels on the Backlot, Russell actually head-butted Clooney{{cite book |last1=Waxman |first1=Sharon |title=Rebels on the Backlot: Six Maverick Directors and How They Conquered the Hollywood Studio System |quote=At that point Russell head-butted Clooney. |date=19 February 2013 |publisher=Harper Collins |isbn=978-0-06-228750-2 }} and Clooney grabbed Russell by the throat. Clooney said Russell eventually apologized and filming continued, but Clooney described the incident as "truly, without exception, the worst experience of my life." When asked if he would work with Russell again, Clooney responded, "Life's too short."

• {{cite magazine |last1=Weinraub |first1=Bernard |title=George Clooney Playboy Interview |url=http://www.playboy.com/articles/george-clooney-playboy-interview/index.html |access-date=20 September 2022 |magazine=Playboy |date=July 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815053436/http://www.playboy.com/articles/george-clooney-playboy-interview/index.html |archive-date=2010-08-15 |page=1}}
• {{cite magazine |last1=Weinraub |first1=Bernard |title=George Clooney Playboy Interview |url=http://www.playboy.com/articles/george-clooney-playboy-interview/index.html?page=2 |access-date=20 September 2022 |magazine=Playboy |date=July 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819121029/http://www.playboy.com/articles/george-clooney-playboy-interview/index.html?page=2 |archive-date=2010-08-19 |page=2}}

In early 2012, Clooney indicated that he and Russell had mended their relationship, saying "We made a really, really great film, and we had a really rough time together, but it's a case of both of us getting older. I really do appreciate the work he continues to do, and I think he appreciates what I'm trying to do."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/george-clooney-oscars-brad-pitt-stacy-keibler-descendants-290691|title=George Clooney: The Private Life of a Superstar|date=February 15, 2012|access-date=February 15, 2012|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Stephen|last=Galloway|authorlink=Stephen Galloway|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217233931/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/george-clooney-oscars-brad-pitt-stacy-keibler-descendants-290691|archive-date=February 17, 2012}} However, in August 2024 Clooney stated that he wouldn't work with someone like Russell again.{{cite news |last1=Sharf |first1=Zack |title=George Clooney Can't Work With a 'Miserable F— Like David O. Russell' Who Made 'Life Hell' Just to Make Great Art: 'It's Not Worth It at This Point in My Life' |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/george-clooney-david-o-russell-miserable-made-life-hell-1236105165/ |access-date=10 December 2024 |work=Variety |date=13 August 2024}}

Russell had conflicts with Lily Tomlin during the filming of I Heart Huckabees, and in March 2007, two videos were leaked onto YouTube portraying on-set arguments between Russell and Tomlin, in which among other things he called her sexist names.{{cite web|title=What a Character. She's had her brush with online infamy. Now Lily Tomlin is ready to make you laugh again|first=Frank|last=Houston|date=April 12, 2007|url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2007-04-12/culture/what-a-character/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201124710/http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2007-04-12/culture/what-a-character/|archive-date=December 1, 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMVILMo1Cq0|title=Lily Tomlin Fights With Director|publisher=YouTube|access-date=July 24, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023012519/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMVILMo1Cq0|archive-date=October 23, 2013}}{{cite web|last1=Morfoot|first1=Addie|title=Oh, Russell Roasted!|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/oh-russell-roasted-1118062820/|website=Variety|date=November 29, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708015303/http://variety.com/2012/film/news/oh-russell-roasted-1118062820/|archive-date=July 8, 2016}}

Russell’s behavior was first reported in a 2004 The New York Times article{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/19/movies/19WAXM.html |title=The Nudist Buddhist Borderline-Abusive Love-In |date=September 19, 2004 |newspaper=The New York Times |author-link=Sharon Waxman |author=Waxman, Sharon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709054922/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/19/movies/19WAXM.html |archive-date=July 9, 2015}} by Sharon Waxman in which she describes him calling Tomlin "the crudest word imaginable, in front of the actors and crew." Additionally Waxman describes Russell storming off the set and back on again, continually shouting, which is corroborated by the leaked videos. On the set, actors were sometimes driven to their wits' ends after hours of takes. Afterward, Tomlin remarked that she and Russell are "fine", saying, "I'd rather have someone human and available and raw and open. Don't give me someone cold, or cut off, or someone who considers themselves dignified."

In a 2011 interview with Movieline, Tomlin was asked about the incident and she replied:

It happens sometimes—but David is a very mercurial person, and that's part of why he's so brilliant. He almost reflects the movie. I did two movies with him, and I Heart Huckabees was so crazy, so all over the place, I think he kind of embodies intuitively whatever he's trying to make happen. It was just crazy, crazy stuff. We were always doing something, and then we'd get manic and crazy and I just flipped out on him. Then he flipped out on me. And you know, stuff goes on. But it's nothing. It's like family. If you have a big fight in your family, usually it's treated that way on the set. We don't want to misbehave; believe me, it's embarrassing. It's humiliating, you know? Because you just lose it. You act like a crazy person. [Laughs] But I adore David. I adore him as a talent. A lot of my friends said, "Well, you won't work with him again." I said, "Of course I would! I adore him, I love him. He's brilliant."{{cite web |first=Jen|last=Yamoto|url=http://movieline.com/2011/11/03/a-lifetime-of-achievement/2/ |title=Lily Tomlin on Robert Altman, David O. Russell and a Lifetime of Achievement |website=Movieline |date=November 3, 2011 |access-date=November 3, 2011|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420173003/http://movieline.com/2011/11/03/a-lifetime-of-achievement/2/ |archive-date=April 20, 2012}}

During the 2012 Gotham Awards, host Mike Birbiglia roasted Russell by reading a transcript of Russell's argument with Lily Tomlin.{{cite news |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |date=November 27, 2012 |title=David O. Russell's Lily Tomlin Rant Came Back to Haunt Him at the Gotham Awards |url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/11/david-o-russell-got-roasted-at-the-gothams.html |work=Vulture |access-date=June 18, 2019 |quote=Host Mike Birbiglia shocked and delighted the audience with his opening monologue at the IFP Gotham Awards Monday night when it slowly became apparent that he was reciting honoree-of-the-evening David O. Russell's notorious tirade against Lily Tomlin from the set of I Heart Huckabees.}}{{cite news |last=Zakarin |first=Jordan |date=November 27, 2012 |title=David O. Russell Explains His Legacy and Reacts to a Very Risque Joke |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-o-russell-mike-birbiglias-394443 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=June 18, 2019 |quote=During his opening monologue…Mike Birbiglia sarcastically likened the rant to a famous quote by Elia Kazan ('A film director has to get a shot, no matter what he does') and then recited [Russell's confrontation with Lily Tomlin], without omission of [expletives].}}{{cite news |last1=Morfoot |first1=Addie |title=Oh, Russell Roasted! |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/oh-russell-roasted-1118062820/ |work=Variety |date=November 29, 2012 |language=en|access-date=September 13, 2020}} The event, specifically the joke and what transpired around it, later formed a large part of Birbiglia's show, Thank God for Jokes.{{cite magazine |last=Schulman |first=Michael |date=January 28, 2016 |title=Mike Birbiglia's 'Thank God for Jokes' |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/02/08/punch-lines-can-mike-birbiglia-go-too-far |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=June 18, 2019 |quote=In 'Thank God for Jokes,' he recounts the kerfuffle that ensued when he hosted the 2012 Gotham Awards and roasted David O. Russell, who was one of the honorees.}}{{cite news |last1=Seligson |first1=Jason |title=Thank God for Mike Birbiglia's 'Thank God For Jokes' |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/03/thank-god-for-mike-birbiglias-thank-god-for-jokes.html |access-date=September 13, 2020 |work=Vulture |date=March 6, 2017 |language=en-us}}{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=Sean |title=Mike Birbiglia's "Thank God For Jokes" On Netflix Is Too Endearing To Offend |url=https://decider.com/2017/02/28/mike-birbiglia-thank-god-for-jokes-netflix/ |access-date=September 13, 2020 |work=Decider |date=February 28, 2017}}

According to Salon, in the Sony Pictures Entertainment hack, it was revealed that Russell made Amy Adams' life "a living hell" during the production of American Hustle, and Christian Bale at one point intervened. Salon reported that, in an email to Sony chief Michael Lynton, journalist Jonathan Alter said: "He grabbed one guy by the collar, cursed out people repeatedly in front of others and so abused Amy Adams that Christian Bale got in his face and told him to stop acting like an asshole."

Adams confirmed the story in a 2016 British GQ interview stating, "He was hard on me, that's for sure. It was a lot ... I was really just devastated on set". She also added she wouldn't want to work with the director again.{{cite web|url= https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/amy-adams-arrival-nocturnal-animals-tom-ford|title= Amy Adams: David O Russell made me cry every day on American Hustle|last=McGurk |first=Stuart |website= GQ|date= October 7, 2016|accessdate= July 6, 2022}} Adams also explained, "Jennifer [Lawrence] doesn't take any of it on. She's Teflon. And I am not Teflon. But I also don't like to see other people treated badly. It's not OK with me."{{Cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2016/03/14/david_o_russell_made_amy_adams_life_a_living_hell_5_sadistic_male_directors_who_treat_their_actors_like_garbage/|title=David O. Russell made Amy Adams' life a living hell: 5 sadistic male directors who treat their actors like garbage|last=Lang|first=Nico|website=Salon|date=March 15, 2016|access-date=March 16, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315144041/http://www.salon.com/2016/03/14/david_o_russell_made_amy_adams_life_a_living_hell_5_sadistic_male_directors_who_treat_their_actors_like_garbage/|archive-date=March 15, 2016}}

{{main|List of awards and nominations received by David O. Russell}}

Over the course of his career he has received numerous accolades including two British Academy Film Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and four Independent Spirit Awards as well as nominations for five Academy Awards and two Directors Guild of America Awards.

Under Russell's direction, these actors have received Academy Award nominations (and wins) for their performances in their respective roles.

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Category:1958 births

Category:American male screenwriters

Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent

Category:American writers of Italian descent

Category:Amherst College alumni

Category:Best Adapted Screenplay BAFTA Award winners

Category:Best Director AACTA International Award winners

Category:Best Original Screenplay BAFTA Award winners

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Category:Film directors from New York City

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Category:Independent Spirit Award winners

Category:Independent Spirit Award for Best Director winners

Category:Living people

Category:People from Larchmont, New York

Category:Writers from Manhattan

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Category:LGBTQ-related scandals

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Category:Obscenity controversies in film

Category:Jewish American film people