Profile of the Day: Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg

Happy birthday to Steven Spielberg! Today the legendary director turns 71. Known for his blockbuster and award-winning films, Spielberg has directed and produced many of the most popular movies in history.

Spielberg was born on December 18, 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio to an Orthodox Jewish family. His mother, Leah Posner, was a concert pianist and restauranteur, and his father, Arnold Spielberg, worked as an electrical engineer. His paternal grandparents were emigrants from the Ukraine, who settled in Cincinnati in the early 1900s.

After the release of Jaws in 1975, Spielberg became a household name. The film became one of the highest grossing films of all time until it was eclipsed by Star Wars in 1977. With a career that has spanned more than four decades, Spielberg has helmed some of history’s most successful and critically acclaimed films, including Raiders of the Lost Ark,  E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, Jurassic Park, and more. His most recent film, The Post, starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, will be released right before Christmas.

What’s your favorite Steven Spielberg film?

Explore his family tree and share how you’re connected to the acclaimed director.
 

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Image: Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)