Profile of the Day: Alfred Hitchcock

On this day in 1899, legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock was born.

Image: Alfred Hitchcock / Library of Congress

Hitchcock was born on August 13, 1899 in London, England to William Edgar Hitchcock and Emma Jane Wheland. He was the youngest of three children.

Before stepping into the director’s chair, Hitchcock got his start as a title card designer for silent films. In 1929, he directed his first “talkie,” Blackmail, which would become a huge success. The movie is often cited as the first British sound feature film.

In 1940, Hitchcock directed his first Hollywood film, Rebecca. The movie would ultimately win the Academy Award for Best Picture and earn Hitchcock his first of five nominations for Best Director. Dubbed the “Master of Suspense,” Hitchcock would direct over 50 feature films throughout his career. Some of his greatest films include Rear Window, North by Northwest, and Psycho. Today his is remembered as one of the most influential filmmakers in Hollywood history.

What’s your favorite Hitchcock film?

View Alfred Hitchcock’s Geni Profile