Age: 79
male
William Oliver Stone (born September 15, 1946) is an American film director and screenwriter. Stone became known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, in which he had participated as an American infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on contemporary political and cultural issues, often controversially. He has received three Academy Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay for Midnight Express (1978), and Best Director for Platoon (1986) and Born on the Fourth of July (1989). Stone's movies often use many different cameras and film formats, including VHS, 8 mm film, and 70 mm film. He sometimes uses several formats in a single scene, as in Natural Born Killers (1994) and JFK (1991).
From a humble peanut farmer in rural Georgia to the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter rose to power on a promise of honesty and decency in the aftermath of Watergate. His tenure in the White House was marked by landmark achievements—the Camp David Accords, environmental protections, and a deep commitment to human rights—yet overshadowed by an economic crisis, energy shortages, and the Iran hostage situation. As political tides turn against him, Carter suffers a crushing defeat in 1980 to Ronald Reagan, leaving office as one of the most criticized presidents in modern history. But his story doesn’t end there. In the decades that follow, he redefines what it means to be a former president, becoming a champion for global peace, democracy, and humanitarian efforts—ultimately earning the Nobel Peace Prize and securing his place as one of America’s most respected elder statesmen.
