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IMDbPro

Karyn Kusama

  • Director
  • Producer
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Karyn Kusama
An examination of how the nude female body is hypersexualized, under attack, and exploited on and offscreen in Hollywood.
Play trailer2:03
Body Parts (2022)
4 Videos
26 Photos
Karyn Kusama was born on 21 March 1968 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. She is a director and producer, known for The Invitation (2015), Girlfight (2000) and Destroyer (2018). She has been married to Phil Hay since October 2006. They have one child.
BornMarch 21, 1968
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornMarch 21, 1968
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys
      • 14 wins & 26 nominations total

    Photos26

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    + 20
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    Known for

    The Invitation (2015)
    The Invitation
    6.6
    • Director(directed by)
    • 2015
    Douglas Santiago and Michelle Rodriguez in Girlfight (2000)
    Girlfight
    6.7
    • Director
    • 2000
    Nicole Kidman in Destroyer (2018)
    Destroyer
    6.2
    • Director
    • 2018
    Yellowjackets (2021)
    Yellowjackets
    7.7
    TV Series
    • Director

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Director



    • Jared Harris in The Terror (2018)
      The Terror
      7.9
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2025
    • Yellowjackets (2021)
      Yellowjackets
      7.7
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2021–2023
    • Rachel Weisz in Dead Ringers (2023)
      Dead Ringers
      6.5
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2023
    • Christoph Waltz in The Consultant (2023)
      The Consultant
      6.5
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2023
    • Tony Hale, Seth Carr, Emmy DeOliveira, Marta Kessler, and Mystic Inscho in The Mysterious Benedict Society (2021)
      The Mysterious Benedict Society
      7.6
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2021
    • Uzo Aduba in In Treatment (2008)
      In Treatment
      8.3
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2021
    • The Outsider (2020)
      The Outsider
      7.6
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2020
    • Nicole Kidman in Destroyer (2018)
      Destroyer
      6.2
      • Director
      • 2018
    • Halt and Catch Fire (2014)
      Halt and Catch Fire
      8.4
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2014–2017
    • David Costabile, Jeffrey DeMunn, Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis, Corey Stoll, Kelly AuCoin, Maggie Siff, Asia Kate Dillon, and Dola Rashad in Billions (2016)
      Billions
      8.3
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2016–2017
    • XX (2017)
      XX
      4.6
      • Director (segment "Her Only Living Son", directed by)
      • 2017
    • Rufus Sewell in The Man in the High Castle (2015)
      The Man in the High Castle
      7.9
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2015–2016
    • Lizzy Caplan, Michael Sheen, Caitlin FitzGerald, and Annaleigh Ashford in Masters of Sex (2013)
      Masters of Sex
      7.9
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2016
    • Michaela Watkins, Tommy Dewey, and Tara Lynne Barr in Casual (2015)
      Casual
      7.5
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2016
    • David Eigenberg, Hanako Greensmith, Taylor Kinney, Joe Minoso, Miranda Rae Mayo, and Jocelyn Hudon in Chicago Fire (2012)
      Chicago Fire
      8.0
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2015

    Producer



    • Jared Harris in The Terror (2018)
      The Terror
      7.9
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2025
    • Yellowjackets (2021)
      Yellowjackets
      7.7
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2021–2023
    • Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on the Exorcist (2019)
      Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on the Exorcist
      7.6
      • executive producer
      • 2019

    Writer



    • XX (2017)
      XX
      4.6
      • written by (segment "Her Only Living Son")
      • 2017
    • Douglas Santiago and Michelle Rodriguez in Girlfight (2000)
      Girlfight
      6.7
      • written by
      • 2000

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos4

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:42
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:03
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:03
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:32
    Official Trailer
    Speechless
    Trailer 1:34
    Speechless

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Born
      • March 21, 1968
      • Brooklyn, New York, USA
    • Spouse
      • Phil HayOctober 2006 - present (1 child)
    • Children
      • Michio Hay
    • Parents
        Haruo Kusama
    • Publicity listings
      • 2 Interviews
      • 1 Article

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Except for Girlfight (2000) and Jennifer's Body (2009), all of her feature films as of 2022 have been written by her husband Phil Hay and his writing partner Matt Manfredi.
    • Quotes
      The problem with music videos is that first and foremost you're working in an environment where you're selling a product, ultimately. And I think that gets problematic because, with my brief experience in the studio system, it's so important to insulate yourself from those concerns. And if you know from the beginning that you can't insulate yourself, it infects you.

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