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Sam Mendes Headshot

Sam Mendes

Birth Place: ENGLAND

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BIO

Sam Mendes founded and ran the Donmar Warehouse in London for ten years. He was the founding director of The Bridge Project and Neal Street Productions.



His work has been seen at the National Theatre, RSC, Royal Court, Old Vic, Young Vic, BAM, the West End and on Broadway. Films include American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Jarhead, Revolutionary Road, Away We Go, Skyfall, Spectre, and 1917.

Awards include Academy Award Best Director, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award Best Director, 2 Tony Awards, 5 Olivier Awards, the Olivier Special Award, 3 Evening Standard Awards, Empire Inspiration Award, Directors Guild of America Award and the Shakespeare Prize.
He has also won the Director's Guild Award for lifetime achievement. In addition to The Ferryman, his production of The Lehman Trilogy is currently running at the National Theatre in London.

Photos

Productions

 
[Broadway, 2024]
Director
 
[West End, 2024]
Director
 
[West End, 2023]
Director
 
[West End, 2023]
Director
 
[Broadway, 2021]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2019]
Director
 
[Broadway, 2018]
Director
 
[West End, 2018]
Director
 
[West End, 2017]
Director
 
[West End, 2017]
Director
 
[US Tour, 2016]
Director
 
[Broadway, 2014]
Director
 
[West End, 2013]
Director
 
[Broadway, 2006]
Director
 
[Broadway, 2003]
Director
 
[New York, 1999]
Director
 
[Broadway, 1998]
Director
 
[Broadway, 1998]
Director
 
[West End, 1997]
Director
 
[West End, 1995]
Director
 
[West End, 1994]
Director
 
[West End, 1993]
Director
 
[West End, 1992]
Director

Movies

Little Voice
[ 1998 ] director
Road to Perdition
[ 2002 ] producer
Things We Lost in the Fire
[ 2007 ] producer
Revolutionary Road
[ 2008 ] producer
Shrek the Musical
[ 2013 ] producer
1917
[ 2019 ] writer
Empire of Light
[ 2022 ] producer
The End
[ 2024 ] executive producer
Hamnet
[ 2025 ] producer (p.g.a.)

TV Shows

The Franchise
executive producer
Informant: Angst über der Stadt
producer

Awards and Nominations

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2025 - Outstanding Direction of a Play

Sam Mendes, The Hills of California

Tony Awards - 2025 - Best Direction of a Play

Sam Mendes, The Hills of California

Drama League Awards - 2022 - Outstanding Direction of a Play

Sam Mendes, The Lehman Trilogy

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2022 - Outstanding Director of a Play

Sam Mendes, The Lehman Trilogy


winner
Tony Awards - 2022 - Best Direction of a Play

Sam Mendes, The Lehman Trilogy


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2019 - Outstanding Director of a Play

Sam Mendes, The Ferryman


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2019 - Outstanding Director of a Play

Sam Mendes, The Ferryman


winner
Tony Awards - 2019 - Best Direction of a Play

Sam Mendes, The Ferryman


winner
Olivier Awards - 2018 - Best Director

Sam Mendes , The Ferryman

Drama Desk Awards - 2012 - Outstanding Director of a Play

Sam MendesRichard III

Olivier Awards - 2010 - Best Musical Revival

Sam MendesLionel Bart’s Oliver!


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2003 - Outstanding Director - Play

Sam Mendes, Uncle Vanya


winner
Olivier Awards - 2003 - Best Director

Sam MendesTwelfth Night


winner
Olivier Awards - 2003 - Best Director

Sam MendesUncle Vanya


winner
Olivier Awards - 2003 - The Society's Special Award

Sam Mendes

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2003 - Outstanding Director of a Musical

Sam Mendes, Gypsy


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2002 - Outstanding Director - Play

Sam Mendes, Twelfth Night


winner
Evening Standard Awards - 2002 - Best Director

Sam MendesUncle Vanya


winner
Evening Standard Awards - 2002 - Best Director

Sam MendesTwelfth Night

Olivier Awards - 1999 - Best Director

Sam MendesThe Blue Room


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1998 - Outstanding Director - Musical

Sam Mendes, Cabaret

Drama Desk Awards - 1998 - Outstanding Director - Musical

Sam Mendes, Cabaret

Olivier Awards - 1998 - Best Director

Sam MendesOthello

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1998 - Best Director - Musical

Sam Mendes, Cabaret

Tony Awards - 1998 - Best Direction of a Musical

Sam Mendes, Cabaret


winner
Olivier Awards - 1996 - Best Director

Sam MendesCompany

Olivier Awards - 1995 - Best Director of a Musical

Sam Mendes, Oliver!

Olivier Awards - 1994 - Best Director of a Musical

Sam Mendes, Cabaret

Olivier Awards - 1993 - Best Director of a Musical

Sam Mendes, Assassins

Olivier Awards - 1993 - Best Director of a Play

Sam MendesThe Rise And Fall Of Little Voice

Videos

News


Video: Brian D’Arcy James Looks Back on Playing King George in HAMILTON
by Josh Sharpe - Dec 22, 2025

Five-time Tony nominee Brian D’Arcy James joined TODAY to discuss some of his current and past projects, including originating King George in Hamilton off-Broadway. Watch the full interview, where he also speaks about starring in the Peacock spy thriller series The Copenhagen Test and his Christmas song, 'Michigan Christmas.'
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival Partners With Focus Features To Celebrate The Film Release Of HAMNET
by Stephi Wild - Nov 20, 2025

San Francisco Shakespeare Festival will partner with Focus Features to celebrate the film release of HAMNET (PG-13), the powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare's timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.
HAMNET, THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE, & More Nominated for Gotham Awards
by Josh Sharpe - Oct 28, 2025

Hamnet, The Testament of Ann Lee, Familiar Touch, and more have received nominations for the 35th edition of The Gothams. Other highlights include nominations for Ethan Hawke and Andrew Scott for their performances as Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers in Blue Moon.
Un día como hoy: CABARET se estrenaba en el Nuevo Alcalá en 2003
by MIGUEL DE LA SOTA TOME - Oct 15, 2025

El KitKat Club está de celebración, y es que CABARET celebra 22 años de aquella versión de 2003 que transformó por primera vez el patio de butacas en una sala nocturna berlinesa de los años 30.
Danny DeVito Hosts Matilda in Concert at Royal Albert Hall
by Stephi Wild - Oct 6, 2025

Join Danny DeVito as he hosts the 30th anniversary screening of Matilda in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, featuring live music from the Royal Philharmonic.
Nine Inch Nails Expand ‘Peel It Back Tour’ with New North American Dates
by Josh Sharpe - Oct 1, 2025

Nine Inch Nails has revealed the second North American leg of their critically acclaimed Peel It Back Tour. The new dates kick off Thursday, February 5 in New Orleans, LA at Smoothie King Center, with stops in Washington, DC, Montreal, Austin, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and more.
Review: THE LEHMAN TRILOGY at Stages Houston
by Jonathan Netek - Sep 27, 2025

A sweeping epic opens the latest Stages season.
Anita Waxman Joins Team of SALVATOR MUNDI Musical
by Stephi Wild - Sep 10, 2025

Salvator Mundi!, The Musical - now carrying the working title Salvator Mundi - The Greatest Story Ever Sold - has added Anita Waxman, principal of Alexis Productions and a Tony-winning Broadway producer.
Cast Set For THE RED ROGUE OF BALA at Theatr Clwyd
by Stephi Wild - Jul 16, 2025

Theatr Clwyd has announced the cast for the hotly anticipated world premiere of The Red Rogue of Bala, the debut play from playwright Chris Ashworth-Bennion.
Review: CABARET at Guthrie Theater
by Joe Sarafolean - Jun 27, 2025

What did our critic think of CABARET at Guthrie Theater?
Viola Davis and Walter Murch to Receive Honorary Degrees From the AFI Conservatory
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 18, 2025

The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that it will confer a Doctorate of Fine Arts degree honoris causa for contributions of distinction to the art of the moving image upon trailblazing actress and producer Viola Davis and legendary film editor and sound designer Walter Murch.
Kevin Chamberlin Will Perform FINDING THE JOY at the Laurie Beechman Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Jun 12, 2025

Three-time Tony Award nominee Kevin Chamberlin will return to New York with a reprise of his hit show “Finding the Joy” for one show only this month. Learn more here!
The Many Actors Make Art (MAMA) Exhibition Returns to Brixton
by Stephi Wild - Jun 11, 2025

The Many Actors Make Art (MAMA) exhibition returns for its third time at Downstairs at The Department Store in Brixton, offering a platform for theatre actors and creatives to showcase their talents beyond the stage through visual art.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What awards has Sam Mendes been nominated for?

Outstanding Direction of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Hills of California, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for The Hills of California, Outstanding Direction of a Play (Drama League Awards) for The Lehman Trilogy, Outstanding Director of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Lehman Trilogy, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for The Lehman Trilogy, Outstanding Director of a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Ferryman, Outstanding Director of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Ferryman, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for The Ferryman, Best Director (Olivier Awards) for The Ferryman, Outstanding Director of a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Richard III, Best Musical Revival (Olivier Awards) for Lionel Bart’s Oliver!, Outstanding Director - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Uncle Vanya, Best Director (Olivier Awards) for Twelfth Night, Best Director (Olivier Awards) for Uncle Vanya, The Society's Special Award (Olivier Awards), Outstanding Director of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Gypsy, Outstanding Director - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Twelfth Night, Best Director (Evening Standard Awards) for Uncle Vanya, Best Director (Evening Standard Awards) for Twelfth Night, Best Director (Olivier Awards) for The Blue Room, Outstanding Director - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Cabaret, Outstanding Director - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Cabaret, Best Director (Olivier Awards) for Othello , Best Director - Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Cabaret , Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Cabaret, Best Director (Olivier Awards) for Company , Best Director of a Musical (Olivier Awards) for Oliver!, Best Director of a Musical (Olivier Awards) for Cabaret , Best Director of a Musical (Olivier Awards) for Assassins and Best Director of a Play (Olivier Awards) for The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice.

What awards has Sam Mendes won?

Sam Mendes has won numerous prestigious awards for his direction in both plays and musicals. His accolades include Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for The Lehman Trilogy and The Ferryman. He earned Outstanding Director of a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Ferryman, Uncle Vanya, and Twelfth Night. Mendes also received Outstanding Director of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Ferryman. His work on The Ferryman earned him Best Director (Olivier Awards), a recognition he also received for Twelfth Night, Uncle Vanya, and Company. Additionally, he was honored with The Society's Special Award (Olivier Awards). Mendes won Best Director (Evening Standard Awards) for both Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night. In the realm of musicals, he gained Outstanding Director - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Cabaret. These awards highlight Sam Mendes’s significant contributions to theater direction across multiple acclaimed productions.

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