David R. Ellis
{{short description|American film director (1952–2013)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = David R. Ellis
| image = David R. Ellis.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Ellis at the premiere of Snakes on a Plane in 2006
| birth_name = David Richard Ellis
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1952|9|8}}
| birth_place = Santa Monica, California, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|1|7|1952|9|8}}
| death_place = Johannesburg, South Africa
| occupation = Film director, second unit director, stuntman
| years_active = 1975–2013
| spouse =
| partner =
| cause of death = unknown
}}
David Richard Ellis (September 8, 1952 – January 7, 2013) was an American film director and stunt performer born in Santa Monica, California, in 1952. His credits included dozens of films and television series including National Lampoon's Vacation, Baywatch, Lethal Weapon, and Patriot Games.[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0254786/bio/ Biography David R. Ellis] imdb.Retrieved on August 9, 2023
He also served as second unit director on blockbuster action films like Waterworld, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Matrix Reloaded, and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. His feature directorial credits included the action thriller Snakes on a Plane and two entries in the Final Destination film series.
On January 7, 2013, Ellis was found dead in his hotel room in Johannesburg, South Africa. The cause of his death remains unknown.
Career
Following a successful career as a junior pro surfer, David Richard Ellis began his career in the film industry as a supporting actor in juvenile roles making his big screen debut in 1975 in the Kurt Russell film The Strongest Man in the World. In 1978, he received a promotion to stunt coordinator on The Invasion of the Body Snatchers. After several successful years in this position, he worked from 1986 onwards as a second unit director before making his debut as a director in the Disney live-action film Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco. He is best known for directing two of the Final Destination films and the 2006 film Snakes on a Plane, which became an Internet phenomenon.{{cite news |title=David R Ellis obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jan/09/david-r-ellis |work=The Guardian |access-date=19 January 2013 |location=London |first=Ryan |last=Gilbey |date=9 January 2013}}{{cite news|work=The New York Times|first=Manohla|last=Dargis|date=2006-08-19|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2006/08/19/movies/19snak.html?_r=0|title=Snakes on a Plane}}
As a stunt man he was best known for his work in the movie Scarface. Other notable works as a stunt man include Fatal Attraction, Lethal Weapon, the television series Baywatch, and Patriot Games. As a second unit director he worked on a number of well-known movies that include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Matrix Reloaded, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, and Cop Out. At the time of his death, two works involving Ellis were still in post-production: 47 Ronin and R.I.P.D. while another, Winter's Tale, was still being filmed. R.I.P.D. was released in July 2013, 47 Ronin was released in December of that year, and Winter's Tale was released in February 2014.
He was perhaps best known as a director with seven titles under his belt. Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco, Final Destination 2, Cellular, Snakes on a Plane, Asylum, The Final Destination, and Shark Night. At the time of his death, he was in pre-production for a live-action version of the violent anime Kite.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/david-r-ellis-dead-at-409382 |title=David R. Ellis, Director of 'Snakes on a Plane,' Dies at 60 |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=January 7, 2013 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2013/01/r-i-p-david-r-ellis-398302/ |title=R.I.P David R. Ellis |author=The Deadline Team |date=January 7, 2013 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} Ralph Ziman became the film's director.
Ellis was nominated for the Taurus Award along with Glenn Boswell and R. A. Rondell in 2003 for his stunt coordination work on The Matrix Reloaded.{{cite web |url=http://www.taurusworldstuntawards.com/index.php?id=126 |title=Best Stunt Coordinator and/or 2nd Unit Director |website=2004 World Stunt Awards |date=22 December 2022 |publisher=Taurus World Stunt Awards}} Ellis was a member and served as vice president for an elite stunt performance organization known as Stunts Unlimited located in Sherman Oaks, California.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-16-fi-1852-story.html |title=Southern California Job Market : For Some, Danger Is All in a Day's Work |last=Karlin |first=Susan |date=September 16, 1991 |location=California |work=Los Angeles Times}}{{cite web |url=http://www.stuntsunlimited.com/stunts/a-dear-friend-and-former-member-david-ellis-has-passed/ |title=A dear friend, and former member, David Ellis has passed |date=January 8, 2013 |location=California |publisher=Stunts Unlimited}}
Personal life
David R. Ellis was the father of producer Tawny, photographer Cheyenne Ellis, and UC Irvine English Instructor, Tagert Ellis. He was the son of Richard and Andrea Ellis, the grandfather to Kodiak and Ridge Ellis, as well as the brother of Annie, Lori, and Chenoa Ellis. He is survived by his widow Cindy.
When Ellis was once about to be carjacked, trapped between two other cars, he used his stunt-driving prowess to whip his car out of the tiny gap and face the carjackers, revving his engine, scaring them enough to get back into their cars and drive away.[http://smodcast.com/episodes/111-2/ Smodcast.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131083818/http://smodcast.com/episodes/111-2/ |date=2013-01-31 }}
Death
On January 7, 2013, Ellis's body was found in the bathroom of his hotel room{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20662856,00.html |title=Snakes on a Plane Director David R. Ellis Found Dead |last=Silverman |first=Stephen M. |date=January 9, 2013 |publisher=People Magazine |access-date=19 January 2013 |archive-date=14 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114121741/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C20662856%2C00.html |url-status=dead }} in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was preparing to direct Kite at the time. No cause of death has been released; police say no foul play was suspected.{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/snakes-plane-director-david-r-ellis-dies |title='Snakes on a Plane' director David R. Ellis dies |last=Lang |first=Derrik J. |date=January 7, 2013 |publisher=Associated Press - The Big Story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111184400/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/snakes-plane-director-david-r-ellis-dies |archive-date=2013-01-11 }}
Filmography
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2018}}
=Director=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Film ! Budget ! Worldwide gross |
| 1996
| Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco | |
| 2003
| $26,000,000 |
| 2004
| Cellular | $25,000,000 |
| 2006
| $33,000,000 |
| 2008
| Asylum | $11,000,000 | Direct-to-video |
| 2009
| $40,000,000 |
| 2011
| $28,000,000 |
=Second unit director=
==Film==
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Project ! Director ! Notes |
| 1986
| Condor | Virgil W. Vogel | as David Ellis |
| 1987
| uncredited |
| 1989
| Warlock | |
| 1990
| |
| 1991
| uncredited |
| rowspan="5" | 1992
| Kuffs | as David Ellis |
| Thunderheart
| as David Richard Ellis |
| Patriot Games
| |
| Whispers in the Dark
| |
| Forever Young
| Steve Miner | |
| rowspan="4" | 1993
| Uli Edel | |
| Sliver
| Philip Noyce | |
| Made in America
| |
| Beethoven's 2nd
| |
| rowspan="5" | 1994
| |
| My Father the Hero
| Steve Miner | as David Ellis |
| Blank Check
| |
| Clear and Present Danger
| Philip Noyce | |
| The Jungle Book
| |
| 1995
| |
| 1997
| Dublin - as David Ellis |
| rowspan="5" | 1998
| |
| Sphere
| as David Ellis |
| The Negotiator
| Los Angeles - as David Ellis |
| Holy Man
| |
| Soldier
| rowspan="3" | as David Ellis |
| rowspan="3" | 1999 |
| Ride with the Devil
| Ang Lee |
| Blue Streak
| |
| rowspan="2" | 2000
| The Kid | |
| The Perfect Storm
| |
| rowspan="4" | 2001
| rowspan="4" | as David Ellis |
| Just Visiting |
| Rock Star |
| Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone |
| rowspan="2" | 2003
| The Matrix Reloaded{{cite book|last1=Gregory|first1=Mollie|title=Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story|date=19 November 2015|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|isbn=9780813166230|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eUqxCgAAQBAJ&q=Tawny+Ellis+matrix+reloaded&pg=PT336|access-date=27 February 2016|quote=David Ellis was second-unit director}} | USA - as David Ellis |
| Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
| |
| 2010
| Cop Out | |
| rowspan="2" | 2013
| R.I.P.D. | rowspan="2" | Posthumous release |
| 47 Ronin |
| 2014
| as David Ellis; posthumous release; final film |
==Television==
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Project ! Episode ! Notes |
| 1989
| rowspan="2" | Baywatch | {{unbulleted list|"Rookie School"|"The Reunion"}} | rowspan="2" | as David Ellis |
| 1990
| {{unbulleted list|"We Need a Vacation"|"Muddy Waters"}} |
=Actor=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Film ! Role ! Notes |
| 1975
| The Strongest Man in the World | David (Student) | |
| 1977
| Heroes | Bar Patron #1 | |
| rowspan="2" | 1978
| Ludwig | TV Series |
| Flying High
| Quarterback | TV Series |
| 1979
| Bath attendant | |
| 1982
| Opponent #7 | |
| 1987
| Anna | Daniel's Father | |
| 1988
| Lester Bradley | TV Series |
| rowspan="2" | 1989
| Jersey | |
| Blind Fury
| Ski Lodge Killer #3 | |
| 1990
| The Bounty Hunter | Townsperson | (final film role) |
=Stunts=
==Film==
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Film ! Director ! Role |
| rowspan="2" | 1976
| uncredited |
| Bound for Glory
| as David Ellis |
| 1977
| uncredited |
| rowspan="5" | 1978
| rowspan="2" | motorcycle stunts - as David Ellis |
| Deathsport |
| Hot Lead and Cold Feet
| as David Ellis |
| Hopper
| Hal Needham | |
| Invasion of the Body Snatchers
| Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis |
| 1979
| Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider | motorcycle stunts - as David Ellis |
| rowspan="2" | 1980
| Carny | Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis |
| Smokey and the Bandit II
| Hal Needham | as David Ellis |
| rowspan="8" | 1981
| rowspan="2" | Stunt Coordinator |
| King of the Mountain
| Noel Nosseck |
| Take This Job and Shove It
| as David Ellis |
| Nice Dreams
| Stunt Double for Tommy Chong - as David Ellis |
| S.O.B.
| as David Ellis |
| Return of the Rebels
| Noel Nosseck | Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis |
| Taps
| rowspan="6" | as David Ellis |
| Sharky's Machine |
| rowspan="5" | 1982
| Hal Needham |
| The Beastmaster |
| Fast Times at Ridgemont High |
| Lookin' to Get Out
| Hal Ashby |
| Airplane II: The Sequel
| Ken Finkleman | Stunt Coordinator |
| rowspan="5" | 1983
| Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis |
| Private School
| |
| National Lampoon's Vacation
| rowspan="2" | as David Ellis |
| Scarface |
| Gorky Park
| Michael Apted | Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis |
| 1984
| Fooling Around | Richard T. Heffron | |
| 1985
| |
| rowspan="3" | 1986
| |
| A Fine Mess
| Blake Edwards | rowspan="2" | as David Ellis |
| The Wraith
| Mike Marvin |
| rowspan="5" | 1987
| Michael Apted | Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis |
| Lethal Weapon
| as David Ellis |
| Burglar
| rowspan="2" | Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis |
| Fatal Attraction
| Adrian Lyne |
| Real Men
| as David Ellis |
| 1988
| |
| rowspan="8" | 1989
| rowspan="3" | as David Ellis |
| Dead Bang |
| She's Out of Control |
| Warlock
| Steve Miner | Stunt Coordinator |
| Road House
| as David Ellis |
| Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
| as David Richard Ellis |
| Tennessee Waltz
| Nicolas Gessner | Fight Coordinator - as David Richard Ellis |
| Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge
| Richard Friedman | as David Ellis |
| rowspan="8" | 1990
| rowspan="2" | Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis |
| The Last of the Finest
| John MacKanzie |
| Catchfire
| |
| Impulse
| Stunt Coordinator |
| Days of Thunder
| rowspan="2" | as David Ellis |
| Ghost Dad |
| The Freshman
| Stunt Coordinator |
| Misery
| Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis |
| rowspan="3" | 1991
| Mel Brooks | Stunt Coordinator - as David Richard Ellis |
| Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken
| Steve Miner | Stunt Coordinator |
| The Addams Family
| rowspan="2" | Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis |
| rowspan="3" | 1992
| Kuffs | Bruce A. Evans |
| Patriot Games
| Philip Noyce | Stunt Coordinator |
| Forever Young
| Steve Miner | rowspan="3" | Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis |
| rowspan="5" | 1993
| Uli Edel |
| Sliver
| Philip Noyce |
| Made in America
| Richard Benjamin | Stunt Coordinator |
| The Man Without a Face
| Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis |
| Warlock: The Armageddon
| as David Ellis |
| 1994
| Stephen Sommers | Stunt Coordinator: USA - as David Ellis |
| 1996
| as Dave Ellis |
| 2009
| as David Richard Ellis |
==Television==
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Film ! Episode ! Role |
| rowspan="2" | 1984
| {{unbulleted list|Part One|Part Two|Part Three}} | rowspan="4" | Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis |
| V
| |
| 1989
| rowspan="2" | Baywatch | {{unbulleted list|In Deep|Heat Wave|Second Wave|Message in a Bottle|The Sky Is Falling|The Drowning Pool|Rookie School|Cruise Ship|The Cretin of the Shallows|Shelter Me|The Reunion}} |
| 1990
| {{unbulleted list|Armored Car|Home Cort|We Need a Vacation|Muddy Waters}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{wikiquote}}
- {{IMDb name|0254786}}
{{David R. Ellis}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, David R.}}
Category:Film directors from California
Category:Film people from Santa Monica, California