Paul Thomas Anderson is a man as unique and enigmatic as the movies he creates. He’s considered by critics and movie enthusiasts as one of the greatest directors of the last several decades. That’s thanks to timeless classics like Boogie Nights, Punch Drunk Love, Magnolia, and There Will Be Blood, the latter of which starred acclaimed and mysterious actor Daniel Day-Lewis.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much definitive information when it comes to his family dynamic as one of nine siblings!
But we won’t let that stop us from learning more about one of Hollywood’s most beloved auteur filmmakers as we rank Paul and his siblings from oldest to youngest!
9. Amanda Anderson
Personal and professional information about Amanda Anderson is unknown. However, we believe that Amanda is the oldest among the Anderson siblings.
8. Kathryn Anderson
Personal and professional information about Kathryn Anderson is unknown.
7. Elizabeth Anderson
Personal and professional information about Elizabeth Anderson is unknown.
6. Stephen Anderson
Personal and professional information about Stephen Anderson is unknown.
5. Ernest Anderson
Personal and professional information about Ernest Anderson is unknown.
4. Michael Anderson
Personal and professional information about Michael Anderson is unknown.
3. Victoria Anderson
Personal and professional information about Victoria Anderson is unknown.
2. Richard Anderson
Personal and professional information about Richard Anderson is unknown.
1. Paul Thomas Anderson (June 26, 1970 – Present)
Age (as of October 2022): 52 years, 3 months, 15 days
Born: Los Angeles, California
Occupation: Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Cinematographer
Known For: There Will Be Blood
photo source: commons.wikimedia.org
Paul Thomas Anderson is the youngest of the Anderson siblings whose age is listed!
Anderson was born in Studio City, Los Angeles, to a father with a background as an actor, a narrator for the ABC network, and as “Ghoulardi,” a Cleveland television horror movie host, which Paul named his production company after to honor his father.
Paul became a writer and director at the behest of his father.
In the few interviews he’s done, he talks about how filmmaking, even at a young age, was his life’s calling. He never gave much thought to a backup plan and made his first film when he was eight.
In high school, after saving enough money and working a job cleaning cages at a pet store, he wrote and filmed a 30-minute mockumentary called The Dirk Diggler Story, which was about a pornography star inspired by the life of adult star John Holmes. In hindsight, it undoubtedly foreshadowed his future award-winning film Boogie Nights.
Paul is known for working with some heavy-hitters in the acting world. He also has a reputation for choosing the same actors to work with across each of his films. The best example of this would be his partnership with Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood and Phantom Thread).
P.T. wasn’t one for the traditional classroom setting when it came to his film education. He famously attended film school for only two days and quickly decided the best way for him to learn was to simply watch the work of the greats that came before, along with the director’s audio commentary if it was available.
He’s cited Kubrick, Scorsese, Spielberg, Orson Welles, Robert Downey Sr., and Alfred Hitchcock as some of his primary inspirations.
Did You Know?
Over the course of his storied career, Paul Thomas Anderson has been nominated for eleven Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and eight BAFTA Awards (winning one), and has won a Best Director Award at Cannes, both a Golden and a Silver Bear at Berlin, and a Silver Lion at Venice.
