Ramón Menéndez (born January 21, 1950) is a Cuban-American film director and screenwriter. He is best known for writing and directing the 1988 film '' Stand and Deliver''. His other film directing credits include '' Money for Nothing'' (1993) starring

John Cusack John Paul Cusack ( ; born June 28, 1966)(28 June 1996)Today's birthdays ''Santa Cruz Sentinel'', ("Actors John Cusack is 30") is an American actor. With a career spanning over four decades, he has appeared in over 80 films. He began acting in f ...

and the

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original film '' Gotta Kick It Up!'' (2002). He also served as a screenwriter for all of the films he directed. His only film as a screenwriter and not as a director was the 2001 film '' Tortilla Soup''. He has also worked in episodic television, directing episodes '' Tales from the Crypt'' and '' Perversions of Science'', in 1994 and 1997, respectively. Menéndez won two

Independent Spirit Award The Independent Spirit Awards, originally known as the FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards, and later as the Film Independent Spirit Awards, are awards presented annually in Santa Monica, California, to independent filmmakers. Founded in ...

s for his work on '' Stand and Deliver''. Menéndez is a native of Cuba and grew up in California. He is an alumnus of

San Francisco State University San Francisco State University (San Francisco State, SF State and SFSU) is a Public university, public research university in San Francisco, California, United States. It was established in 1899 as the San Francisco State Normal School and is ...

and UCLA Film School. His first credit in film industry was serving as an assistant director on the

Oliver Stone William Oliver Stone (born ) is an American filmmaker. Stone is an acclaimed director, tackling subjects ranging from the Vietnam War and American politics to musical film, musical Biographical film, biopics and Crime film, crime dramas. He has ...

-directed film '' Salvador'' (1986), he also had a small acting role in the film. He is a frequent collaborator with film producer Tom Musca.

Filmography

*''

Madame X ''Madame X'' (original title ''La Femme X'') is a 1908 Play (theatre), play by French playwright Alexandre Bisson (1848–1912). It was novelized in English and adapted for the American stage; it was also adapted for the screen sixteen times ...

'' (1981, actor, as Luis) *'' Salvador'' (1986, first assistant director, also actor as Gomez) *'' Life Is Most Important'' (1987, actor, as Gregorio) *'' Stand and Deliver'' (1988, director and screenwriter) *'' Money for Nothing'' (1993, director and screenwriter) *'' Tales from the Crypt'' (1994, director, episode: "The Bribe") *'' Perversions of Science'' (1997, director, episode: "Given the Heir") *'' Tortilla Soup'' (2001, screenwriter) *'' Gotta Kick It Up!'' (2002, director, teleplay writer)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Menendez, Ramon 1950 births American male screenwriters Cuban emigrants to the United States Independent Spirit Award for Best Director winners Living people San Francisco State University alumni UCLA Film School alumni Cuban film directors Cuban screenwriters Cuban male writers