About
Illeana Douglas is an actress, writer, producer, and director. Known for playing fearless and outspoken characters, she is the granddaughter of two-time Academy Award-winning actor Melvyn Douglas. Her first book, I Blame Dennis Hopper: And Other Stories from a Life Lived in and Out of the Movies, was named “one of the best books of 2015” by Entertainment Weekly.
A classic film lover, Illeana is a member of the Turner Classic Movies family, and has interviewed a pantheon of cinema greats and hosted TCM Spotlight series, including Funny Ladies, Second Looks, and Trailblazing Women. Illeana has participated in scores of film documentaries, including CNN: The Movies, 78/52, Greatest Cult Films of All Time, The True Adventures of Raoul Walsh, and Kino Lorber’s Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers, which she also executive-produced and hosted. She has also provided film commentaries and interviews for Criterion, Arrow Entertainment, and Joe Dante’s Trailers From Hell.
Illeana produced and hosted the podcast The Film Scene, interviewing celebrities about classic film. She also wrote, produced, starred in, and frequently directed the multi-award-winning first-ever branded web series, Easy to Assemble, sponsored by IKEA, and was the recipient of the Pioneer in Comedy Award at the 2018 Palm Springs International Comedy Festival for her innovation.
Illeana has produced a number of films, documentaries, and television pilots, including The Perfect Woman, Devil Talk, and Supermarket, which aired on the Sundance Channel; Life Without Dick, Chez Upshaw, Kingdom Come and Celebrity Garage Sale, for A&E; Everybody Just Stay Calm and Boy Crazy, Girl Crazier for Bravo; Illeanarama for Oxygen; and The Skinny for Refinery 29.
Books
Connecticut in the Movies
Illeana Douglas has long been known for shining new light on forgotten films. Now the celebrated actress and film historian turns her focus to a heretofore unrecognized brand: the Connecticut movie! Told from the passionate perspective of the author who grew up here, and filled with behind-the- scenes stories as well as her own personal snapshots of the places where these films were made, Illeana takes the reader on a cinematic road trip through Hollywood history and Connecticut geography, bringing the breezy, intimate, knowledgeable writing style acclaimed by reviewers of her first book, I Blame Dennis Hopper (2015).
Illeana defines how the perception of on-screen Connecticut, originally created in Hollywood, has shifted more than that of any other New England state over the decade and offers some surprising conclusions about just what it means to be a “Connecticut movie.”
Films from Hollywood’s Golden Age, such as Theodora Goes Wild, Bringing Up Baby, and Christmas in Connecticut, presented Connecticut as an antidote to the metropolis—a place where you could find your true self. The slogan “Come to Peaceful Connecticut” not only led to Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, but to an exodus of urban moviegoers seeking their dream houses. In post-war America, Gentleman’s Agreement challenged Connecticut’s well-cultivated image, as did the suburban malaise of The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit, and contemporary takes on dark suburbia like The Swimmer, The Ice Storm, and Revolutionary Road. From Sherlock Holmes to Mystic Pizza to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; from horror in The Stepford Wives to historical in Amistad; picturesque in Parrish, to perverse in The Secret Life of An American Wife, the Constitution State has been the background for surprisingly over 200 feature films, yet these cinematic contributions have gone unrecognized; until now.
Connecticut in the Movies is not only a keepsake for denizens of the state, but a valuable resource for film buffs curated by a film buff!
I Blame Dennis Hopper
In 1969 Illeana Douglas’ parents saw the film Easy Rider and were transformed. Taking Dennis Hopper’s words, “That’s what it’s all about man” to heart, they abandoned their comfortable upper middle class life and gave Illeana a childhood filled with hippies, goats, free spirits, and free love. Illeana writes, “Since it was all out of my control, I began to think of my life as a movie, with a Dennis Hopper-like father at the center of it.”
I Blame Dennis Hopper is a testament to the power of art and the tenacity of passion. It is a rollicking, funny, at times tender exploration of the way movies can change our lives. With crackling humor and a full heart, Douglas describes how a good Liza Minnelli impression helped her land her first gig and how Rudy Valley taught her the meaning of being a show biz trouper. From her first experience being on set with her grandfather and mentor-two-time Academy Award-winning actor Melvyn Douglas-to the moment she was discovered by Martin Scorsese for her blood-curdling scream and cast in her first film, to starring in movies alongside Robert DeNiro, Nicole Kidman, and Ethan Hawke, to becoming an award winning writer, director and producer in her own right, I Blame Dennis Hopper is an irresistible love letter to movies and filmmaking. Writing from the perspective of the ultimate show business fan, Douglas packs each page with hilarious anecdotes, bizarre coincidences, and fateful meetings that seem, well, right out of a plot of a movie.
I Blame Dennis Hopper is the story of one woman’s experience in show business, but it is also a genuine reminder of why we all love the movies: for the glitz, the glamor, the sweat, passion, humor, and escape they offer us all.
Videos
Interviews
Why are so many celebrities so comfortable being interviewed by Illeana? It’s not because they’re friends (even though they probably are) – it’s because she’s just as in love with the subject matter as they are. Watch some of her interviews with a few Hollywood legends, and you’ll see what we mean.
Hosting
Illeana’s love for all things film makes her the perfect host for TCM’s “Second Looks”. Take a look, and you’ll discover that her enthusiasm for classic cinema is nothing short of infectious.
Acting Reel
Galleries
- Featured
- Easy to Assemble
- All
A Mankiewics Sandwich
A Selfie With Heart
Backstage With Jerry Lewis
Getting Comfortable Backstage for a PEN Reading Event
TCM Classic Film Festival
George Segal Making Me Happy
Paul Mazursky and our Hangout, Farmers Market LA
Not sure what happened to this guy, Matthew someone. We had fun and I can't remember the movie
On Set Welcome to Sweden
The greatest guitar maker in the world, Danny Ferrington before the Independent Spirit Awards
Reflective selfie on set of the film Otis
With Liza Minelli at the 2013 TCM Film Festival
Directing Sarah Silverman in Illeanarama
Directing Jeff Goldblum and Sarah Silverman in Illeanarama
Directing Jeff Goldblum in Illeanarama
2015 TCM Film Festival
2004 Aspen Comedy Fest
Me Directing Illeanarama
Cohosting with Robert Osborne on TCM, and evening of Melvyn Douglas films
Backstage at the 2014 TCM Classic Film Festival
American Gem Trade - Times Square Jumbotron
Giving Craig Bierko some direction in Season 4, Finding North
Doing Red Carpet Interviews for 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival
Craig Bierko and I arrive for Finding North Premier of Easy to Assemble
Hugging my Welcome to Sweden producer, Amy Poehler
Here's how it looked on the magazine - AGA
Hollywood Uncensored appearance for Finding North
Introducing Barrie Chase at the TCM Film Festival presentation of the original Cape Fear
Interviewing Madeline Stowe for 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival
Independent Spirit Awards
Opening Night Reception for Tim Burton's Big Eyes
Opening Night of The Green with cast
Maureen O Hara at the 2014 TCM Classic Film Festival
PR Shot for TCM's Second Looks
PR Shot for Savannah Film Festival
Richard Dreyfuss and me backstage at the 2014 TCM Classic Film Festival
Sundance PR shot for Devil Talk
Sundance Film Festival with Film Rocket
With Sia and opening night of The Green
TCM Classic Film Festival 2013
With Marc Maron after doing his WTF podcast
Contact Me
On the Road
Photos by Illeana
Jeff Goldblum, Season 1 - Art is Where You Make It
Roger Bart, Season 3 - This Side Up
Behind the Scenes, Jeff Goldblum, Season 1 - Art is Where You Make It
Dance Sequence, This Side Up
Behind the Scenes, This Side Up
Behind the Scenes With Cast, This Side Up
Cheri Oteri, Season 2 - Coworker of the Year
Ed Begley, Season 2.5 - Flying Solo
Ed Begley, Season 4 - This Side Up
Ed Begley, Season 1 - Art is Where You Make It
Events and Party Time
Eric Lange, Sung Kang, Season 2.5 - Flying Solo
Greg Proops, Season 4 - This Side Up
Fred Willard, Season 3 - Finding North
Kate Micucci wears IKEA dress, Season 4 - This Side Up
Illeana, Greg Proops, Tom Arnold, Season 4 - This Side Up
Justine Bateman, Season 2.5 - Flying Solo
Justine Bateman, Season 1 - Art is Where You Make It
Keving Pollak, Season 1 - Art is Where You Make It
Easy to Assemble
Roger Bart, Season 4 - This Side Up
Rob Mailhouse, Season 2.5 - Flying Solo
Roger Bart, Season 4 - This Side Up
Season 2 - Coworker of the Year
Season 4 - This Side Up
Sparhusen - Music Available on iTunes
Sparhusen
Sparhusen for three seasons of Easy to Assemble
Shooting Season 4 - This Side Up
Tim Meadows, David Henrie and Michael Irpino, Season 2.5 - Flying Solo
Tom Arnold, Season 1 - Art is Where You Make It
This Side Up - Season 4
The sun sets on season 2 - Coworker of the Year
Wayne Federman, Season 4 - This Side Up
Wayne Federman, Illeana, Greg Proops, Season 4 - This Side Up
Wallace Langham, Keanu Reeves, Rob Mailhouse, Season 2 - Coworker of the Year
Tom Arnold, Season 4 - This Side Up
Podcasts
Contact
Commercials/Voiceovers:
Cunningham Escott Slevin Doherty Talent Agency
Cathey Lizzio
Email:
clizzio@cesdtalent.com
Call:
310-475-2111
Publicity, Booking & Appearances:
Deraney PR
Danny Deraney
Email:
danny@deraneypr.com
Call:
323-333-8501
I Blame Dennis Hopper:
Flatiron Books
Marlena Bittner (Press Inquiries & Author Events)
Call:
646-307-5078
Connecticut in the Movies:
Globe Pequot Press
Shana Capozza (Publicity & Event Inquiries)
Email:
scapozza@rowman.com
Call:
860-460-5455
Social