Chris Columbus Biography: Christopher Joseph Columbus born September 10, 1958 is an American filmmaker known for his work as a director, screenwriter, and producer. Born in Spangler, Pennsylvania, he studied film at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he developed a strong passion for filmmaking. He began his career writing screenplays for popular teen-oriented films in the 1980s, such as Gremlins, The Goonies, and Young Sherlock Holmes. Columbus made his directorial debut with the adventure-comedy Adventures in Babysitting in 1987. He gained widespread acclaim with the massive success of the holiday classic Home Alone (1990) and its sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992). Another major hit followed with Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), featuring Robin Williams in the lead role.
Chris Columbus Biography
Chris Columbus, born in Pennsylvania and raised in Ohio, discovered his passion for filmmaking at age 15 after watching The Godfather. While attending NYU’s film school, he sold his first screenplay during his sophomore year, though it was never produced. After graduating, he struggled to sell his fourth script, Gremlins, until it caught the attention of Steven Spielberg.
Chris Columbus Biography 2025 Details
| Born | Christopher Joseph Columbus
September 10, 1958 (age 66) Spangler, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Occupations | · Director
· producer · screenwriter |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Spouse | Monica Devereux
(m. 1983) |
| Children | 4 |
| Category | Singers Bio |
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About Chris Columbus
Christopher Joseph Columbus is an American filmmaker. Born in Spangler, Pennsylvania, Columbus studied film at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where he developed an interest in filmmaking.
Chris Columbus Wiki
- Born: 10 September 1958 (age 66 years), Spangler
- Awards: ADG’s Outstanding Contribution to Cinematic Imagery Award
- Children: Eleanor Columbus, Violet Columbus, Brendan Columbus, Isabella Columbus
- Spouse: Monica Devereux (m. 1983)
- Production company: 26th Street Pictures
Early Life
Christopher Columbus was born in Spangler, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. He was the only child of Mary Irene (née Puskar), who worked in a factory, and Alex Michael Columbus, who was employed at an aluminum plant and also worked as a coal miner. Columbus has Italian and Czech ancestry. From a young age, he showed a passion for storytelling and visual arts, often sketching storyboards and reading Marvel Comics.
During high school, he began experimenting with 8 mm filmmaking. After graduating from John F. Kennedy High School in Warren, Ohio, he pursued his passion for film at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. There, he studied alongside future industry figures like screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and actor Alec Baldwin. Though he earned a scholarship to NYU, Columbus forgot to renew it and had to take a factory job to fund his education. During his shifts, he quietly wrote a 20-page screenplay—an effort that would prove pivotal. One of his professors helped him use the script to secure an agent.
Chris Columbus at a Glance
Category: Richest Celebrities › Directors
Net Worth: $90 Million
Birthdate: September 10, 1958 (age 66)
Birthplace: Spangler, Pennsylvania
Gender: Male
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.74 m)
Profession: Screenwriter, Film Director, Producer, Television Producer
Nationality: United States of America
Chris Columbus Blockbusters
Spielberg optioned the script, leading Columbus to spend a year in Los Angeles working on rewrites at Spielberg’s Universal bungalow. He went on to write The Goonies and Young Sherlock Holmes for Spielberg before launching his own directing career with Adventures in Babysitting. Columbus is best known for directing the blockbuster hit Home Alone and its sequel, Home Alone 2, both written and produced by John Hughes, as well as the beloved family comedy Mrs. Doubtfire.
Career
Columbus launched his Hollywood career writing screenplays for Reckless (1984), Gremlins (1984), The Goonies (1985), and Young Sherlock Holmes (1985). Spielberg personally contacted him in 1981 after reading the Gremlins script, which became a massive hit, grossing over $212 million worldwide. After relocating to Los Angeles to work at Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, he later returned to New York and created the short-lived animated series Galaxy High School. Columbus made his directorial debut with Adventures in Babysitting (1987), followed by Heartbreak Hotel (1988) and Only the Lonely (1991). His big break as a director came with Home Alone (1990), which became a global box office smash, grossing $476.7 million. The sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), was also a hit, earning $359 million. He continued his success with Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), starring Robin Williams, which grossed $441.3 million and won a Golden Globe.
Personal Life
Chris Columbus married choreographer Monica Devereux on August 6, 1983. The couple has four children: Eleanor, Brendan, Isabella, and Violet. All four have made appearances in his films, and Monica worked as a choreographer on several of his early projects. Violet pursued a career in film and directed the 2022 documentary The Exiles, which Eleanor produced. Eleanor has also co-produced multiple projects with her father. In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Columbus endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
Awards and Nominations
Columbus was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture in 2012 as a producer of The Help. The film earned several accolades, including Black Reel and Christopher Awards, and nominations from the BAFTAs and Producers Guild. He received five BAFTA nominations for the Harry Potter series, winning Best Feature Film for The Prisoner of Azkaban in 2004.
The Art Directors Guild honored him with the Contribution to Cinematic Imagery Award in 2012 for his work on the Harry Potter films. His other recognitions include Saturn Award and Hugo Award nominations, Independent Spirit Award nods for Mediterranea and Patti Cake$, and a Satellite Award nomination for Rent.
What Is Chris Columbus’ Net Worth 2025?
Chris Columbus is an acclaimed American filmmaker with an estimated net worth of $90 million. Over the years, he’s become one of Hollywood’s most commercially successful directors, thanks to hits like Home Alone (1990), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Stepmom (1998), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), and Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010). In addition to directing, Columbus has produced many of his own films and more than 20 other projects, including Fantastic Four (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), The Help (2011), Mediterranea (2015), The Witch (2015), Patti Cake$ (2017), and Scoob! (2020). As a writer, his credits include Reckless (1984), Gremlins (1984), The Goonies (1985), and Christmas with the Kranks (2004), among others.
FAQs
What movies did Chris Columbus write before becoming a director?
Before stepping into the director’s chair, Chris Columbus gained recognition as a screenwriter for several hit films in the 1980s, including Gremlins (1984), The Goonies (1985), Young Sherlock Holmes (1985), and Reckless (1984). These early successes helped launch his career in Hollywood.
What inspired Chris Columbus to become a filmmaker?
Chris Columbus was fascinated by storytelling from a young age. He spent his childhood drawing storyboards and reading Marvel Comics, which sparked his interest in filmmaking. He began creating 8mm films while still in high school, eventually leading him to study film at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
How did Chris Columbus get noticed by Steven Spielberg?
While studying at NYU, Columbus directed a short film titled I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here. This project, along with a screenplay he wrote while working factory shifts, caught the attention of one of his professors—who later helped him get an agent. The short eventually found its way to Steven Spielberg, who was impressed and bought the script for Gremlins.
What production companies has Chris Columbus founded?
Chris Columbus co-founded the production company 1492 Pictures in 1994, which has backed many of his directorial and produced works. In 2013, he teamed up with his daughter Eleanor to create Maiden Voyage Pictures. He also helped launch ZAG Animation Studios in 2017.
Have Chris Columbus’ children worked in the film industry?
Yes, all four of Chris Columbus’ children have appeared in his movies. His daughter Eleanor is a producer and has co-produced several films with him. Another daughter, Violet, followed in his footsteps and directed the 2022 documentary The Exiles.
What awards has Chris Columbus received for his filmmaking?
Chris Columbus has received a wide range of accolades, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture for The Help (2011). He also won a BAFTA Award for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and earned nominations from the Hugo Awards, Saturn Awards, and Independent Spirit Awards for various projects throughout his career.