Tim Burton Facts

1. His full name is Timothy William Burton.


2. He was born on 25th August, 1958, in Burbank, California.


3. He attended the California Institute of the Arts, studying character animation.


4. He was an animators apprentice with Walt Disney Animation Studios.


5. Vincent was his first film – a six minute black and white stop-motion short.


6. 'Frankenweenie' was another stop-motion short. However, Disney fired Burton after claims the film was too dark. Burton is now planning to re-release it.


7. Paul Reubens hired Burton to direct Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure in 1985.


8. The black-comedy Beetlejuice, which Burton directed, grossed $80 million.


9. Considered either a commercial success or a flop, Batman established Burton as a profitable director (he could produce good films for a low budget).


10. Burton had admired Johnny Depp for his work on 21 Jump Street and cast him in the title role of the cult film, Edward Scissorhands.


11. Edward Scissorhands also brought in Vincent Price, who Burton considered a hero.


12. Burton was slated by critics for introducing too many villains into Batman Forever.


13. The cult success The Nightmare Before Christmas was not actually directed by Burton, due to his commitments with Batman Forever. The job of directing was given to Henry Selick.


14. Burton’s next collaboration with Depp was on Ed Wood – a commercial failure.


15. Batman Forever brought Burton’s work on the superhero to a close. For this, Burton only produced.


16. Burton and Selick reunited to produce and direct the musical fantasy, James and Giant Peach, based on the Roald Dahl book.


17. Mars Attack! saw Burton inadvertedly spoofing Independence Day.


18. A roaring success, Burton released a re-telling of the Washington Irving Tale. This was Sleepy Hollow.


19. Despite a phobia of chimpanzees, Burton directed Planet of the Apes. It earned mixed reviews, but here he met his long term partner, Helena Bonham-Carter.


20. Big Fish earned Burton four Golden Globe nominations and an Academy Award nomination.


21. Burton’s retelling of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory remained close to the original tale.


22. Corpse Bride was created specifically for Helena Bonham-Carter.


23. Burton’s rendition of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street was a success. Burton originally saw the musical three times on Broadway.


24. 9 was the first fully animated Burton film – the rest had been stop-motion.


25. Alice in Wonderland (directed by Burton) is the highest grossing film of 2010. It lost out to Toy Story 3.


26. Burton has had three wives: artist Lena Gieseke, model/actree Lisa Marie, and his long term partner, Helena Bonham-Carter.


27. Burton and Bonham Carter have two children. Actor and close friend, Johnny Depp is godfather to both.


28. Burton wrote and illustrated his short story book. The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories.


29. Burton has directed one music video – The Killers, ‘Bones’.


30. Burton is dyslexic.