28 Facts About Russell Mulcahy

Russell Mulcahy is an Australian director of film, television, and music videos.

Russell Mulcahy began his career directing music videos for artists like Elton John and Duran Duran, before making his feature directorial debut with the horror film Razorback.

Russell Mulcahy achieved international prominence by directing the fantasy action film Highlander, which spawned a multimedia franchise.

Russell Mulcahy was a director and executive producer of the television series Teen Wolf, and directed the film's 2023 feature film spin-off.

Russell Mulcahy grew up in Mangerton in the Illawarra region of New South Wales and attended Corrimal High School.

Russell Mulcahy later said he "used to creep in there at 3am and make my own movies".

Russell Mulcahy acted on stage and was unsure whether to focus on acting or directing.

Russell Mulcahy was approached by the producer of a Seven pop show and asked to film some original footage and compile a music video to accompany the Harry Nilsson hit "Everybody's Talkin'".

Russell Mulcahy directed the Vapors' hit "Turning Japanese" and his landmark video for the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" which became the first music video played on MTV in 1981.

Russell Mulcahy was a friend of Richard Branson and had done videos for Virgin Records.

Russell Mulcahy had notable collaborations in particular with Ultravox, Duran Duran, Kim Carnes, Icehouse, Spandau Ballet, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Bonnie Tyler, the Motels, Rod Stewart and Elton John.

Russell Mulcahy has a cameo appearance in the video for "I'm Still Standing" by Elton John, that he directed.

Russell Mulcahy's work is expensive by music video standards but look at what you get.

Russell Mulcahy worked with Duran Duran, directing the key early songs by the band which helped launch them internationally.

In 1982, Russell Mulcahy said he had been approached to make a feature film about a movie palace by David Puttnam, who had success working with first time directors from TV commercials.

Russell Mulcahy went back to video clips working with Culture Club, Elton John, Berlin and the Rolling Stones.

In 1985, Russell Mulcahy directed the cult film Highlander, starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery, featuring music from Queen.

Russell Mulcahy directed several Queen video clips for the Highlander soundtrack as well as works for Billy Joel, Kim Carnes, Kenny Loggins, Def Leppard, Elton John and Rod Stewart.

Russell Mulcahy later directed the Highlander sequel, Highlander II: The Quickening, but disowned it after the completion-bond company interfered with production.

Russell Mulcahy wanted to have his credit changed to Alan Smithee, but as he was not a member of the Directors Guild of America, he had no way of forcing the film-guaranty company to change the credit.

Russell Mulcahy eventually took the opportunity to restore his vision for the film, to a large extent, with the video release of Highlander II: The Renegade Version.

Russell Mulcahy was hired by Carolco Pictures to direct Rambo III, but was replaced with second-unit director Peter MacDonald.

Russell Mulcahy continued to direct the occasional video clip for artists like Elton John and began to direct TV shows like Tales from the Crypt, Perversions of Science and The Hunger.

Russell Mulcahy directed the features Tale of the Mummy and Resurrection, the latter with Christopher Lambert of Highlander.

Russell Mulcahy returned to features with the Australian Swimming Upstream but mostly directed TV movies, including 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story, Mysterious Island, The Curse of King Tut's Tomb, The Sitter, Crash and Burn, The Scorpion King: Rise of a Warrior, and Prayers for Bobby.

Russell Mulcahy directed the features Resident Evil: Extinction and Give 'em Hell Malone.

Russell Mulcahy was a key director on the Teen Wolf TV series throughout its run and directed episodes of Eye Candy and The Lizzie Borden Chronicles.

Russell Mulcahy returned to features with In Like Flynn.