Michael Apted Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Michael Apted was born on February 10, 1941, in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England. He is a famous English film producer, actor, and writer. He has directed several films including ‘Up-Series’ (1964), ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’ (1980) and ‘The World is Not Enough’ (1999). His proficiency has seen him earn awards such as the Golden Globe Award. He was appointed the president of the Directors Guild of America in June 2003 and Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 2008.

Early Life

Michael David Apted was born on February 10, 1941, in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England. His middle-class parents, Ronald William Apted and Frances Amelia (née Thomas) worked at an insurance company. Michael attended the City of London School through scholarship and later studied history and law at Dawning College in Cambridge.

Career

After school, Michael Apted did his internship at Granada Television in Manchester for six months. His primary role was research and profiling as an assistant director to Paul Almond. He began his first project in 1964 titled ‘Up Series’ which featured about fourteen seven-year-old children. He did much of the work including the selection of the children who created the shots for the documentary. He also collaborated with Rosenthal to come up with episodes for the films ‘The Dustbinmen’ and ‘The Lovers’. In 1982, they also directed the TV film P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang.

Other Television films which Michael Apted directed include ‘Coronation Street’ (1963-1964), ‘Haunted’ (1967), ‘There’s a Hole in Your Dustbin, Delilah’ (1968), ‘The Dustbinmen’ (1969), ‘Big Breadwinner Hog’ (1969), ‘The Lovers’ (1970), ‘Another Sunday and Sweet F.A’ (1970), ‘Follyfoot’ (1971).

They also include ‘The Collection’ (1976), ‘Play For Today’ (1972-1977), ‘New York News’ (1994), ‘Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned’ (1998), ‘Married in America’ (2002), ‘Rome’ (2006), ‘Masters of Sex’ (2013), ‘Reckless’ (2014).

Film and Documentary

Michael Apted's skills and ability have not only been exhibited in television series but extend way down to movies and documentaries. His first film ‘Triple Echo’ which was produced in 1972 brought him much praise for his uniqueness. In 1980, he also directed ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’ which was nominated seven times for the Academy Awards. Several other films are ‘Stardust’ (1974), ‘The Squeeze’ (1977), ‘Agatha’ (1979), ‘Continental Divide’ (1981), ‘Gorky Park’ (1983), ‘Firstborn’ (1984), ‘Bring on the Night’ (1985), ‘Critical Condition’ (1987), ‘Gorrilas in the Mist’ (1988), ‘Class Action’ (1991), ‘Thunderheart’ (1992), ‘Incident at Oglala’ (1992). 

 Others include ‘Blink’ (1994), ‘Moving the Mountain’ (1994), ‘Nell’ (19940, ‘Extreme Measures’ (1996), ‘The World is Not Enough’ (1999), ‘Me and Isaac Newton’ (1999), ‘Enigma’ (2001), ‘Enough’ (2002), ‘Amazing Grace’ (2006), ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’ (2010), ‘Chasing Mavericks’ (2012), ‘Unlocked’ (2017).

Apart from television series and films, he has also made and directed different documentaries. He has focused on the personal lives of people sharing their experience, passion, and adventures. He directed ‘Bring on the Night’ which explored the making of the first solo album by Sting. He directed ‘the Long Way Home’ in 1988 about musician Boris Grebenshchikov and how he made it to the West. In 1997, he created ‘Inspiration’ which focused on the diversity of creativity in music, architecture, dancing, painting and crafting. The other documentaries which he directed include ‘Moving the Mountain,’ ‘The Official Film of the 2006 Fifa World Cup’ (2006).

Personal Life

Michael Apted was first married to Jo Apted with whom they had two sons. He later married his second wife Dana Stevens and was later divorced having one son. In January 2014, Michael married a third wife, Paige Simpson.