Motion Picture Director. He studied film at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and directed plays throughout Britain, before launching his film career initially serving as an assistant director for several features, notably "The Guns of Navarone" (1961). Yates advanced to director, marking his debut with "Summer Holiday" (1963), followed by steady TV work with episodes of the programs "The Saint" and "Secret Agent". It would be the action-packed Steve McQueen vehicle "Bullitt" (1968), for which Yates may be best remembered; he followed this with a string of notable features, including "Murphy's War" (1971), "The Hot Rock" (1972), "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" (1973), "For Pete's Sake" (1974), "Mother, Jugs & Speed" (1976), "Breaking Away" (1979, earning him an Oscar nomination) and "The Dresser" (1983, receiving a second Academy Award nomination).
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Peter Yates started out as a professional racing car driver and team manager - albeit briefly - before turning his attention to film. The son of a military man, he was educated at Charterhouse School and trained at RADA, gaining his first experience as an actor with local repertory companies. In the early 1950's, he worked as a dubbing assistant, cutter, stage manager and theatre director (Royal Court), eventually graduating to assistant director on The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958). He cut his teeth, directing many episodes of The Saint (1962) and Secret Agent (1964) for television, before helming his first feature film, the musical Summer Holiday (1963).
"Summer Holiday" did nothing for his career. However, the exhilarating car chase through the streets of London - staged for his next film, "Robbery" - so impressed Steve McQueen that he requested Yates to direct him in "Bullitt". The rest is history.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Pope(1960 - January 9, 2011) (his death, 2 children)
Contributor: DUSTY #48111674
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Peter Yates started out as a professional racing car driver and team manager - albeit briefly - before turning his attention to film. The son of a military man, he was educated at Charterhouse School and trained at RADA, gaining his first experience as an actor with local repertory companies. In the early 1950's, he worked as a dubbing assistant, cutter, stage manager and theatre director (Royal Court), eventually graduating to assistant director on The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958). He cut his teeth, directing many episodes of The Saint (1962) and Secret Agent (1964) for television, before helming his first feature film, the musical Summer Holiday (1963).
"Summer Holiday" did nothing for his career. However, the exhilarating car chase through the streets of London - staged for his next film, "Robbery" - so impressed Steve McQueen that he requested Yates to direct him in "Bullitt". The rest is history.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Pope(1960 - January 9, 2011) (his death, 2 children)
Contributor: DUSTY #48111674
Motion Picture Director. He studied film at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and directed plays throughout Britain, before launching his film career initially serving as an assistant director for several features, notably "The Guns of Navarone" (1961). Yates advanced to director, marking his debut with "Summer Holiday" (1963), followed by steady TV work with episodes of the programs "The Saint" and "Secret Agent". It would be the action-packed Steve McQueen vehicle "Bullitt" (1968), for which Yates may be best remembered; he followed this with a string of notable features, including "Murphy's War" (1971), "The Hot Rock" (1972), "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" (1973), "For Pete's Sake" (1974), "Mother, Jugs & Speed" (1976), "Breaking Away" (1979, earning him an Oscar nomination) and "The Dresser" (1983, receiving a second Academy Award nomination).
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Peter Yates started out as a professional racing car driver and team manager - albeit briefly - before turning his attention to film. The son of a military man, he was educated at Charterhouse School and trained at RADA, gaining his first experience as an actor with local repertory companies. In the early 1950's, he worked as a dubbing assistant, cutter, stage manager and theatre director (Royal Court), eventually graduating to assistant director on The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958). He cut his teeth, directing many episodes of The Saint (1962) and Secret Agent (1964) for television, before helming his first feature film, the musical Summer Holiday (1963).
"Summer Holiday" did nothing for his career. However, the exhilarating car chase through the streets of London - staged for his next film, "Robbery" - so impressed Steve McQueen that he requested Yates to direct him in "Bullitt". The rest is history.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Pope(1960 - January 9, 2011) (his death, 2 children)
Contributor: DUSTY #48111674
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Peter Yates started out as a professional racing car driver and team manager - albeit briefly - before turning his attention to film. The son of a military man, he was educated at Charterhouse School and trained at RADA, gaining his first experience as an actor with local repertory companies. In the early 1950's, he worked as a dubbing assistant, cutter, stage manager and theatre director (Royal Court), eventually graduating to assistant director on The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958). He cut his teeth, directing many episodes of The Saint (1962) and Secret Agent (1964) for television, before helming his first feature film, the musical Summer Holiday (1963).
"Summer Holiday" did nothing for his career. However, the exhilarating car chase through the streets of London - staged for his next film, "Robbery" - so impressed Steve McQueen that he requested Yates to direct him in "Bullitt". The rest is history.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Pope(1960 - January 9, 2011) (his death, 2 children)
Contributor: DUSTY #48111674
Bio by: C.S.
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