Robert Altman.

Born 20 Feb 1925 Kansas City, United States

Died 20 Nov 2006 Los Angeles, United States

Citizenship United States

Would Be 101 yr If Living

18 min read

Reading time

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Jul 19, 2026

Published

Film credits

Awards

TL;DR

Robert Altman, a five-time Academy Award nominee and recipient of an honorary Oscar in 2006, developed a trademark style of overlapping dialogue and ensemble casts. He won the Palme d’Or for MASH in 1970, the Golden Bear for Buffalo Bill and the Indians in 1976, and the Golden Lion for Short Cuts in 1993. He directed Nashville 1975 and Gosford Park 2001, and four of his films are in the National Film Registry: MASH, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, The Long Goodbye, and Nashville.

Identity & family.

KIN · 4

Names, aliases, and relatives of Robert Altman — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Nicknames Bob

Aliases Robert B. Altman

Spouses: Kathryn Reed Lotus Corelli LaVonne Elmer
Children: Robert Reed Altman

At a glance.

STATS

Robert Altman by the numbers — life, work, and family.

81 Years lived

40 Film credits

5 Awards

3 Marriages

1 Child

Who was Robert Altman?

BIOGRAPHY

Robert Altman — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

At age six, Robert Altman entered St. Peters Catholic school in Kansas City, Missouri, where he was born on February 20, 1925. His father, B.C. Altman, worked as an insurance salesman, and his mother was Helen Altman. After attending Rockhurst High School, he was sent to Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri, where he completed junior college. In 1945, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces and served as a copilot of a B-24, an experience that later informed his anti-war stance.

Career

Altman’s big-screen directorial debut came in 1957 with The Delinquents while still at the Calvin Company, where he had made dozens of industrial films. But it was the 1970 film MASH that made his career after fifteen other directors passed on it. The film won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and established his signature style of overlapping dialogue and large ensembles. He followed with critical successes like McCabe & Mrs. Miller 1971, The Long Goodbye 1973, and Nashville 1975. Later career highlights include The Player 1992 and Gosford Park 2001, both earning Oscar nominations. Altman also directed extensively for television, including episodes of Bonanza and Combat!, and made his London theatrical debut directing Arthur Miller’s Resurrection Blues in 2006.

Personal life

Altman married three times: to LaVonne Elmer in 1946, Lotus Corelli in 1952, and Kathryn Reed in 1959. His children include daughter Christine born 1947, sons Mike born 1955 who wrote the lyrics for the MASH theme at age 14, Stephen born 1957, Robert Reed born 1960, and adopted son Matthew born 1966. He was a Democrat and a member of NORML. He remained close friends with actresses Julie Christie and Sally Kellerman despite professional clashes.

Legacy

Altman is the only American director to win the top prize at all three major European film festivals: the Palme d’Or Cannes, Golden Bear Berlin, and Golden Lion Venice. His films MASH, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, The Long Goodbye, and Nashville have been selected for the National Film Registry. He mentored directors Tim Robbins, Tom Skerritt, and Alan Rudolph, and helped launch the careers of Shelley Duvall and Gary Chason. He received an honorary Oscar in 2006, and upon accepting, revealed he had a heart transplant a decade earlier.

Filmography.

FILMS · 40

The complete filmography of Robert Altman — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

The Dick Cavett Show

1968
TV

Never Mind the Buzzcocks

1996
TV

Intimate Portrait

1993
TV

Omnibus

1952
TV

The Oscars

1953
TV

The Directors

1999
TV

The South Bank Show

1978
Movie

Breakdown: 1975

2025
Movie

Endless Love

1981
Movie

In Dreams

1999
Movie

Altman

2014
Movie

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

1947
Movie

Nothing Like a Dame

2018
Movie

What Is Cinema?

2013

Showing 14 of 40 View all 40 films

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 5

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Robert Altman — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
National Board of Review Award for Best Film
BAFTA Award for Best Direction
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Academy Honorary Award

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 22

A wall of memorable lines from Robert Altman — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

What Is a Cult? It Just Means Not Enough People to Make a Minority.
I Fiddle in the Corner Where They Throw the Coins. Where I Can Get My Work Done.
I’ve About Had It – the Agencies, the Winking, the Networks, the Ratings. Anyone Who Thinks TV Is an Art Medium Is Crazy – It’s an Advertising Medium.
Retirement? You’re Talking About Death, Right?
Filmmaking Is a Chance to Live Many Lifetimes.
Wisdom and Love Have Nothing to Do with One Another. Wisdom Is Staying Alive, Survival. You’re Wise If You Don’t Stick Your Finger in the Light Plug. Love – You’ll Stick Your Finger in Anything.
Every Ad for Every Film Is Exactly the Same.
Jazz Has Endured Because It Doesn’t Have a Beginning or an Ending. It’s a Moment.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith Get Married, They Have Problems, They Get Back Together and They Live Happily Ever After. End of the Movie. Two Weeks Later, He Kills Her, Grinds Her Body Up, Feeds It to His Girlfriend Who Dies of Ptomaine Poisoning, and Her Husband Is Prosecuted and Sent to the Electric Chair for It – but Here’s Our Own Little Story with the Happy Ending. What Is an Ending? There’s No Such Thing. Death Is the Only Ending.
What I’m Looking for Is Occurrence, Truthful Human Behavior. We’ve Got a Kind of Road Map, and We’re Making It up as We Travel Along.
The Business Is Run by Accountants Who, as Long as a Film Makes $40 Billion, Don’t Care If It Kills the Industry. Everything Can Also Be Shown so Quickly in the Home – Which Means That the People Who Go to Movie Theaters Are Teenagers Who Just Want to Get Away from Home. the Audience Has Changed and the Content Has Changed to Suit That Audience. But, Even If I’ll Be an Outdated Item Very Shortly, I Intend to Carry on as Long as I Can.
And When I Look Around America Today I Feel We’re Oversaturated with Goods. Like Most of Western Christian Civilization, We Feel It’s Fine If We’re Comfortable And, If the Rest of the World Isn’t, Then That’s Their Problem. We’re Not Generous. and the Idea of Paying Some Chief Executive $40 Million a Year Is Just Obscene. I Don’t Deny It’s Nice to Have Silk Sheets or Whatever, but We Live in a Deeply Unequal Society and Our Luxury Is Both Excessive and Wasteful.
The Actors Have to Know the Play Because They Have to Memorize the Words. the Technicians Have to Know the Play Because They Have to Organize the Sound and Light Cues. but I Want to Keep Myself as Virginal as I Can. I Say, Tell Me What This Play Is About. I’ll Find Out as I Do It and I’m Really Looking Forward to Seeing It. I Don’t Advise Young Directors That This Is What They Should Do. This Is Simply My Method.
I Learned a Lot About Losing from My Father. That Losing Is an Identity; That You Can Be a Good Loser and a Bad Winner; That None of It – Gambling, Money, Winning, or Losing – Has Any Real Value.
I Look at Film as Closer to a Painting or a Piece of Music; It’s an Impression . . . an Impression of Character and Total Atmosphere . . . the Attempt Is to Enlist an Audience Emotionally, Not Intellectually.
I Probably Am a Lazy Artist and Probably Don’t Control Things as Much as Some People Would Like- but That’s My Business. and If My Style Is Too Loose or Improvised for Some People’s Taste, That’s Their Problem- Totally. the Fact Is, I’m Not the Greatest Hollywood Director and That Bullshit, but I’m Not the Opposite Either. and I Am Not Careless. I May Be Irresponsible, I May Strive for Things and Not Always Succeed. but That’s Never the Result of Sloppiness. Maybe It’s Lack of Judgment.
The Worst Trap You Can Fall in Is to Start Imitating Yourself.
I’ll Give You the Same Advice I Give My Children: Never Take Advice from Anybody.
We Make Too Much of the Good and Too Much of the Bad.
Anybody Who Gives You Advice Is Giving You What They Think Is Correct for Them If They Were in Your Position. but They’re Not You! and You’re Not Them. You Can Listen to These Things, but I Advise That You Don’t Take Advice from Anybody.
I Didn’t Mind Military School; I Kind of Liked It. I Thought It Was a Nice Little Adventure.
We’re in a Position in Our Culture Right Now, Where Most of the Things We Learn Are from Films and Television. and Maybe I’m Trying to Say, ‘Wait a Minute, That’s Not Necessarily True, There’s Another Side to It…’

Did you know?

FACTS · 43

Little-known facts about Robert Altman — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Altman’s son Mike wrote the lyrics for the MASH theme song Suicide is Painless when he was only 14 years old.
Paul Thomas Anderson served as standby director on A Prairie Home Companion 2006 in case the ailing 80-year-old Altman could not finish shooting.
Altman devised a scheme to tattoo identification numbers on pets and managed to tattoo President Harry S. Truman’s dog.
He directed six actresses to Oscar-nominated performances: Sally Kellerman, Julie Christie, Ronee Blakley, Lily Tomlin, Helen Mirren, and Maggie Smith.
While filming McCabe & Mrs. Miller 1971, Altman and star Warren Beatty clashed so intensely that Beatty later said he would have killed Altman had he produced the film himself.
In 1995, Altman designed a watch called Time to Reflect for Swatch to commemorate the centenary of cinema.
At the 2006 Academy Awards, Altman revealed during his honorary Oscar acceptance that he had received a heart transplant about ten years earlier, which he had kept secret to avoid damaging his career.
Altman became close friends with actor Dan Blocker while directing episodes of Bonanza and wanted Blocker to play Roger Wade in The Long Goodbye 1973; Blocker died before filming, and the movie was dedicated to him.
He recommended Ned Beatty for the role of Arthur Jensen in Sidney Lumet’s Network.
Altman is the only American director to win the top prize at all three major European film festivals: the Palme d’Or 1970 for MASH, Golden Bear 1976 for Buffalo Bill and the Indians, and Golden Lion 1993 for Short Cuts.
Seven of Altman’s films are in the Criterion Collection: McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Nashville, 3 Women, Secret Honor, Tanner ’88, The Player, and Short Cuts.
Altman mentored Tim Robbins, Tom Skerritt, and Alan Rudolph.
A veteran of the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, Altman was reportedly radicalized by a trip to Vietnam to film the war in the 1960s, but never discussed it.
Entertainment Weekly voted him the 17th Greatest Director of all time.
He was close friends with actresses Julie Christie and Sally Kellerman.
Altman disliked the MASH TV series, believing it missed the anti-war point of his film.
Twice he used a blonde woman in a white trench coat to symbolize death: Sally Kellerman in Brewster McCloud 1970 and Virginia Madsen in A Prairie Home Companion 2006.
His episodes of Bonanza often starred the Hoss character played by Dan Blocker and were frequently humorous.
Fourteen other film directors passed on directing MASH before it was offered to Altman.
He served on the advisory board of NORML National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
Altman helped Shelley Duvall and Gary Chason begin their careers by casting them in Brewster McCloud 1970.
He directed Susannah York for Images, 1972 and Shelley Duvall for 3 Women, 1977 to the Best Actress Award at Cannes.
Admiring Ute Lemper, Altman planned to cast her in a remake of Mata Hari but instead gave her a part in Ready to Wear 1994.
Four of his films are in the National Film Registry: MASH, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, The Long Goodbye, and Nashville.
Altman made his London theatrical debut in early 2006 directing Arthur Miller’s Resurrection Blues at the Old Vic; the production was critically panned and closed early.
He was made a Fellow of the British Film Institute in recognition of his contribution to film culture.
Altman was a Democrat.
He was a favorite director of film critic Pauline Kael.
His son Matthew R. Altman was adopted at birth in 1966.
In late 1981, Altman was set to direct Sigourney Weaver in Lone Star for United Artists but the project was canceled after Heaven’s Gate‘s costs.
Altman described the New York Film Critics Circle Awards as the New York primary for the Oscars, referencing his film Nashville‘s loss to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
He was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Directors Branch.
Altman worked with Vic Morrow on Combat! and later with Morrow’s daughter Jennifer Jason Leigh and ex-wife Barbara Turner.
His films MASH, Nashville, and Gosford Park earned Best Picture Oscar nominations.
Altman had a son, Robert Reed Altman, with Kathryn Reed in 1960.
He was in talks with Johnny Depp about a film on the life of Artie Shaw.
Altman had a son, Mike Altman, with Lotus Corelli in 1955.
Daughter Christine Altman was born to LaVonne Elmer in 1947.
He was uncle of Richard Sarafian Jr., Tedi Sarafian, Damon B. Sarafian, Deran Sarafian, and Katherine Sarafian.
Altman was brother-in-law of Richard C. Sarafian, who married his sister Joan Altman.
Son Stephen Altman was born to Lotus Corelli in 1957.
Stepdaughter Konni Corriere with Kathryn Reed was born in 1946.
Before films, Altman worked tattooing pets with ID numbers and even tattooed President Truman’s dog.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 52

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Robert Altman.

When was Robert Altman born?

Robert Altman was born on February 20, 1925. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri.
Where was Robert Altman born?

He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Altman grew up there and later returned to start his filmmaking career.
When did Robert Altman die?

Robert Altman died on November 20, 2006. He was 81 years old at the time of his death.
Where did Robert Altman die?

He died in Los Angeles, California. The cause was complications from leukemia.
How did Robert Altman die?

Altman died from complications of leukemia. He had also received a heart transplant about ten years earlier, which he kept private until his honorary Oscar speech.
How old was Robert Altman when he died?

He was 81 years old. He was born in 1925 and died in 2006.
What was Robert Altman's occupation?

Altman was a director, producer, and writer. He is best known for his work in film and television.
What nationality was Robert Altman?

He was American. He was born in the United States and spent most of his career in Hollywood.
Who was Robert Altman married to?

Altman was married three times: to LaVonne Elmer 1946-1951, Lotus Corelli 1952-1959, and Kathryn Reed 1959 until his death.
Did Robert Altman have children?

Yes, Altman had five children: Christine born 1947, Mike 1955, Stephen 1957, Robert Reed 1960, and adopted son Matthew 1966. His son Mike wrote the lyrics for the MASH theme song.
Where did Robert Altman go to school?

Altman attended Rockhurst High School and then Wentworth Military Academy and College in Lexington, Missouri. He also briefly attended Southwest Early College Campus and Southwest High School.
What awards did Robert Altman win?

Among his many honors, Altman received an Academy Honorary Award 2006, a BAFTA Award for Best Direction, a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, and was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His films also won the Palme d’Or, Golden Bear, and Golden Lion.
What is Robert Altman best known for?

Altman is best known for his films MASH 1970, Nashville 1975, The Player 1992, and Gosford Park 2001. He revolutionized American cinema with his overlapping dialogue and large ensemble casts.
How tall was Robert Altman?

Robert Altman stood 6 feet 0 inches 1.83 m tall.
What was Robert Altman's nickname?

He was often called Bob. His close friends and colleagues sometimes used this nickname.
What alias did Robert Altman use?

He sometimes used the alias Robert B. Altman. The B stood for Bernard.
What was Robert Altman's first film as director?

His directorial debut was The Delinquents in 1957. He made the film while still working at the Calvin Company in Kansas City.
What was Robert Altman's breakthrough film?

His breakthrough was MASH in 1970. Fifteen other directors had turned down the project before Altman took it on, and it became a huge success.
How many directors turned down MASH before Altman?

According to Altman’s trivia, 14 other film directors passed on directing MASH before he accepted the offer.
Which Robert Altman film won the Palme d'Or?

Altman’s MASH won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1970. This was his first major international award.
Which Robert Altman film won the Golden Lion?

His film Short Cuts won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1993. The film weaves together multiple stories set in Los Angeles.
Which Robert Altman film won the Golden Bear?

Altman’s Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1976. The film starred Paul Newman.
Which actors did Robert Altman mentor?

Altman was a mentor to Tim Robbins, Tom Skerritt, and Alan Rudolph. He helped Robbins and Skerritt with their careers.
Which actresses won Best Actress at Cannes under Altman's direction?

Altman directed Susannah York to the Best Actress award for Images 1972 and Shelley Duvall for 3 Women 1977. Both performances were recognized at Cannes.
Who wrote the lyrics for the MASH theme song?

Altman’s son Mike Altman wrote the lyrics for Suicide is Painless when he was 14 years old. The song became the theme for both the film and the TV series.
What did Robert Altman do before entering the film industry?

Before filmmaking, Altman tattooed identification numbers on pets as a business. He even tattooed President Harry S. Truman’s dog.
What was Robert Altman's connection to the TV series Bonanza?

Altman directed episodes of Bonanza and became close friends with actor Dan Blocker Hoss. His episodes often featured humorous stories centered on Blocker’s character.
Which of Altman's films are in the Criterion Collection?

Seven of Altman’s films are in the Criterion Collection: McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Nashville, 3 Women, Secret Honor, Tanner ’88, The Player, and Short Cuts.
Did Robert Altman receive an honorary Oscar?

Yes, Altman received an Academy Honorary Award in 2006. During his acceptance speech, he revealed that he had undergone a heart transplant a decade earlier.
What did Robert Altman reveal at the 2006 Oscars?

Altman revealed that he had received a heart transplant approximately 10 years prior. He had kept it secret out of fear it would affect his ability to get work.
Which of Altman's films is dedicated to Dan Blocker?

The film The Long Goodbye 1973 is dedicated to Dan Blocker. Altman had wanted Blocker to play the Roger Wade character, but Blocker died before filming began.
Who was the standby director on A Prairie Home Companion?

Paul Thomas Anderson served as standby director on A Prairie Home Companion 2006 for insurance purposes, in case the ailing 80-year-old Altman could not finish shooting.
What was the name of the Broadway musical Altman wrote?

Altman wrote a musical intended for Broadway called The Rumors are Flying. However, it was never produced.
What was Altman's first acting role?

Altman appeared uncredited as a Man Drinking in the 1947 film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. This was one of his early attempts at breaking into Hollywood.
Which of Altman's films are in the National Film Registry?

Four of Altman’s films are preserved in the National Film Registry: MASH 1970, McCabe & Mrs. Miller 1971, The Long Goodbye 1973, and Nashville 1975.
Who did Altman recommend for the role of Arthur Jensen in Network?

Altman recommended Ned Beatty for the role of Arthur Jensen in Sidney Lumet’s Network. Beatty went on to earn an Oscar nomination for the part.
How many times was Robert Altman married?

Altman was married three times. His spouses were LaVonne Elmer, Lotus Corelli, and Kathryn Reed.
What was Altman's first job in the film industry?

Altman’s first film work included acting uncredited in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, co-writing the screenplay for Bodyguard 1948, and writing an uncredited story for Christmas Eve 1947.
Did Robert Altman serve in the military?

Yes, Altman served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He was a copilot of a B-24 bomber.
What was Robert Altman's political affiliation?

Altman was a Democrat. He also served on the advisory board of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
Which film critic was a fan of Robert Altman?

Prominent critic Pauline Kael was one of Altman’s biggest supporters. She frequently praised his films in her reviews.
What did Altman think of the MASH TV series?

Altman disliked the television series based on his film. He felt it failed to convey the same anti-war message that his movie carried.
What symbol of death did Altman use in two of his films?

Altman used a blonde woman in a white trench coat as a symbol of death in Brewster McCloud Sally Kellerman and A Prairie Home Companion Virginia Madsen.
Which actress did Altman help launch her career?

Altman helped Shelley Duvall begin her career by casting her in Brewster McCloud 1970. He also helped Gary Chason get his start in the same film.
What was Robert Altman's last film?

Altman’s final film was A Prairie Home Companion 2006. It starred Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, and Kevin Kline.
What was unique about Altman's directorial style?

Altman was known for his overlapping dialogue and large ensemble casts. He often allowed actors to improvise, creating a naturalistic and dynamic feel.
Which of Altman's films received a Best Picture Oscar nomination?

Three of Altman’s films were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture: MASH 1970, Nashville 1975, and Gosford Park 2001.
Did Altman win an Oscar for directing?

No, Altman never won a competitive Oscar for directing, despite five nominations. He received an honorary Academy Award in 2006 for his overall career.
What was the Calvin Company?

The Calvin Company was a film production company in Kansas City where Altman worked from 1950. He directed dozens of industrial and educational films there, honing his craft.
How did Altman's time in the military influence his work?

Altman’s experience as a B-24 copilot in World War II contributed to his anti-war stance, which is evident in films like MASH. A trip to Vietnam in the 1960s reportedly radicalized him further, though he never discussed it publicly.
What was Altman's relationship with Warren Beatty?

Altman and Warren Beatty had a notoriously contentious relationship while making McCabe & Mrs. Miller 1971. Beatty later said he would have killed Altman had he produced the film himself.
Which of Altman's films featured a symbol of death?

In Brewster McCloud 1970, a blonde woman in a white trench coat played by Sally Kellerman symbolizes death. Altman repeated the motif with Virginia Madsen in A Prairie Home Companion 2006.

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Published on July 19, 2026

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Robert Altman.

TL;DR

Early life

Career

Personal life

Legacy

The Dick Cavett Show

Never Mind the Buzzcocks

Intimate Portrait

Omnibus

The Oscars

The Directors

The South Bank Show

Breakdown: 1975

Endless Love

In Dreams

Altman

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Nothing Like a Dame

What Is Cinema?