Trivia

Schlesinger envisioned a cast of Al Pacino, Julie Christie and Laurence Olivier for Marathon Man (1976). Pacino has said that the only actress he had ever wanted to work with was Christie, who he claimed was "the most poetic of actresses". Producer Robert Evans, who disparaged the vertically challenged Pacino as The Midget when Francis Ford Coppola wanted him for The Godfather (1972) and had thought of firing him during the early shooting of the now-classic film, vetoed Pacino for the lead. Instead, Evans insisted on the casting of the even-shorter Dustin Hoffman! On her part, Christie -- who was notoriously finicky about accepting parts, even in prestigious, sure-fire material -- turned down the female lead, which was then taken by Marthe Keller (who, ironically, became Pacino's lover after co-starring with him in Bobby Deerfield (1977)). Of his dream cast, Schlesinger only got Olivier, who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. "Marathon Man" was his last unqualified hit as a film director.

Directed eight different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Julie Christie, Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Sylvia Miles, Peter Finch, Glenda Jackson, Burgess Meredith and Laurence Olivier. Christie won an Oscar for Darling (1965).

While shooting Marathon Man (1976), Schlesinger realized he had no idea of how to stage a fight, so he watched other films to see how it was done.

Seeing the film Darling (1965) inspired Madonna to pick John Schlesinger to direct her in the film The Next Best Thing (2000).

He has directed one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Midnight Cowboy (1969).

He was awarded a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars on January 10, 2003.

He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1970 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to film.

Attended Oxford University.

His brother, the publisher and literary agent Roger Schlesinger married into Peggy Ashcroft's family and had an actress daughter Katharine Schlesinger.

In 1961 won first prize at Venice Film Festival for Terminus (1961), a documentary about Waterloo Station.

His debut feature, A Kind of Loving (1962) won first prize at the Berlin Film Festival.

Joined Colchester Repertory Theatre.

Played character parts in British plays and films.

He entertained the troops during WWII with a magic act.

In the Army Entertainment Unit in Singapore during WW!! with Kenneth Williams, Peter Nichols, Peter Vaughn and Stanley Baxter.

Was a member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 1985.

Profiled in "Conversations with Directors: An Anthology of Interviews from Literature/Film Quarterly", E.M. Walker, D.T. Johnson, eds. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2008.

Parents are Bernard Edward and Winnifred Henrietta Schlesinger.

Made several amateur films and from 1956 directed 26 documentaries for the BBC's Monitor and Tonight programmes.

He has directed two films that have been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Darling (1965) and Midnight Cowboy (1969). The latter won in the category.

Older brother of Susan Maryott.