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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Gordon Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks (November 30, 1912 – March 7, 2006) was a groundbreaking American photographer, musician, poet, novelist, journalist, activist and film director. He is best remembered for his photo essays for Life magazine and as the director of the 1971 film Shaft.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Gordon Parks, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Gordon Parks
Gordon Parks
93 years (Nov 30, 1912 – Mar 7, 2006)
Fort Scott, Kansas, United States
5 Directed
1 TV Directed

Gordon Parks

Known for
Shaft
Director
The Super Cops
Director
The Learning Tree
Director
Leadbelly
Director
Gordon Parks was an American director born in Fort Scott, Kansas, a pioneering figure widely regarded as the first major Black studio director in Hollywood history. Already an acclaimed photographer and photojournalist for Life magazine before turning to film, Parks brought that same eye for dignified, socially conscious observation to The Learning Tree, his autobiographical debut and the first Hollywood studio film directed by a Black filmmaker. Shaft, following a confident Black private detective navigating crime in Harlem, became a landmark commercial success and helped define the Blaxploitation genre, spawning the sequel Shaft's Big Score! Leadbelly, a biographical portrait of the pioneering blues musician, extended his sustained interest in chronicling Black American history and culture. Parks's historic breakthrough as Hollywood's first major Black studio director and his multidisciplinary career as photographer, writer, and composer made him one of the most significant cultural figures in twentieth-century Black American art.
Gordon Parks was an American director born in Fort Scott, Kansas, a pioneering figure widely regarded as the first major Black studio director in Hollywood history. Already an acclaimed photographer and photojournalist for Life magazine before turning to film, Parks brought that same eye for dignified, socially conscious observation to The Learning Tree, his autobiographical debut and the first Hollywood studio film directed by a Black filmmaker. Shaft, following a confident Black private detective navigating crime in Harlem, became a landmark commercial success and helped define the Blaxploitation genre, spawning the sequel Shaft's Big Score! Leadbelly, a biographical portrait of the pioneering blues musician, extended his sustained interest in chronicling Black American history and culture. Parks's historic breakthrough as Hollywood's first major Black studio director and his multidisciplinary career as photographer, writer, and composer made him one of the most significant cultural figures in twentieth-century Black American art.
Known for
Shaft
Director
The Super Cops
Director
The Learning Tree
Director
Leadbelly
Director
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Full Filmography
American Playhouse
Director · 1 episode
★ 6.6
1982–
TV
Leadbelly
Director
★ 6.4
1976
Film
The Super Cops
Director
★ 5.9
1974
Film
Shaft's Big Score!
Director
★ 6.1
1972
Film
Shaft
Director
★ 6.4
1971
Film
The Learning Tree
Director
★ 6.7
1969
Film
Photos
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gordon Parks still alive?
Gordon Parks passed away on March 7, 2006 at age 93.
What are the most famous roles of Gordon Parks?
Gordon Parks is best known for directing Shaft, Shaft's Big Score!, The Super Cops.
How many movies has Gordon Parks directed?
Over a 42-year career (since 1964), Gordon Parks has directed or written 5 films and worked on 1 TV shows.
What was Gordon Parks's first movie?
The career of Gordon Parks began with Flavio (1964).
What is Gordon Parks's most recent movie or series?
Gordon Parks's most recent release is Martin, which premiered on February 14, 2026.
What TV shows has Gordon Parks created or directed?
On television, Gordon Parks has appeared in American Playhouse.
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Gordon Parks
Gordon Parks
1912-11-30 · Fort Scott, Kansas, United States

Gordon Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks (November 30, 1912 – March 7, 2006) was a groundbreaking American photographer, musician, poet, novelist, journalist, activist and film director. He is best remembered for his photo essays for Life magazine and as the director of the 1971 film Shaft.Gordon Parks, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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