Guillermo del Toro

Date of Birth: October 9, 1964

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Biography

Guillermo del Toro is a Mexican filmmaker, author, and actor known for his distinctive blend of horror, fantasy, and fairy tale elements in his work. Born on October 9, 1964, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, del Toro has become one of the most celebrated directors in contemporary cinema. Growing up, he developed a fascination with film, comic books, and storytelling, heavily influenced by his Catholic upbringing and the diverse Mexican culture. He began his career working on short films and Mexican television in the late 1980s. His feature film debut, “Cronos” (1993), a unique take on the vampire genre, garnered international attention and won several awards. Del Toro’s Hollywood breakthrough came with “Mimic” (1997), but it was with “The Devil’s Backbone” (2001) and “Pan’s Labyrinth” (2006) that he solidified his reputation as a master storyteller. “Pan’s Labyrinth” won three Academy Awards and is considered one of the greatest films of the 21st century. Del Toro’s other notable works include “Hellboy” (2004) and its sequel “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” (2008), “Pacific Rim” (2013), “Crimson Peak” (2015), and “The Shape of Water” (2017), which won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. Beyond filmmaking, del Toro has also co-authored several novels, including “The Strain” trilogy, which was adapted into a successful television series.

5 Interesting Facts about Guillermo del Toro

1. Guillermo del Toro is known for his extensive collection of horror memorabilia, which includes life-sized replicas of H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe.

2. He spent nearly a decade developing the film adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s “At the Mountains of Madness,” although the project was ultimately shelved.

3. Del Toro has a close working relationship with actor Doug Jones, who has appeared in many of his films as various fantastical creatures.

4. He was offered the opportunity to direct “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” but turned it down, recommending Alfonso Cuarón instead.

5. Guillermo del Toro’s production company, Mirada Studios, was co-founded with cinematographer Guillermo Navarro and directors Mathew Cullen and Javier Jimenez.