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Martin Scorsese: the obsession, accomplishment and glory - Martin Scorsese has won many awards and is one of the most well-known names in the film industry. But most people don't know that this man, who almost became a priest, has had many ups and downs in his career. The American director had to overcome problems with drugs and harsh criticism on his way to becoming one of the biggest names in the industry. Learn more about the director in the following gallery.
© Getty Images
0 / 30 Fotos
Birthday boy - Martin Charles Scorsese was born on 17 November 1942 in New York.
© Getty Images
1 / 30 Fotos
Career - Scorsese is a multi-award winning director, film producer, and screenwriter.
© Getty Images
2 / 30 Fotos
Natural artist - The director, who is of Italian descent, has been immersed in the world of cinema since he was young. He started producing short films while he was a student at New York University.
© Getty Images
3 / 30 Fotos
First movie - 'Who's That Knocking At My Door' was his first full-length movie, which he produced with a university classmate.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
Chronic illness - During his childhood, he suffered from asthma, which was severely limiting for him. His family kept him entertained through trips to the cinema.
© Getty Images
5 / 30 Fotos
Obsessed - In 1995, he produced a documentary called, 'A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies.' The film was almost 4 hours long and contained numerous confessions on his obsession with the art of cinema.
© Getty Images
6 / 30 Fotos
Priest - Scorsese was studying to be a priest but was kicked out of the seminary for being too boisterous.
© Getty Images
7 / 30 Fotos
Woodstock - He edited the now infamous 'Woodstock' documentary, released in 1970.
© Getty Images
8 / 30 Fotos
The 70's - After that, he became a part of the 'Movie Brats' gang with Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas and Brian de Palma.
© Getty Images
9 / 30 Fotos
Long term collaboration - He became friends with actor, Robert De Niro, in the 1970s and the two worked on various projects together, including 'Mean Streets' (1973), 'Taxi Driver' (1976), 'New York, New York' (1977), 'Raging Bull' (1980), 'The King of Comedy' (1983), 'Goodfellas' (1990), 'Cape Fear' (1991) and 'Casino' (1995).
© Getty Images
10 / 30 Fotos
'Taxi Driver' - In 1976, he worked with Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster in the iconic movie, 'Taxi Driver,' which depicted the rawness and violence of New York. It received 4 Oscar nominations.
© Getty Images
11 / 30 Fotos
Based on real facts - 'Taxi Driver' was based on real-life events. The protagonist, Travis Bickle, was inspired by the story of Arthur Bremer, the man who tried to kill presidential candidate, George Wallace, in 1972.
© Getty Images
12 / 30 Fotos
Decline - After his success with 'Taxi Driver' (1976), Scorsese went in a bolder direction with the musical, 'New York, New York', starring Liza Minnelli. The production, however, was a complete failure and heavily criticized, sending him into a deep depression.
© Getty Images
13 / 30 Fotos
The come-back - Scorsese refused to stop working even after he developed health problems relating to his asthma. He mustered up the force to produce 'Raging Bull' (1980), which ended up being one of the greatest successes of his career.
© Getty Images
14 / 30 Fotos
Best friends - At the end of the 1970s, Scorsese overdosed on drugs and found himself in hospital for 10 days. Robert De Niro convinced him to give up drugs and return to work. That was when he directed 'Raging Bull.'
© Getty Images
15 / 30 Fotos
'Raging Bull' (1980) - The movie became famous worldwide and received eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Robert De Niro), and for the first time, Best Director. De Niro ended up winning the award.
© Getty Images
16 / 30 Fotos
Further success - In 1990, Scorsese returned to the spotlight with the movie, 'Goodfellas.' Actors included his friends Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci.
© Getty Images
17 / 30 Fotos
'Goodfellas' (1990) - This was considered by some to be the best gangster movie since 'The Godfather,' directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Scorsese became one of the best directors of cinema.
© Getty Images
18 / 30 Fotos
'Gangs of New York' (2002) - The movie included stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz, and at the time was considered one of the most expensive and risky ventures of the director's career.
© Getty Images
19 / 30 Fotos
Most expensive production - 'Gangs of New York' (2002) was one of the most expensive films he ever directed. The budget was roughly $100 million.
© Getty Images
20 / 30 Fotos
The investment paid off - 'Gangs of New York' may have been expensive but it was a huge success with both fans and critics. The movie received 10 Oscar nominations, including another Best Director nomination for Scorsese.
© Getty Images
21 / 30 Fotos
More awards - The next year, his movie, 'The Aviator,' received 11 Oscar nominations. The movie ended up winning five awards.
© Getty Images
22 / 30 Fotos
Gang movie - In 2006, he had another success with 'The Departed' receiving much praise and joining 'Taxi Driver' as one of the best movies of the director's career.
© Getty Images
23 / 30 Fotos
Golden Globe - Scorsese won a Golden Globe for Best Director for his movie, 'The Departed' (2006). It was also nominated for five Oscar awards, including one for Best Director.
© Getty Images
24 / 30 Fotos
Double recognition - Scorsese ended up winning awards for Best Director and Best Picture for 'The Departed.'
© Getty Images
25 / 30 Fotos
In love with the cinema - Scorsese founded the Film Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving silent films.
© Getty Images
26 / 30 Fotos
Sweetheart - The director has had a long working relationship with actor Leonardo DiCaprio. The star plays the leading role in many of Scorsese's movies.
© Getty Images
27 / 30 Fotos
Professor - Scorsese has also given filmmaking classes at New York University.
© Getty Images
28 / 30 Fotos
Video clip - In 1987, he produced a music video for singer Michael Jackson. 'Bad' was originally 16 minutes long but was shortened for TV.
© Getty Images
29 / 30 Fotos
Martin Scorsese: the obsession, accomplishment and glory - Martin Scorsese has won many awards and is one of the most well-known names in the film industry. But most people don't know that this man, who almost became a priest, has had many ups and downs in his career. The American director had to overcome problems with drugs and harsh criticism on his way to becoming one of the biggest names in the industry. Learn more about the director in the following gallery.
© Getty Images
0 / 30 Fotos
Birthday boy - Martin Charles Scorsese was born on 17 November 1942 in New York.
© Getty Images
1 / 30 Fotos
Career - Scorsese is a multi-award winning director, film producer, and screenwriter.
© Getty Images
2 / 30 Fotos
Natural artist - The director, who is of Italian descent, has been immersed in the world of cinema since he was young. He started producing short films while he was a student at New York University.
© Getty Images
3 / 30 Fotos
First movie - 'Who's That Knocking At My Door' was his first full-length movie, which he produced with a university classmate.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
Chronic illness - During his childhood, he suffered from asthma, which was severely limiting for him. His family kept him entertained through trips to the cinema.
© Getty Images
5 / 30 Fotos
Obsessed - In 1995, he produced a documentary called, 'A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies.' The film was almost 4 hours long and contained numerous confessions on his obsession with the art of cinema.
© Getty Images
6 / 30 Fotos
Priest - Scorsese was studying to be a priest but was kicked out of the seminary for being too boisterous.
© Getty Images
7 / 30 Fotos
Woodstock - He edited the now infamous 'Woodstock' documentary, released in 1970.
© Getty Images
8 / 30 Fotos
The 70's - After that, he became a part of the 'Movie Brats' gang with Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas and Brian de Palma.
© Getty Images
9 / 30 Fotos
Long term collaboration - He became friends with actor, Robert De Niro, in the 1970s and the two worked on various projects together, including 'Mean Streets' (1973), 'Taxi Driver' (1976), 'New York, New York' (1977), 'Raging Bull' (1980), 'The King of Comedy' (1983), 'Goodfellas' (1990), 'Cape Fear' (1991) and 'Casino' (1995).
© Getty Images
10 / 30 Fotos
'Taxi Driver' - In 1976, he worked with Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster in the iconic movie, 'Taxi Driver,' which depicted the rawness and violence of New York. It received 4 Oscar nominations.
© Getty Images
11 / 30 Fotos
Based on real facts - 'Taxi Driver' was based on real-life events. The protagonist, Travis Bickle, was inspired by the story of Arthur Bremer, the man who tried to kill presidential candidate, George Wallace, in 1972.
© Getty Images
12 / 30 Fotos
Decline - After his success with 'Taxi Driver' (1976), Scorsese went in a bolder direction with the musical, 'New York, New York', starring Liza Minnelli. The production, however, was a complete failure and heavily criticized, sending him into a deep depression.
© Getty Images
13 / 30 Fotos
The come-back - Scorsese refused to stop working even after he developed health problems relating to his asthma. He mustered up the force to produce 'Raging Bull' (1980), which ended up being one of the greatest successes of his career.
© Getty Images
14 / 30 Fotos
Best friends - At the end of the 1970s, Scorsese overdosed on drugs and found himself in hospital for 10 days. Robert De Niro convinced him to give up drugs and return to work. That was when he directed 'Raging Bull.'
© Getty Images
15 / 30 Fotos
'Raging Bull' (1980) - The movie became famous worldwide and received eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Robert De Niro), and for the first time, Best Director. De Niro ended up winning the award.
© Getty Images
16 / 30 Fotos
Further success - In 1990, Scorsese returned to the spotlight with the movie, 'Goodfellas.' Actors included his friends Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci.
© Getty Images
17 / 30 Fotos
'Goodfellas' (1990) - This was considered by some to be the best gangster movie since 'The Godfather,' directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Scorsese became one of the best directors of cinema.
© Getty Images
18 / 30 Fotos
'Gangs of New York' (2002) - The movie included stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz, and at the time was considered one of the most expensive and risky ventures of the director's career.
© Getty Images
19 / 30 Fotos
Most expensive production - 'Gangs of New York' (2002) was one of the most expensive films he ever directed. The budget was roughly $100 million.
© Getty Images
20 / 30 Fotos
The investment paid off - 'Gangs of New York' may have been expensive but it was a huge success with both fans and critics. The movie received 10 Oscar nominations, including another Best Director nomination for Scorsese.
© Getty Images
21 / 30 Fotos
More awards - The next year, his movie, 'The Aviator,' received 11 Oscar nominations. The movie ended up winning five awards.
© Getty Images
22 / 30 Fotos
Gang movie - In 2006, he had another success with 'The Departed' receiving much praise and joining 'Taxi Driver' as one of the best movies of the director's career.
© Getty Images
23 / 30 Fotos
Golden Globe - Scorsese won a Golden Globe for Best Director for his movie, 'The Departed' (2006). It was also nominated for five Oscar awards, including one for Best Director.
© Getty Images
24 / 30 Fotos
Double recognition - Scorsese ended up winning awards for Best Director and Best Picture for 'The Departed.'
© Getty Images
25 / 30 Fotos
In love with the cinema - Scorsese founded the Film Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving silent films.
© Getty Images
26 / 30 Fotos
Sweetheart - The director has had a long working relationship with actor Leonardo DiCaprio. The star plays the leading role in many of Scorsese's movies.
© Getty Images
27 / 30 Fotos
Professor - Scorsese has also given filmmaking classes at New York University.
© Getty Images
28 / 30 Fotos
Video clip - In 1987, he produced a music video for singer Michael Jackson. 'Bad' was originally 16 minutes long but was shortened for TV.
© Getty Images
29 / 30 Fotos
Martin Scorsese: interesting facts about the famous director
Learn more about the life and career of the award-winning director who turns 75 on November 17
© Getty Images
Martin Scorsese got his start in the world of cinema at a young age, although it wasn't until much later that it would become both his life profession and source of joy. His career has been full of ups and downs and despite his current chronic health condition, he continues to show the world how his professional achievements have been the result of hard work, dedication and a willingness to take risks.
Learn more about the life and career of the award-winning director who turns 75 on November 17 in the following gallery!
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