James Gunn Biography: James Francis Gunn Jr., born on August 5, 1966, is an American filmmaker and screenwriter. He launched his career in the mid-1990s at Troma Entertainment, where he wrote Tromeo and Juliet (1996). Gunn later moved into directing, beginning with the horror-comedy Slither (2006), and became well known for his work in the superhero genre with films like Super (2010), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), The Suicide Squad (2021), and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). In 2022, Gunn was appointed co-chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios alongside producer Peter Safran. Together, they oversee the newly restructured DC Universe (DCU), with Gunn spearheading projects like the animated series Creature Commandos (2024) and writing and directing the upcoming film Superman (2025).
James Gunn Biography
James Gunn was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, to Leota and James Francis Gunn. He comes from a large Catholic family with Irish and Czech heritage, and many of the men in his family, including his father and uncles, were lawyers. Gunn has been writing and performing for as long as he can remember and began creating 8mm films at the age of twelve, often comedic splatter films starring his brothers in over-the-top zombie scenarios. He attended Saint Louis University High School, a college preparatory institution, but left college for a time to pursue a career in rock music. Gunn was the lead singer of a band called “The Icons,” which released an album titled Mom, We Like It Here on Earth. During this period, he earned little income and worked as an orderly in Tucson, Arizona.
James Gunn Biography 2025 Details
| Born |
James Francis Gunn Jr.
August 5, 1966 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
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| Education | Loyola Marymount University Saint Louis University (BA) Columbia University (MFA) |
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| Years active | 1989–present |
| Employer | Warner Bros. Discovery |
| Title | Co-chairman and Co-CEO of DC Studios |
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| Category | Singers Bio |
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About James Gunn
James Francis Gunn Jr. is an American filmmaker. He began his career as a screenwriter in the mid-1990s, starting at Troma Entertainment with Tromeo and Juliet.
James Gunn Wiki
- Born: 5 August 1966 (age 58 years), St. Louis, Missouri, United States
- Spouse: Jennifer Holland (m. 2022), Jenna Fischer (m. 2000–2008)
- Upcoming movies: Superman, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Clayface, Coyote vs. Acme
- Education: St. Louis University High School (1984) ·
- Height: 1.83 m
- Siblings: Sean Gunn, Brian Gunn, Matt Gunn, Beth Gunn, Patrick Gunn
Early Life
James Francis Gunn Jr. was born on August 5, 1966, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Leota “Lee” (Hynek) and James F. Gunn, an attorney. Raised in the Catholic faith, he grew up in the suburb of Manchester alongside his five siblings: Sean (an actor), Matt (an actor and political writer), Brian (a screenwriter), Patrick, and Beth. Gunn is of Irish descent, tracing his roots to an Irish immigrant family. He once claimed that his surname “Gunn” was originally “MacGilgunn,” which he believed meant “sons to the servants of the god of the dead,” though it actually translates to “son of the brown youth.”
From an early age, Gunn was captivated by low-budget horror films like Night of the Living Dead and Friday the 13th. He avidly read horror publications like Fangoria and regularly attended cult film screenings, including a memorable showing of Dawn of the Dead at the Tivoli Theatre in St. Louis. By age 12, he was already making 8 mm zombie films with his brothers in the woods near their home.
James Gunn at a Glance
- Category: Richest Celebrities › Directors
- Net Worth: $70 Million
- Birthdate: August 5, 1970 (54 years old)
- Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Gender: Male
- Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.82 m)
- Nationality: American
Career Beginnings in Music
Before entering the film industry, Gunn was the frontman for the band The Icons. They released their album Mom, We Like it Here on Earth in 1994. Although the band disbanded soon after, Gunn continued working in music, even composing for films.
Film Career
Gunn began his career at Troma Entertainment in 1995, where he co-wrote Tromeo and Juliet (1996). He later wrote the screenplays for Scooby-Doo (2002) and Dawn of the Dead (2004). His directorial debut came in 2006 with Slither, followed by Super (2010). Gunn became internationally famous after directing Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), which was a massive success. He directed the sequels Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). Gunn also directed The Suicide Squad (2021) and became the co-CEO of DC Studios in 2022, where he announced he would direct Superman: Legacy (2025).
Television Career
Gunn’s television ventures include Peacemaker (2022), a spinoff of The Suicide Squad, which premiered on HBO Max. He also created Creature Commandos, an adult animated series based on DC Comics, scheduled to premiere in 2024. Additionally, he wrote and directed The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022) for Disney+.
Other Media
In addition to his work in film and television, Gunn published a novel titled The Toy Collector (2000) and co-created the web series James Gunn’s PG Porn in 2008. He was also involved in the video game Lollipop Chainsaw (2012), co-writing the game’s script.
Controversy
In 2018, Gunn faced backlash after old controversial tweets about pedophilia and the Holocaust resurfaced, prompting Disney to briefly sever ties with him. However, due to public support, Gunn was reinstated in 2019 to direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Personal Life
Gunn was married to actress Jenna Fischer in 2000, but they divorced in 2008. He began dating actress Jennifer Holland in 2015, and they married in 2022.
Real Estate
In 2016, Gunn purchased a 7,000 square foot mansion in Malibu for $6.25 million. He later sold it for $6.875 million in 2019. He also sold a property in Studio City for $1.875 million in 2017.
What is James Gunn’s Net Worth 2025?
James Gunn is an American filmmaker and studio executive with an estimated net worth of $70 million. He is widely recognized for directing the Guardians of the Galaxy films and also for his work on Slither, Super, and the Peacemaker TV series. In 2022, he became co-chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios.
FAQs
What inspired James Gunn to start making films?
James Gunn was heavily influenced by low-budget horror films such as Night of the Living Dead and Friday the 13th. He also read horror magazines like Fangoria and started making 8 mm zombie movies with his brothers at the age of 12.
Where did James Gunn go to high school and college?
James Gunn attended the Jesuit-run St. Louis University High School, graduating in 1984. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Louis University and an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University.
What kind of childhood did James Gunn have?
Gunn grew up in a large Catholic family in Manchester, Missouri. He was the eldest of six siblings and spent much of his childhood creating horror films with his brothers in the woods near their home.
Did James Gunn study film in college?
Yes, James Gunn initially studied film at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles but left due to personal struggles. He later studied prose writing at Columbia University, where he earned his MFA.
What was James Gunn’s early creative work before filmmaking?
Before his professional film career, Gunn wrote and illustrated political cartoons for his college newspaper and created underground comic strips. He also played in a band called “The Icons.”
What is the origin of James Gunn’s last name?
James Gunn has said that his family surname was originally “MacGilgunn,” which he believed meant “sons to the servants of the god of the dead,” although it actually translates to “son of the brown youth.”