Penelope Spheeris (born December 2, 1946 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American director, producer, and screenwriter.
Spheeris earned an MFA in theatre arts from UCLA. In the late 1960s she started to make short films. She eventually gained attention with the punk rockumentary The Decline of Western Civilization, which she eventually expanded into a trilogy. Her other films range from the No Budget punk drama Suburbia to Wayne's World, expanded from the Saturday Night Live skits.
Spheeris was formerly married to music video director Bob Biggs and the couple have a daughter. She is a cousin of the Greek-French director Costa-Gavras.
Filmography:
Feature Films
- 1981 The Decline of Western Civilization
- 1983 Suburbia
- 1985 The Boys Next Door
- 1986 Hollywood Vice Squad
- 1987 Dudes
- 1988 The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II The Metal Years
- 1990 Thunder And Mud
- 1991 Prison Stories Women On The Inside (segment “New Chicks”)
- 1991 Raps Most Wanted
- 1991 UFO Abductions
- 1991 Visitors From The Unknown
- 1992 Wayne's World
- 1993 The Beverly Hillbillies
- 1994 The Little Rascals
- 1996 Black Sheep (1996)
- 1998 The Decline Of Western Civilization Part III
- 1998 Senseless
- 1998 Applewood 911 (Made-for-TV Movie)
- 1999 Hollywierd
- 2000 Dear Doughboy (TV Movie)
- 2001 We Sold Our Souls For Rock N Roll
- 2003 The Crooked E The Unshredded Truth About Enron
- 2005 The Kid & I
- 2011 Balls To The Wall
- 2011 Five (TV Movie, segment “Cheyanne”)
- 2012 The Real St Nick (TV Movie)
Short Films
- 1968 Synthesis
- 1968 Boys And Crows
- 1969 Uncle Toms Fairy Tales
- 1969 Bath
- 1969 Shit
- 1969 The National Rehabilitation Center
- 1971 I Dont Know
- 1972 Hats Off To Hollywood
- 1998 No Use Walkin When You Can Stroll
Television
- 1990 Roseanne (1 episode, written only)
- 1993 Danger Theatre
- 2004 Cracking Up (1 episode)
