Lee Tamahori, born 17 June 1950 in Wellington, New Zealand. He is best known as a film director, although he got his start as a commercial artist and photographer in the late 1970s.

In 1985 he finally decided to take the plunge into television and film work. After directing the television series The Ray Bradbury Theater, he completed his first film, Thunderbox (1989).

His first American feature was Mulholland Falls (1996). Another his films including The Edge (1997) starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin. He also directed numerous episodes of television shows, in particular an episode of The Sopranos during its second season.

Tamahori returned to features with the thriller Along Came a Spider (2001) starring Morgan Freeman. He also directed Die Another Day (2002) and State of the Union/XXX: The Next Level (2005).

His latest film is Next (2007) starring Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore, and Jessica Biel.

Director

• Next (2007)
• xXx: State of the Union (2005)
• Die Another Day (2002)
• Along Came a Spider (2001)
• "The Sopranos" (1 episode, 2000)
• The Edge (1997)
• Mulholland Falls (1996)
• Once Were Warriors (1994)
• Thunderbox (1989)
• "The Ray Bradbury Theater" (1985) TV Series

Awards

• Australian Film Institute Palace/AFI Members Award Best Foreign Film "Once Were Warriors" 1995