Robert Bernard Altman (; February 20, 1925 – November 20, 2006) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. A five-time nominee of the
Academy Award for Best Director and an enduring figure from the
New Hollywood era, Altman was considered a "maverick" in making
films that are highly
naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective unlike most Hollywood films. He is consistently ranked as one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers in history.