Scott, Ridley

(born Nov. 30, 1937, South Shields, Durham, Eng.) British film director. He studied art and worked as a set designer and director in British television, then formed his own production company in 1967 to make television commercials. His first feature film was The Duellists (1977). It was followed by the science-fiction thrillers Alien (1979) and Blade Runner (1982), a box-office hit that became a cult classic for its vividly dark images. His later films include Someone to Watch over Me (1987), Thelma & Louise (1991), and Gladiator (2000), which won the Academy Award for best picture.