David Owen Russell (born 20 August 1958 in New York) is an American film director and screenwriter. He directed and wrote Three Kings and the existential comedy I ♥ Huckabees. Earlier films include independent films Flirting with Disaster and Spanking the Monkey.
Russell was born in Larchmont, New York to a Jewish father and an Italian Catholic mother. He graduated from Amherst College in 1981, majoring in political science and English.

Controversy

Main article: Three Kings, conflict Three Kings
Not long after this, an altercation occurred at a Hollywood party between Russell and director Christopher Nolan[1] . During preproduction for Russell's film I ♥ Huckabees, Jude Law abandoned his commitment to the project to instead take a role in Nolan's upcoming film The Prestige article by Sharon Waxman in which she describes him calling Tomlin "...the crudest word imaginable, in front of the actors and crew." Additionally Waxman witnessed the following which is corroborated by the leaked videos:
Waxman also comments to the effect that Russell made an effort to destabilize the actors to improve their performances, a task which was not altogether opposed. The set was characterized as emotionally charged, with Russell begging nothing but his dream for the film from the actors, who were sometimes driven to their wits' end after hours of takes. The noted instance circulated on the internet was one such dramatic exchange. Shortly afterwards, Tomlin remarks that she and Russell are "fine", saying:

I ♥ Huckabees

Filmography

The H-Man Cometh (2008) - announced
Soldiers Pay (2004)
I ♥ Huckabees (2004)
Three Kings (1999)
Flirting with Disaster (1996)
Spanking the Monkey (1994)
Hairway to the Stars (1990)
Bingo Inferno (1987) Awards and nominations

Is good friends with film directors Alexander Payne and Spike Jonze. Jonze had played the character Conrad Vig in Three Kings.
Played a dinner guest of Susan Orlean in the 2002 Spike Jonze film Adaptation.