Steven Spielberg
USC film school rejected him twice; he shot his first features for a Boy Scout badge.
Steven Spielberg was born in 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio, US. Steven Spielberg's background is described as Jewish American. Growing up, the family was middle class — electrical-engineer father, pianist mother; frequent moves, antisemitic bullying at school, and a divorce that echoes through his films. USC film school rejected him twice; he shot his first features for a Boy Scout badge.
- Born
- 1946 · Cincinnati, Ohio, US
- Roots
- Jewish American
- Family
- Middle class
- Electrical-engineer father, pianist mother; frequent moves, antisemitic bullying at school, and a divorce that echoes through his films.
- Education
- Rejected twice by USC film school; attended Cal State Long Beach
- Started with
- A Boy Scout badge
- Made his first 8mm film for a Scout photography badge; his sisters sold tickets and popcorn to home screenings.
- Affiliations & societies
- None documented.
- Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.
The pathway
- 1968 · age 21Amblin'
The 26-minute short gets him a seven-year Universal contract — reported as the youngest ever signed by a major studio.
- 1971 · age 24Duel
A TV movie so taut it gets a theatrical release in Europe.
- 1975 · age 28Jaws
The mechanical shark keeps breaking, forcing suspense by absence; the result invents the summer blockbuster.
- 1982 · age 35E.T.
The highest-grossing film ever, until his own Jurassic Park.
- 1993 · age 46Schindler's List
Refuses a salary, calling it blood money; the profits seed the Shoah Foundation's 55,000 survivor testimonies.
- 1994 · age 47DreamWorks
Co-founds the first new major studio in decades.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Steven Spielberg from?
Steven Spielberg was born in 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio, US. Their background is described as Jewish American.
When was Steven Spielberg born?
Steven Spielberg was born in 1946, in Cincinnati, Ohio, US.
What is Steven Spielberg's background or ethnicity?
Steven Spielberg's roots are described as Jewish American. These are broad categories drawn from public sources, not statements about how the person identifies.
Where did Steven Spielberg go to school?
Steven Spielberg's education: Rejected twice by USC film school; attended Cal State Long Beach.
What was Steven Spielberg's family background growing up?
At birth the family was middle class. Electrical-engineer father, pianist mother; frequent moves, antisemitic bullying at school, and a divorce that echoes through his films.
How did Steven Spielberg get started?
Steven Spielberg started with a Boy Scout badge. Made his first 8mm film for a Scout photography badge; his sisters sold tickets and popcorn to home screenings.
Sources
Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.