David Mamet

David Mamet

1947-11-30 Chicago, Illinois, USA 57 Credits

Biography

David Alan Mamet (/ˈmæmɪt/; born November 30, 1947) is an American playwright, author, and filmmaker. He won a Pulitzer Prize and received Tony nominations for his plays Glengarry Glen Ross(1984) and Speed-the-Plow (1988). He first gained critical acclaim for a trio of 1970s off-Broadway plays: The Duck Variations, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and American Buffalo. His plays, Race and The Penitent, respectively, opened on Broadway in 2009 and premiered off-Broadway in 2017. Feature films that...

Known For

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Complete Filmography

Henry Johnson

Henry Johnson

2025

Writer, Director

5.0
Writing Directing

A quiet man is abruptly arrested without explanation, thrust into a surreal legal nightmare where truth and identity blur. As he fights to assert his ...

The Penitent - A Rational Man

The Penitent - A Rational Man

2023

Theatre Play

6.0

A psychiatrist, Charles, has his career and life become derailed after he refuses to testify on behalf of a former patient who had become clinically v...

Beau Is Afraid

Beau Is Afraid

2023

as Rabbi

6.7
Acting

Following the sudden death of his mother, a mild-mannered but anxiety-ridden man confronts his darkest fears as he embarks on an epic, Kafkaesque odys...

Just a Scene

2022

Original Story

Writing

A couple discusses their first night and relationship.

About Last Night

About Last Night

2014

Theatre Play

6.0

Bernie and Joan are two fiery flirters who are passionate about everything from hookups to breakups and each other. When he sets up his best friend, D...

Phil Spector

Phil Spector

2013

Director, Screenplay, Executive Producer

5.7
Directing Writing Producing

A drama centered on the relationship between Phil Spector and defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden while the music business legend was on trial for the...

Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay

Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay

2012

as Himself

6.9
Acting

The life and career of renowned magician and sleight of hand artist Ricky Jay.

Glengarry Glen Ross

Glengarry Glen Ross

2011

Writer

Writing

This Iranian adaptation of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross is set in early 1980s Chicago, where the ruthless world of real estate sales takes center...

Two Painters

Two Painters

2010

Director, Writer

1.0
Directing Writing

A bad interview.

The Marquee

2010

Director, Writer

Directing Writing

A marquee runs out of letters, leaving a humorous blank.

Our Valley

Our Valley

2010

Director, Writer

1.0
Directing Writing

A wind machine causes problems on set.

Inside the Actor's Workshop

Inside the Actor's Workshop

2010

Writer, Director

6.0
Writing Directing

An on-set interview is quietly absurd.

Lost Masterpieces of Pornography

2010

Director, Writer

6.4
Directing Writing

This lost masterpiece of pornography was recently discovered in a woodworking shop of a Beverly Hills dentist. June Crenshaw (Kristen Bell) was known ...

Redbelt

Redbelt

2008

Director, Writer

6.5
Directing Writing

Is there room for principle in Los Angeles? Mike Terry teaches jujitsu and barely makes ends meet. His Brazilian wife, whose family promotes fights, w...

David Mamet on House of Games

David Mamet on House of Games

2007

as Himself

Acting

A documentary filmed on location and behind the scenes during the making of David Mamet's 1987 film HOUSE OF GAMES

Edmond

Edmond

2005

Writer, Theatre Play

5.9
Writing

Seemingly mild-mannered businessman Edmond Burke visits a fortuneteller and hears a remark that spurs him to leave his wife abruptly and seek what is ...

Biography: Val Kilmer

2004

as Self

Acting

A&E's Biography of Val Kilmer.

Spartan

Spartan

2004

Director, Screenplay

6.2
Directing Writing

U.S. government agent Scott is assigned to rescue the daughter of a high-ranking government official. As willing as he is to bend the rules to get thi...

Heist

Heist

2001

Director, Writer

6.3
Directing Writing

Joe Moore has a job he loves. He's a thief. His job goes sour when he gets caught on security camera tape. His fence, Bergman, reneges on the money he...

Catastrophe

Catastrophe

2001

Director

6.0
Directing

An autocratic Director (Harold Pinter) and his Assistant (Rebecca Pidgeon) put the final touches to the last scene of some kind of dramatic presentati...

Hannibal

Hannibal

2001

Screenplay

6.8
Writing

After having successfully eluded the authorities for years, Hannibal peacefully lives in Italy in disguise as an art scholar. Trouble strikes again wh...

State and Main

State and Main

2000

Director, Screenplay

6.3
Directing Writing

A movie crew invades a small town whose residents are all too ready to give up their values for showbiz glitz.

Lakeboat

Lakeboat

2000

Theatre Play, Writer

4.7
Writing

A college student befriends various crew members while working a summer internship at sea.

The Winslow Boy

The Winslow Boy

1999

Director, Writer

6.7
Directing Writing

Early 20th century England: while toasting his daughter Catherine's engagement, Arthur Winslow learns the royal naval academy expelled his 14-year-old...

Lansky

Lansky

1999

Writer

5.5
Writing

Organized crime boss Meyer Lansky remembers his life as he is moving about the world looking for some country that will take him in since the USA have...

Ronin

Ronin

1998

Screenplay

7.0
Writing

A briefcase with undisclosed contents – sought by Irish terrorists and the Russian mob – makes its way into criminals' hands. An Irish liaison assembl...

Wag the Dog

Wag the Dog

1997

Screenplay

6.9
Writing

During the final weeks of a presidential race, the President is accused of sexual misconduct. To distract the public until the election, the President...

The Spanish Prisoner

The Spanish Prisoner

1997

Writer, Director

6.8
Writing Directing

An inventor of a secret process suddenly finds himself alone as both his friends and the corporation he works for turn against him.

The Edge

The Edge

1997

Screenplay

6.8
Writing

The plane carrying wealthy Charles Morse crashes down in the Alaskan wilderness. Together with the two other passengers, photographer Robert and assis...

Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants

Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants

1996

Director

7.3
Directing

Sleight of hand magician Ricky Jay blends light comedy and close-up magic to entertain a live audience. He discusses everything from the birth of the ...

Hustlers, Hoaxsters, Pranksters, Jokesters and Ricky Jay

Hustlers, Hoaxsters, Pranksters, Jokesters and Ricky Jay

1996

8.0
Acting

A documentary about the life and work of sleight-of-hand artist Ricky Jay, with appearances by Ricky Jay, David Mamet and Steve Martin.

American Buffalo

American Buffalo

1996

Screenplay, Theatre Play

5.5
Writing

Three inner-city losers plan a robbery of a valuable coin in a seedy second-hand junk shop.

Oleanna

Oleanna

1994

Director, Screenplay, Theatre Play

6.1
Directing Writing

Carol, a college student, comes to John's office, her professor, to discuss the grade she has received for one of her papers.

Vanya on 42nd Street

Vanya on 42nd Street

1994

Screenplay

6.6
Writing

An uninterrupted rehearsal of Chekhov's 1899 play "Uncle Vanya" played out by a company of actors. The setting is their run down theater with an unusa...

Texan

1994

Writer

6.0
Writing

A retired pilot finds out his young wife is lying to him, hiding a meeting with a military man, withdrawing money from the bank...

A Life in the Theatre

A Life in the Theatre

1993

Theatre Play, Teleplay, Executive Producer

6.2
Producing

A veteran actor and a young up-and-comer join for a season of reparatory theatre.

Hoffa

Hoffa

1992

Screenplay, Associate Producer

6.3
Writing Producing

A portrait of union leader James R. Hoffa, as seen through the eyes of his friend, Bobby Ciaro. The film follows Hoffa through his countless battles w...

Glengarry Glen Ross

Glengarry Glen Ross

1992

Theatre Play, Screenplay

7.3
Writing

When an office full of real estate salesmen is given the news that all but the top two will be fired at the end of the week, the atmosphere begins to ...

The Water Engine

The Water Engine

1992

as Brown Haired Man

5.2
Acting

In the 1930s, Charles Lang invents an engine that runs using water for fuel. But when he tries to get it patented, he is first offered a ridiculously ...

The Water Engine

The Water Engine

1992

Theatre Play, Writer

5.2
Writing

In the 1930s, Charles Lang invents an engine that runs using water for fuel. But when he tries to get it patented, he is first offered a ridiculously ...

Uncle Vanya

Uncle Vanya

1991

Writer

Writing

Vanya is a bitter, sarcastic man, obsessed with his wasted years and what might have been. He has spent his life toiling for the benefit of the schola...

Homicide

Homicide

1991

Director, Writer

6.3
Directing Writing

A Jewish homicide detective investigates a seemingly minor murder and falls in with a Zionist group as a result.

The Yiddish Cinema

The Yiddish Cinema

1991

as Narrator

5.0
Acting

Narrated by prolific writer and director David Mamet, this film is a perfect introduction to Yiddish cinema. The Yiddish Cinema traces the history of ...

Sanford Meisner: The American Theatre's Best Kept Secret

1990

as Self

Acting

A leading acting teacher who trained some of the most famous performers of the stage and screen, Sanford Meisner was a founding member of the Group Th...

We're No Angels

We're No Angels

1989

Writer

6.1
Writing

Two escaped cons' only prayer to escape is to pass themselves off as priests and pass by the police blockade at the border into the safety of Canada.

The Shawl

The Shawl

1989

Writer

Writing

Miss A, troubled by problems, consults a clairvoyant. Can he solve them for her by summoning the spirits? Or is he just a fraud, out to steal her mone...

Things Change

Things Change

1988

Director, Writer

6.1
Directing Writing

Jerry, a misfit Mafia henchman, is assigned the low-level job of keeping an eye on Gino, a shoe repairman fingered by the Mob to confess to a murder h...

Lip Service

Lip Service

1988

Executive Producer

3.0
Producing

A young news reporter schemes to take over the job of a veteran news anchor whose ratings he's been hired to promote.

House of Games

House of Games

1987

Director, Screenplay, Story

6.8
Directing Writing

A psychiatrist comes to the aid of a compulsive gambler and is led by a smooth-talking grifter into the shadowy but compelling world of stings, scams,...

The Untouchables

The Untouchables

1987

Writer

7.8
Writing

Elliot Ness, an ambitious prohibition agent, is determined to take down Al Capone. In order to achieve this goal, he forms a group given the nickname ...

Black Widow

Black Widow

1987

as Herb

6.2
Acting

Federal agent Alexandra Barnes believes that Catherine Petersen is a serial killer who marries rich men and then murders them for their money. But sin...

About Last Night...

About Last Night...

1986

Theatre Play

6.0

A man and woman meet and try to have a romantic affair, despite their personal problems and the interference of their disapproving friends.

The Verdict

The Verdict

1982

Screenplay

7.4
Writing

Frank Galvin is a down-on-his-luck lawyer and reduced to drinking and ambulance chasing, when a former associate reminds him of his obligations in a m...

The Postman Always Rings Twice

The Postman Always Rings Twice

1981

Screenplay

6.5
Writing

The sensuous wife of a lunch wagon proprietor and a rootless drifter begin a sordidly steamy affair and conspire to murder her Greek husband.

The Prince

N/A

Writer, Executive Producer

Writing Producing

Chronicles a recovering addict's journey through drug underworld, struggles with addiction, intense highs, and lows, and eventual path to sobriety.

Assassination

N/A

Screenplay

Writing

A new take on the JFK conspiracy, centering around Dorothy Kilgallen, one of the most famous voices in media at the time. When Dorothy suspects that L...

House of Games

N/A

Original Film Writer

Writing

A reimagining of the 1987 MGM feature film of the same name.