D.J. Caruso

17 Jan, 1965 |

Director

Biography

Daniel John "D.J." Caruso born on January 17, 1965. He is an American director and producer. Caruso has directed the films Disturbia, Two for the Money, Taking Lives, The Salton Sea, and Eagle Eye. He has also directed television episodes for shows such as The Shield, Over There, Smallville, and Dark Angel. He directed his first music video in 2007 for the song "Don't Make Me Wait" by This World Fair. He was also a guest judge on the FOX reality show On the Lot for the episode of May 28/29. In 2009 he directed the music video for Airborne Toxic Event, Sometime Around Midnight. Personal life: Caruso was born in Norwalk, Connecticut. He graduated from Norwalk High School in 1983, and then Pepperdine University. He is of Italian descent. He married Holly Kuespert on July 6, 1991 and they have 5 children. Directing career: His first feature film as a director was The Salton Sea which starred Val Kilmer. It was released in 2002. In 2004, Caruso directed Taking Lives with Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke and Kiefer Sutherland. The film was released in theaters on March 16, 2004 but did not gross as much at box office as expected, only grossing $65,470,529. The film was later released on DVD the same year and was number one on the charts for three straight weeks. Two for the Money was Caruso's next film which was considered "a well done sport thriller, but with too many details"[citation needed]. The film was released on October 7, 2005 and was a moderate success, grossing $30,526,509 worldwide with a modest budget of $18 million. It was later released on DVD on January 17, 2006. In 2007, Caruso was asked by Steven Spielberg to direct Disturbia. The movie was Caruso's first big hit grossing over $117 million, with only a $20 million budget. It starred Shia LaBeouf, Sarah Roemer, David Morse, Aaron Yoo, and Carrie-Anne Moss. It was released April 13, 2007 in theaters and on DVD August 7. Eagle Eye was Caruso's second collaboration with Shia LaBeouf. It also starred Michelle Monaghan, Billy Bob Thornton, Rosario Dawson and was released in theaters September 26, 2008. It was produced by Steven Spielberg. Critic reactions were mixed but, on its opening weekend the movie grossed $29.1 million dollars in 3,510 theaters in the United States and Canada. It has grossed $201 million worldwide with a movie budget of $80 million. Caruso is currently working on a film adaptation for Y: The Last Man. It is rumored that it will be Caruso's third time working with LaBeouf. He is additionally directing an upcoming 2011 film called I Am Number Four, which is based on a book by James Frey and Jobie Hughes. On July 24, 2009, it has also been announced that he will be working with Electronic Arts on a movie based on the hit game Dead Space.