F. Gary Gray | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Gray atSan Diego Comic-Con in 2015 | |
| Born | Felix Gary Gray (1969-07-17)July 17, 1969 (age 56) New York City, U.S. |
| Other names | Gary Gray |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1988–present |
Felix Gary Gray (born July 17, 1969)[1] is an American director and producer. Gray began his career as a director on numerous critically acclaimed and award-winning music videos, including "It Was a Good Day" byIce Cube, "Natural Born Killaz" byDr. Dre and Ice Cube, "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" by Dr. Dre, "Waterfalls" byTLC, and "Ms. Jackson" byOutkast.
Gray made his feature film directorial debut with the comedyFriday (1995). He has since directed the filmsSet It Off (1996),The Negotiator (1998),The Italian Job (2003),Be Cool (2005),Law Abiding Citizen (2009), andStraight Outta Compton (2015). He also directed the eighth installment of theFast & Furious franchise,The Fate of the Furious (2017), which is one of thehighest-grossing films of all time.[2]
In high school, Gray laid out a plan to work in the film industry as an assistant and direct his first feature by age 45. He started working as soon as he left high school, first as acamera operator on programs such asScreen Scene. He had a bit part in the 1989 comedyMajor League.[3] He got his first chance to direct with music videos, starting with a video for the hip-hop groupWC and the Maad Circle (WC was a former classmate of his). In 1993, he directed the music video forIce Cube's "It Was a Good Day". The video is a literal adaptation of the lyrics. He would go on to direct subsequent videos for Ice Cube, as well as artists such asCypress Hill,Outkast,Dr. Dre, andQueen Latifah. At age 26,[3] Gray directed his first film, the buddy stoner comedyFriday with rapper-producer Ice Cube (who co-wrote the film based on his experiences in Los Angeles) andChris Tucker. Next, he directed the filmSet It Off, withJada Pinkett and Queen Latifah. He then directedThe Negotiator, which starredKevin Spacey andSamuel L. Jackson; the film earned Gray Best Film and Best Director awards at the 1998 Acapulco Film Festival.
Gray directedThe Italian Job, a 2003 action-thriller starringCharlize Theron andMark Wahlberg. Gray garnered the Best Director award at the 2004 Black American Film Festival for his work on the film, which surpassed the $100 million mark in the domestic box office. His next film wasA Man Apart, an action thriller starringVin Diesel. He would later directBe Cool, an adaptation ofElmore Leonard's novel of the same name. TheJohn Travolta vehicle was panned by critics but grossed over $95 million worldwide.[4]
He then directed the thrillerLaw Abiding Citizen, starringJamie Foxx andGerard Butler and written byKurt Wimmer. The film grossed over $100 million worldwide. Gray received theIvan Dixon Award of Achievement from the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center and was named one of the "50 Best and Brightest African Americans Under 40" byBlack Enterprise magazine. He was honored by the African American Film Critics Association with their 2004 Special Achievement Award and was recognized by the Artist Empowerment Coalition with the Artist Empowerment Award that same year. He also received the Pioneer Director award from the Pan-African Film and Arts Festival in 2010.
Gray directed the 2015 dramaStraight Outta Compton, abiographical film about the rap groupN.W.A. In 2017, Gray directedThe Fate of the Furious, the eighth film in theFast & Furious franchise, which was released on April 14, 2017.[5] Both films set the record for the best opening by anAfrican-American director;[2]The Fate of the Furious became the first film directed by an African-American to gross more than $1 billion.[6][7]
Gray was given a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame on May 28, 2019. During the next month, his filmMen in Black: International was released.[8]
In April 2019, it was revealed that Gray would direct an adaptation of the video game franchiseSaints Row, with a screenplay written by Greg Russo.[9] In September 2021, it was announced that he would direct the heist filmLift starringKevin Hart forNetflix.[10]
| Year | Title | Director | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Friday | Yes | No |
| 1996 | Set It Off | Yes | Executive |
| 1998 | The Negotiator | Yes | No |
| 2003 | A Man Apart | Yes | Executive |
| The Italian Job | Yes | No | |
| 2005 | Be Cool | Yes | Executive |
| 2009 | Law Abiding Citizen | Yes | No |
| 2015 | The Sea of Trees | No | Yes |
| Straight Outta Compton | Yes | Yes | |
| 2017 | The Fate of the Furious | Yes | No |
| 2019 | Men in Black: International | Yes | No |
| 2024 | Lift | Yes | Executive |
Cameo roles
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Coming to America | Front row audience member at event |
| 1989 | Major League | Indians fan in the city |
| 1995 | Friday | Man at store with mop |
| 1996 | Set It Off | Gangster driving lowrider |
| 2009 | Law Abiding Citizen | Detective with evidence bag |
| 2015 | Straight Outta Compton | Greg Mack |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Ryan Caulfield: Year One | Episode "Pilot" |
| 2006 | Enemies | Episode "Pilot" |
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "True to the Game" | Ice Cube |
| 1993 | "It Was a Good Day" | |
| "Call Me a Mack" | Usher | |
| "You Don't Have to Worry" | Mary J. Blige | |
| "I Ain't Goin' Out Like That" | Cypress Hill | |
| "When the Ship Goes Down" | ||
| "Truthful" | Heavy D | |
| "Fantastic Voyage" | Coolio | |
| 1994 | "Natural Born Killaz" | Dr. Dre Ice Cube |
| "Saturday Nite Live" | Masta Ace Incorporated | |
| "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" | OutKast | |
| "Black Hand Side" | Queen Latifah | |
| 1995 | "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" | Dr. Dre |
| "Pretty Girl" | Jon B.[11] | |
| "Come On" | Barry White | |
| "I Believe in You and Me" | Whitney Houston | |
| "Waterfalls" | TLC | |
| "Diggin' on You" | ||
| 1996 | "How Come, How Long" | Babyface |
| 1999 | "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time" | R. Kelly |
| 2000 | "Ms. Jackson" | OutKast |
| 2004 | "Bang Bang Boom" | Drag-On |
| 2006 | "Show Me What You Got" | Jay-Z |
| 2010 | "Super High" | Rick Ross |
