John Landis

The Profile

American film director, screenwriter, and actor known for anarchic comedies and horror-comedies. Broke out with National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978), followed by The Blues Brothers (1980) and An American Werewolf in London (1981)—whose makeup effects won the inaugural Academy Award for Best Makeup. Continued with Trading Places (1983) and other studio hits.

Born 1950 in Chicago, USA. Directed The Blues Brothers (1980), An American Werewolf in London (1981), Trading Places (1983), and the Michael Jackson short film Thriller (1983).

DeBaser’s reviews salute John Landis as a craftsman of anarchic comedy and sly satire. Trading Places becomes a Christmas ritual, The Blues Brothers a pop-culture juggernaut, and An American Werewolf in London a landmark of horror-comedy with Oscar-winning makeup. Early sketch chaos (The Kentucky Fried Movie) and later black farce (Burke & Hare) round out a career steeped in cameos, music, and gleeful irreverence.