Eli Craig


About

Also Known As
Elijah M Craig
Birth Place
Los Angeles, California, USA
Born
May 25, 1972

Biography

Eli Craig was born into a show business family, but didn't begin his own acting career until he was in his late 20s. The son of actress Sally Field, Craig had decided when he was younger that he wanted to stay away from show business. He got a degree in psychology, and worked for a time as an Outward Bound guide. But eventually, he was lured back to Hollywood. Craig had a co-starring rol...

Biography

Eli Craig was born into a show business family, but didn't begin his own acting career until he was in his late 20s. The son of actress Sally Field, Craig had decided when he was younger that he wanted to stay away from show business. He got a degree in psychology, and worked for a time as an Outward Bound guide. But eventually, he was lured back to Hollywood. Craig had a co-starring role in "Deal of a Lifetime," about a high school nerd who exchanges his soul for a date with the popular girl. In 2000, Craig played the younger version of Hawk, Tommy Lee Jones's character, in Clint Eastwood's adventure about elderly astronauts, "Space Cowboys." He also had a role in "The Rage: Carrie 2," which was essentially a remake of Brian DePalma's classic 1970s horror film, "Carrie." It was on that set that Craig decided he'd be better off making his own films. He applied and was accepted to U.S.C. After graduation, he directed commercials, music videos, and short films for several years, before writing the script for "Tucker and Dale vs. Evil" with fellow U.S.C. alumnus, Morgan Jurgenson. The script was partly inspired by Craig's experience bringing nervous city kids into the woods for Outward Bound. He directed the horror-comedy, which flips the typical college-kids-get-lost-in-the-woods-and-murdered-by-hillbillies scenario on its head. Tucker (Tyler Labine) and Dale (Alan Tudyk) are nice guys, but when the paranoid kids mistake them for psychopaths, all sorts of bloody violence ensues.

Life Events

1999

Made acting debut with a bit role in "Deal of a Lifetime"

1999

Cast in the horror sequel "The Rage: Carrie 2"

2000

Played the young version of Tommy Lee Jones' character in "Space Cowboys"

2004

Wrote and directed the film short "The Tao of Pong"

2005

Acted opposite his wife Sasha Craig in the drama short "Racer Number 9"

2010

Directed an episode of ABC's ensemble drama "Brothers & Sisters"; series starred his mom Sally Field

2011

Made his feature directorial debut with "Tucker & Dale vs. Evil"; also wrote and appeared in film

Bibliography