View source for D. J. Caruso



{{Infobox person
| name               = D. J. Caruso
| image              = 
| caption            = 
| birth_name         = Daniel John Caruso Jr.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NCNB&p_theme=ncnb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1239DA1E46756D58&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | work=Norwalk Citizen News | title=Caruso, a Norwalk Native, Helms 'Eagle Eye' | date=October 3, 2008 | archive-date=January 20, 2016 | access-date=March 18, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120184506/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NCNB&p_theme=ncnb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1239DA1E46756D58&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | url-status=dead }}</ref>
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1965|1|17}}
| birth_place        = [[Norwalk, Connecticut]], U.S.
| other names        = 
| alma_mater         = [[Pepperdine University]]
| occupation         = Director, producer
| yearsactive        = 1988–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|Holly Kuespert|1990}}
| children           = 5
}}
'''Daniel John Caruso Jr.''' ({{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|r|uː|s|oʊ}}; born January 17, 1965) is an American film and television director, screenwriter, and producer. His work encompasses a variety of genres, including [[Thriller film|thriller]] (''[[Disturbia (film)|Disturbia]], [[Taking Lives (film)|Taking Lives]]''), [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] (''[[Standing Up]]''), horror (''[[The Disappointments Room]]''), and [[Action film|action]] (''[[I Am Number Four (film)|I Am Number Four]]'', ''[[XXX: Return of Xander Cage]]''). He has also directed episodes of [[television series]] such as ''[[The Shield]]'', ''[[Over There (American TV series)|Over There]]'', ''[[Smallville]]'', and ''[[Dark Angel (2000 TV series)|Dark Angel]]''.

==Early life and education==
Caruso was born in [[Norwalk, Connecticut]], the son of Lorraine (Zullo) and Daniel John Caruso, who owned a salon, House of Beauty.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehour.com/news/norwalk/nhsaa-wall-of-honor-hollywood-director-was-all-state-tennis/article_53cfa18b-2dae-51d4-9952-c9f11de74e63.html |title=NHSAA Wall of Honor Hollywood director was All-State tennis player - Thehour.com: Norwalk |date=October 2010 |publisher=Thehour.com |access-date=November 5, 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He is of Italian descent.<ref>{{cite web|author=Liz Braun |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2007/04/12/3991954.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710095647/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2007/04/12/3991954.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |title=CANOE - JAM! Movies: 'Disturbia' director mixes genres |publisher=Jam.canoe.ca |date=April 12, 2007 |access-date=September 23, 2010}}</ref> He graduated from [[Norwalk High School (Connecticut)|Norwalk High School]] in 1983. He is a graduate of [[Pepperdine University]] in [[Malibu, California]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Fay, Francis X. Jr. |title=NHSAA Wall of Honor Hollywood director was All-State tennis player |date=October 1, 2010 |newspaper=[[The Hour (newspaper)|The Hour]] |url=http://www.thehour.com/story/492272 |access-date=October 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717002845/http://www.thehour.com/story/492272 |archive-date=July 17, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/166714/D-J-Caruso|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023092949/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/166714/D-J-Caruso|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 23, 2007|title=D.J. Caruso|access-date=September 29, 2008|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2007|author=Jason Buchanan}}</ref>

==Career==
Caruso began his career as a protégé of director [[John Badham]], acting as producer and [[Second unit|second unit director]] on films like [[Point of No Return (1993 film)|''Point of No Return'']], [[Drop Zone (film)|''Drop Zone'']], and [[Nick of Time (film)|''Nick of Time'']]. He directed multiple episodes of television series like ''[[High Incident]]'' and ''[[Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction]]'', in addition to two [[Made-for-Television|made-for-television films]].

His feature film directorial debut was ''[[The Salton Sea (2002 film)|The Salton Sea]]'', a stylish 2002 [[crime thriller]] starring [[Val Kilmer]] and [[Vincent D'Onofrio]] that has since gained minor cult status. Caruso next directed the [[Angelina Jolie]] and [[Ethan Hawke]]-starring [[psychological thriller]] film ''[[Taking Lives (film)|Taking Lives]].'' The film was released in theaters on March 19, 2004, but did not meet box office expectations, grossing $65,470,529 from a $35 million budget. However, the film proved to be a success on [[home video]], holding its place as the number one best-selling DVD for three straight weeks. ''[[Two for the Money (2005 film)|Two for the Money]]'' was Caruso's next film which was considered "a well done sport thriller, but with too many details". The film was released on October 7, 2005, and was a moderate success, grossing $30,526,509 worldwide with a modest budget of $18 million. It was later released on DVD on January 17, 2006.

In 2007, Caruso was asked by [[Steven Spielberg]] to direct ''[[Disturbia (film)|Disturbia]]''. The movie was Caruso's first big hit, grossing over $117 million on a $20 million budget. It starred [[Shia LaBeouf]], [[Sarah Roemer]], [[David Morse (actor)|David Morse]], [[Aaron Yoo]], and [[Carrie-Anne Moss]]. It was released April 13, 2007 in theaters and on DVD August 7.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18526 |title=00's Retrospect: Star Power Pushes Over 2007 |date=December 29, 2009 |publisher=Bloody-disgusting.com |access-date=September 23, 2010}}</ref> ''[[Eagle Eye]]'' was Caruso's second collaboration with producer Spielberg and actor LaBeouf. It also starred [[Michelle Monaghan]], [[Billy Bob Thornton]], [[Rosario Dawson]] and was released in theaters September 26, 2008. Critical reactions were mixed to negative but, on its opening weekend the movie grossed $29.1 million in 3,510 theaters in the United States and Canada. As of 2017, it has grossed $201 million worldwide with a movie budget of $80 million.

He directed the [[YA Fiction|YA novel]] adaptation ''[[I Am Number Four (film)|I Am Number Four]]'' in 2011, which film grossed $161 million worldwide, but failed to build enough interest for an intended sequel. Two years later, he fulfilled a long-time passion project with the [[Coming of age|coming-of-age]] film ''[[Standing Up]]'', the director's first family film. It is based on [[Brock Cole]]'s novel, ''The Goats''. The film stars [[Chandler Canterbury]] and [[Annalise Basso]] as two geeky children who embark on a journey of discovery and self-discovery after they are stripped naked and left stranded together on an island as part of a summer camp prank. Caruso began adapting the novel in the early nineties with then-partner Ken Aguado, who produced the film. ''Standing Up'' was produced for a small budget of $3 million and was released on August 16, 2013.

In August 2013, Caruso planned to direct the film adaptation of the comic ''[[Preacher (comics)|Preacher]]''.<ref>[http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=38495 Empireonline] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026073610/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=38495 |date=October 26, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/yes-d-j-caruso-still-plans-to-make-preacher/ |title=Yes, D.J. Caruso Still Plans to Make 'Preacher' - /Film |publisher=Slashfilm.com |date=August 19, 2013 |access-date=November 5, 2015}}</ref> Caruso was also working on a film titled ''Selling Time'', a supernatural thriller potentially starring [[Will Smith]], about a man who is given the unique opportunity to relive the worst day of his life, in exchange for seven years off his own life expectancy.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kroll|first=Justin|title=DJ Caruso to Direct Supernatural 'Selling Time' for Fox|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/dj-caruso-to-direct-supernatural-selling-time-for-fox-1201035297/|department=Film|work=Variety|publisher=Variety Media|location=LA|date=January 7, 2014}}</ref> Both projects have since fallen through, with the former property being adapted into a [[Preacher (TV series)|hit television series]] aired on [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]].

He was a guest judge on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] reality television show ''[[On the Lot]]'' for the episode of May 28 and 29 in 2007. Caruso directed his first music video in 2007 for the song "Don't Make Me Wait" by [[This World Fair]].<ref name="twf">{{cite web|url=https://www.thisworldfair.com |title=This World Fair |access-date=September 29, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010185916/http://thisworldfair.com/ |archive-date=October 10, 2008 }}</ref> In 2009, he directed the music video for [[Airborne Toxic Event]]'s song "[[Sometime Around Midnight]]".

On April 2, 2015, Caruso was hired to direct the third installment in the [[G.I. Joe (film series)#Untitled G.I. Joe 3|''G.I. Joe'' film series]], with Aaron Berg writing the screenplay.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dj-caruso-talks-direct-gi-762004|title=D. J. Caruso in Talks to Direct 'G. I. Joe 3' (Exclusive)|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=November 24, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/gi-joe-3-nabs-785578|title='G. I. Joe 3' Nabs 'Section 6' Writer (Exclusive)|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=November 24, 2015}}</ref> October 2015, actor and producer [[Vin Diesel]] had Caruso sign on as the director of ''[[XXX: Return of Xander Cage]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Osborn|first1=Alex|title=Vin Diesel: XXX 3 Will Be Directed by D.J. Caruso|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/10/10/vin-diesel-xxx-3-will-be-directed-by-dj-caruso|website=IGN.com|date=October 10, 2015 |access-date=November 23, 2015}}</ref> The film debuted at number one and made $347 million worldwide.

Caruso directed the film ''[[Redeeming Love (2022 film)|Redeeming Love]]'', based on [[Francine Rivers]]' 1991 novel of the same name, after "he fell in love with the characters and the story when his wife introduced him to the novel". The film was set for a spring 2021 release,<ref name="TW">{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/dj-caruso-adapts-romance-novel-redeeming-love-from-pure-flix-entertainment/|title=DJ Caruso Adapts Romance Novel 'Redeeming Love' With Abigail Cowen, Tom Lewis|publisher=[[The Wrap]]|author=Bryan Welk|date=April 29, 2020|access-date=July 3, 2020}}</ref> but was rescheduled to early 2022.

In 2024, Caruso directed the film ''[[Mary (2024 film)|Mary]]'' for [[Netflix]], which follows the life of [[Mary, mother of Jesus]]. The film faced backlash over the decision to cast Israeli actors over Palestinian actors;<ref>{{cite web |last=Aouir |first=Reem |title=Netflix faces backlash for casting Israeli actors in upcoming biblical film Mary |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/trending/netflix-mary-backlash-cast-israeli-actors-lead-role-biblical-film |website=[[Middle East Eye]] |access-date=27 November 2024 |date=14 November 2024}}</ref> Caruso has stated that, "It was important to us that Mary, along with most of our primary cast, be selected from Israel to ensure authenticity."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Brathwaite |first=Lester Fabian |title=The mother of Jesus Christ goes on the run in 'Mary' first-look photos |url=https://ew.com/mary-first-look-biblical-coming-age-film-mother-jesus-christ-8726830 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=27 November 2024 |date=15 October 2024}}</ref> That same year, he directed the documentary miniseries ''Bronx Zoo '90: Crime, Chaos and Baseball''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tenorio |first=Rich |date=2024-05-29 |title=Bronx Zoo ‘90: the season the New York Yankees hit a chaotic low |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/may/29/bronx-zoo-90-the-season-the-new-york-yankees-hit-a-chaotic-low |access-date=2026-02-12 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Caruso married actress Holly Kuespert on July 6, 1990. They have five children.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pepperdinesports.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/brandon_caruso_864309.html |title=Brandon Caruso Bio - Pepperdine University Official Athletic Site |publisher=Pepperdinesports.com |access-date=November 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924071017/http://www.pepperdinesports.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/brandon_caruso_864309.html |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He is [[Catholic Church|Catholic]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The new trailer for Netflix's upcoming biblical epic, 'Mary' |url=https://aleteia.org/2024/11/12/watch-trailer-for-netflixs-upcoming-biblical-epic-mary |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture |language=en}}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable"
|-  style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
!Year
!Title
!width=65|Director
!width=65|Writer
!Producer
!Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" |1993
|[[Point of No Return (1993 film)|''Point of No Return'']]
|{{partial|2nd unit}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|Associate producer
|-
|''[[Another Stakeout]]''
|{{partial|2nd unit}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|Co-producer
|-
|1994
|[[Drop Zone (film)|''Drop Zone'']]
|{{partial|2nd unit}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|1995
|[[Nick of Time (film)|''Nick of Time'']]
|{{partial|2nd unit}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|Executive producer
|-
| 2002
|''[[The Salton Sea (2002 film)|The Salton Sea]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2004
|''[[Taking Lives (film)|Taking Lives]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2005
|''[[Two for the Money (2005 film)|Two for the Money]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2007
|''[[Disturbia (film)|Disturbia]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2008
|''[[Eagle Eye]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2011
|''[[I Am Number Four (film)|I Am Number Four]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|''[[Inside (2011 film)|Inside]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|[[Social film]]
|-
|2013
|''[[Standing Up (film)|Standing Up]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2016
|''[[The Disappointments Room]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2017
|''[[XXX: Return of Xander Cage]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2022
|''[[Redeeming Love (2022 film)|Redeeming Love]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|[[Shut In (2022 film)|''Shut In'']]
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2024
|''[[Mary (2024 film)|Mary]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|{{no}}
|
|}

'''Producer only'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-  style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
!Year
!Title
!Director
!Notes
|-
|1991
|[[The Hard Way (1991 film)|''The Hard Way'']]
|[[John Badham]]
|Associate producer
|-
|2002
|''[[Crazy as Hell]]''
|[[Eriq La Salle]]
|
|-
|2017
|''[[The Tribes of Palos Verdes]]''
|[[The Malloys]]
|Executive producer
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
|-  style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
!Year
!Title
!Notes
|-
| 1996
|''[[VR.5]]''
|1 episode
|-
|1996–97
|''[[High Incident]]''
|4 episodes
|-
|1997
|''[[Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction]]''
|8 episodes<br>Wrote 1 episode
|-
| rowspan="2" |1998
|''[[Mercy Point]]''
|1 episode
|-
|''[[Buddy Faro]]''
|1 episode
|-
| rowspan="2" |1999
|''[[Martial Law (TV series)|Martial Law]]''
|1 episode
|-
|''[[The Strip (U.S. TV series)|The Strip]]''
|1 episode
|-
| rowspan="2" |2001
|''[[Dark Angel (2000 TV series)|Dark Angel]]''
|1 episode
|-
|''[[Going to California (TV series)|Going to California]]''
|4 episodes
|-
|rowspan="2"|2002
|''[[Robbery Homicide Division (TV series)|Robbery Homicide Division]]''
|2 episodes
|-
|''[[Smallville]]''
|1 episode
|-
|2002–06
|''[[The Shield (TV series)|The Shield]]''
|4 episodes
|-
|2005
|''[[Over There (American TV series)|Over There]]''
|1 episode
|-
|2024
|''Bronx Zoo '90: Crime, Chaos and Baseball''
|Documentary series; 4 episodes
|}

'''Executive producer only'''
* ''[[Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault]]'' (1996) (TV movie)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0142286}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110527140445/http://www.criticizethis.ca/2011/05/qa-with-director-d-j-caruso-on-i-am-number-four.html Q&A with D. J. Caruso]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110528024054/http://cinemovie.tv/cinemovie_new/component/content/article/55-interviews/1452-dj-caruso-interview-tips-directing-action-movies D. J. Caruso Interview ]

{{D.J. Caruso}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Caruso, D.J.}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American screenwriters]]
[[Category:American action film directors]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:American television directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from Connecticut]]
[[Category:Film producers from Connecticut]]
[[Category:American horror film directors]]
[[Category:Norwalk High School (Connecticut) alumni]]
[[Category:Pepperdine University alumni]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Connecticut]]
[[Category:Writers from Norwalk, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Catholics from Connecticut]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=D. J. Caruso|access_date=2026-03-01}}