Karyn Kusama Biography
Karyn Kiyoko Kusama is an American filmmaker. She made her feature directorial debut with the sports drama film Girlfight (2000), for which she won Best Director and the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.
10 Facts About Karyn Kusama
- Name: Karyn Kusama
- Age: 56 Years Old
- Birthday: March 21
- Zodiac Sign: Aries
- Height: 5 feet 4 inches
- Nationality: American
- Marital Status: Married
- Occupation: TV Director, Writer, and Producer
- Salary: Not Available
- Net Worth:$3 Million dollars
Karyn Kusama Age
Kusama is 56 years old. She was born on March 21, 1968, in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. She celebrates her birthday on March 21 every year and her birth sign is Aries.
Karyn Kusama Height
Karyn stands at a height of 5 feet 4 inches (1.62 m) tall.
Karyn Kusama Weight
Kusama weighs 65 kg (143 lbs).
Early Life and Education
Kusama was born on March 21, 1968, in St. Louis, Missouri as the daughter of Haruo Kusama, a Japanese child psychiatrist. She joined from Japan and went to the medical school of Washington University. Her mother, Susan McGuire was an occupational therapist. She is of Scottish-Irish descent. Her father is Japanese American and her mother is Scots-Irish-American. Karyn grew up highly invested in the film industry and watching movies, she used it as an outlet to help her feel seen.
Karyn graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis. She gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Television from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 1990. One of her professors at NYU, Carol Dysinger, respected her work and loved the way she told her story through filmmaking.
Karyn Kusama Parents
Karyn was born to her mother, Susan McGuire, and her father, Haruo Kusama in St. Louis, Missouri. Her father is a Japanese child psychiatrist, while her father is a Midwestern educational psychiatrist.
Karyn Kusama Siblings
Karyn spent her childhood alongside her sister Kristen and a son named Kevin.
Karyn Kusama Husband
Kusama is happily married to her husband Phil Hay, a screenwriter. The couple tied the knot in October 2006. The couple first met during the set of Sundance when Girlfight premiered in 2000, they began dating from the time they began working together on Æon Flux.
Karyn Kusama Children
Kusama and his husband Phil are blessed with a son named Michio Hay.
Karyn Kusama Net Worth
Karyn has an estimated net worth of $3 million dollars. This includes her assets, money, and income. Her primary source of income is her career as a Filmmaker, TV Director, Writer, and Producer. Through her various sources of income, she has been able to accumulate good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Karyn Kusama Measurements and Facts
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Karyn.
Karyn Kusama Wiki
- Full Names: Karyn Kiyoko Kusama
- Popular As: Karyn Kusama
- Gender: Female
- Occupation / Profession: Filmmaker, TV Director, Writer, Producer
- Nationality: American
- Race / Ethnicity: Mixed (Japanese, American, German, Irish, and English)
- Religion: Not Known
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
Karyn Kusama Birthday
- Age / How Old?: 56 Years Old
- Zodiac Sign: Aries
- Date of Birth: March 21, 1968
- Place of Birth: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
- Birthday: March 21
Karyn Kusama Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: Not Available
- Height / How Tall?: 5 feet 4 inches (1.62 m)
- Weight: Moderate
- Eye Color: Hazel
- Hair Color: Dark Brown
- Shoe Size: Not Available
Karyn Kusama Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): Haruo Kusama
- Mother: Susan McGuire
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Kristen, Kevin
- Marital Status: Married
- Husband/Spouse: Married to Phil Hay
- Children: Sons (Michio Hay)
Kusama Net Worth and Salary
- Net Worth: $3 Million
- Salary: Not Available
- Source of Income: Filmmaker, TV Director, Writer, Producer
Career
Kusama is an acclaimed filmmaker known for her distinctive and genre-bending approach to cinema. Her works often explore themes of female empowerment, psychological horror, and social commentary, delivered through suspenseful narratives and captivating visuals. After graduating from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, she worked as an editor on documentaries and in the production of independent films and music videos.
Her directorial debut came with the 2000 sports drama “Girlfight,” a gritty and empowering story of a young woman’s journey in the male-dominated world of boxing. The film garnered critical acclaim, winning the Grand Jury Prize and the Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival, and establishing Kusama as a promising new voice in the industry. Kusama’s subsequent projects showcased her versatility as a filmmaker, venturing into various genres.
In 2005, she directed the science fiction action-adventure “Æon Flux,” based on the cult MTV animated series. While the film received mixed reviews, it further solidified Kusama’s reputation for pushing boundaries and challenging conventional genres. In 2009, Kusama returned to a more grounded and unsettling tone with the horror comedy “Jennifer’s Body,” a darkly humorous take on the slasher genre.
Karyn Kusama Destroyer
Kusama’s 2018 crime thriller “Destroyer” is a gritty and uncompromising exploration of a damaged female detective seeking revenge. The film stars Nicole Kidman as Erin Bell, a seasoned LAPD detective who is haunted by her past as an undercover agent in a biker gang.
Karyn Kusama The Invitation
Kusama’s 2015 psychological horror-thriller “The Invitation” is a slow-burning suspense film that ratchets up tension and subverts expectations. The film stars Logan Marshall-Green as Will, a man who accepts an invitation to a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife Eden (Tammy Blanchard) and her new husband David (Michiel Huisman).
Karyn Kusama Movies and TV Shows
- Sleeping Beauties as Director and Writer
- Girlfight as Director and Writer
- Æon Flux as Director
- Jennifer’s Body as Director
- The Invitation as Director
- Destroyer as Director
- Speechless as Director
- Her Only Living Son as Director and Writer
- The L Word as Director
- Halt and Catch Fire as Director
- Chicago Fire as Director
- The Man in the High Castle as Director
- Casual as Director
- Masters of Sex as Director
- Billions as Director
- The Outsider as Director
- Yellowjackets as Director and Executive Producer
Notable Travel, Events, and Experiences
- Sundance Film Festival Breakthrough
- Berlin International Film Festival Debut
- Cannes Film Festival Recognition
- Toronto International Film Festival Success
Karyn Kusama Awards Accomplishments and Achievements
- 2000: Grand Jury Prize – U.S. Dramatic for “Girlfight”
- 2000: Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic for “Girlfight”
- 2000: Award of the Youth for “Girlfight”
- 2001: Nomination for Best First Feature for “Girlfight”
- 2015: Best Film for “The Invitation”
- 2018: Outstanding Directing for a Single Camera Program – “Halt and Catch Fire”
Hobbies and Interests
- Boxing
- Exploration of New Cultures
- Visual Arts Appreciation
- Continuous Learning and Curiosity
- Support for Human Rights and Social Justice
Final Thoughts
Kusama is a role model for young women everywhere. She shows them that it is possible to achieve their dreams, no matter what their background. She is proud of what she has accomplished and is excited to continue inspiring others.
Karyn Kusama Contacts
- YouTube
- Tiktok
- Website
Related Biographies
You may also like to read the Bio, Career, Family, Relationship, Body measurements, Net worth, Achievements, and more about:
About InformationCradle Editorial Staff
This Article is produced by InformationCradle Editorial Staff which is a team of expert writers and editors led by Josphat Gachie and trusted by millions of readers worldwide.
We endeavor to keep our content True, Accurate, Correct, Original and Up to Date. For complain, correction or an update, please send us an email to informationcradle@gmail.com. We promise to take corrective measures to the best of our abilities.