Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Jonas Åkerlund

Role / Field:

Acclaimed Swedish director, renowned for pioneering music videos and cinematic artistry.

Born:

1965-11-10

Century / Era:

1965s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Hans Uno Jonas Åkerlund (Swedish: [hɑːns ˈʉ̌ːnʊ ˈjûːnas ˈôːkɛˌɭɵnd]; born 10 November 1965) is a Swedish filmmaker and musician who is best known for his work in music videos. Åkerlund was a member of the Swedish black metal band Bathory. According to Jillian Drachman of Metal Injection, "many people do not know that Jonas Åkerlund is a musician." He has directed well-known videos for artists such as Queens of the Stone Age, Christina Aguilera, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Blink-182, Blondie, Duran Duran, Lady Gaga, David Guetta, Jamiroquai, Kesha, Lenny Kravitz, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Metallica, Moby, Ozzy Osbourne, P!nk, the Prodigy, the Smashing Pumpkins, Rammstein, Britney Spears, the Rolling Stones, U2, Robbie Williams and Ghost. Åkerlund's video for Madonna's song "Ray of Light" won the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video and a record five MTV Video Music Awards, including Video of the Year.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In 2008, he won the Grammy Award for Best Music Film for directing Madonna's The Confessions Tour DVD, and won the award again in 2014 for his work on Paul McCartney's Live Kisses DVD. He also directed the films Spun (2002), Horsemen (2009), Small Apartments (2012), Lords of Chaos...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aamir Khan — Contemporary (Born in 1965) (1965): Iconic Indian actor and filmmaker, known as "Mr. Perfectionist" in Hindi cinema.
• Alan Freed — Contemporary (Died in 1965) (1965): Pioneering disc jockey who popularized rock and roll music across North America.
• Albert Schweitzer — Contemporary (Died in 1965) (1965): German polymath renowned for theology, music, and 'Reverence for Life'
• Abel Gance — Shared historical date (11-10 · Died) (1981): French cinematic pioneer, celebrated for his mastery of montage and epic filmmaking.
• Aldo Nadi — Shared historical date (11-10 · Died) (1965): Italian fencing champion known for his Olympic success and teaching in the US.
• Andrea M. Ghez — Historical peer (Born in 1965) (1965): Pioneering astrophysicist known for studying the Milky Way's central black hole.
• Arthur M. Schlesinger Sr. — Historical peer (Died in 1965) (1965): Pioneering American historian known for social and urban history.
• Aimé Césaire — Historical peer (Died in 2008) (2008): Afro-Martinican poet, politician, and founder of the Négritude movement.
• Alain Robbe-Grillet — Historical peer (Died in 2008) (2008): Pioneering French writer and filmmaker associated with the Nouveau Roman movement.
• 2014 League of Legends World Championship — Historical peer (Born in 2014) (2014): The 4th League of Legends World Championship, held in Asia in 2014.
• 1965 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1965
• November 10 (11-10) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 10

Frequently Asked Questions about Jonas Åkerlund