Richard Kelly was born March 28, 1975 in Newport News, Virginia. He is an American film director and writer.

He has written scripts for film adaptations of Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle and Louis Sachar's Holes, although neither were produced.

Is a big fan of films, The Simpsons, and writers such as Stephen King. Spent more than two years working on a rewrite of the script Knowing, only to find a lack of sufficient financial support for the project. Currently, the project appears to have found new life with Alex Proyas directing.

Oversaw the release of a director's cut of Donnie Darko in 2004. A host of deleted scenes and other new material were added back in. The Director's Cut received a theatrical release across numerous cities, and earned more in domestic box office than the original cut of the film did.

Wrote the script for the Tony Scott directed film Domino based on the life of bounty hunter Domino Harvey. The movie stars Keira Knightley and began filming in the fall of 2004 with Richard heavily involved on the set. It was released on October 16, 2005, a few months after the death of the real Domino Harvey. The box office returns were fairly low. A DVD set is scheduled to appear February 14, 2006.

Production started on Richard's second directorial feature film Southland Tales in July 2004, with principal photography for the project completed over August/September 2005. The ambitious film has a crazy cast, headlined by The Rock, Seann William Scott, and Sarah Michele Gellar. It's anticipated that Southland Tales will hit theaters in the late summer/fall of 2006.

Spent time adapting the novel "Cat's Cradle" by Kurt Vonnegut. It appears that script will likely not be produced.

Is working on a joint project with Cabin Fever director Eli Roth called The Box. It is a story based on the Twilight Zone episode Button, Button written by Richard Matheson.

Has written other unproduced scripts such as Into the Great Wide Open and Bessie. The former has been tied to actress Kate Hudson, and could possibly be Richard's next directorial project after Southland Tales.

Director

• The Box (2008)
• Southland Tales (2006)
• Donnie Darko (2001)
• Visceral Matter (1997)
• The Goodbye Place (1996)

Awards

• Catalan International Film Festival of Sitges Best Script Award "Donnie Darko" 2001
• San Diego Film Critics Society Award Best Original Screenplay "Donnie Darko" 2001