Name: Peter Jackson

Film: "King Kong"

Born: Oct. 31, 1961 (Pukerua Bay, North Island, New Zealand)

Bio: After the unprecedented Academy Award achievements of his "Lord of the Rings" trilogy — including 11 Oscar wins for series capper "The Return of the King" — Peter Jackson entered the ranks of A-list directors. Now, with the remake of his favorite film, "King Kong," Jackson fulfills a lifetime ambition, one that began when he was 8 years old and friends of his parents bought him a Super 8 movie camera. Jackson made a stir years later with his first professional horror movie, "Dead Alive." The budding director followed that cult film with the critically acclaimed "Heavenly Creatures." Despite his Hollywood success, Jackson continues to write, direct and produce close to his home in Wellington, New Zealand, where he has also launched a special effects shop called WETA.

Credits:
"The Lovely Bones" (2007)
"King Kong" (2005)
"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (2003)
"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" (2002)
"The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001)
"The Frighteners" (1996)
"Forgotten Silver" (1995) (TV)
"Heavenly Creatures" (1994)
"Dead Alive" (1992)
"Meet the Feebles" (1989)
"Bad Taste" (1987)
"The Valley" (1976)

Notable: With "The Return of the King," Jackson became one of only five directors to win Academy Awards for best picture, best director and best screenplay for the same film. James L. Brooks, Francis Ford Coppola, Billy Wilder and Leo McCarey are the other four to score the Oscar trifecta.