Guy Ritchie Biography

Guy Ritchie, screenwriter / film director

Birthdate: September 10, 1968

Birthplace: Hatfield, Hertfordshire

Sign: Virgo

Guy Stuart Ritchie was the younger of two children of John Vivian Ritchie and his first wife Amber Parkinson. A dyslexic, Ritchie was expelled from one of the most prominent institutions specializing in dyslexia, Stanbridge Earls Schools, when he was 15.

In 1995, he directed a 20-minute short film entitled "The Hard Case." He wrote and directed his first full-length feature "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" in 1998. The film garnered critical acclaimed for its wit and also introduced actor Jason Statham to audiences and football player Vinnie Jones to an acting career. Ritchie won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Motion Picture Screenplay in 2000.

Released in 2000, his second feature film "Snatch" was backed by a major studio. It featured Hollywood heavyweights such as Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro and Dennis Farina.

In December 2000, he married pop superstar Madonna in Scotland. They had a son, Rocco (born August 2000) and an adopted Malawian boy, David. Madonna also has a daughter from a previous relationship named Lourdes.

In May 2000, he was arrested after he assaulted a 20-year-old man outside their Kensington home.

He directed his wife in the music video, "What It Feels Like for a Girl," and in the short film entitled "Star," for the BMW film series. He cast Madonna in the remake of the 1974 hit "Swept Away," which became a critical and commercial disappointment.

His 2005 film "Revolver" also garnered criticisms.

Ritchie and Madonna are both devotees of the Kabbalah religion.