Belonging to an important family clan in Wisconsin, Joseph Losey studied philosophy but was always interested in theater and thus worked together with 贝托尔特·布莱希特. After directing some shorts for MGM, he made his first important film, 惨绿少年 (1948), for RKO. While he was filming 欲海奇鸳 (1951) in Italy he was summoned to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee, the congressional committee charged with "rooting out" Communist "subversion" in the motion picture industry. Unwilling to subject himself to the committee's well-known intimidation tactics, Losey decided to seek exile in Great Britain. In the following years he used a pseudonym--"Joseph Walton"--for his films, which were of minor quality. He regained his prestige with the thrillers 致命赴约 (1959), 狱中囚徒 (1960) and 伊娃 (1962). From that point on his films varied between top-quality work like 车祸 (1967) and much lower-quality projects such as 女谍玉娇龙 (1966), which was a box-office success, and 伽利略 (1975), which wasn't.
Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985". Pages 597-605. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988.
Gave 爱德华·福克斯 and James Fox their big breaks in films.
Attended the same high school in La Crosse, WI, as 尼古拉斯·雷.
President of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 25th Cannes International Film Festival in 1972.
Tried unsuccessfully to launch a project with opera legend 玛丽亚·卡拉斯, but she didn't like the part he offered her, which was that of an old star who desperately tries to return to her successful past. She considered herself at the time far too young for such a role, but said she was flattered by his offer.
Directed one Oscar-nominated performance: 玛格丽特·莱顿 in 幽情密使 (1971).
Is the father, with Elizabeth, of film producer Gavrik Losey. His grandsons and Gavrik's sons Marek Losey and Luke Losey are also directors.
The director character played by 马丁·斯科塞斯 in 嫌疑犯 (1991) was based on Losey.
Is the father, with Dorothy, of actor Joshua Losey.
In 1935 traveled to the Soviet Union where he staged 克利福德·奥德茨 play "Waiting For Lefty".
Attended Dartmouth. When he was a senior, 罗伯特·瑞安 was a freshman.
Studied with 贝托尔特·布莱希特 in Germany.
He directed 德克·博加德 in five films: 沉眠之虎 (1954), 仆人 (1963), 国王与国家 (1964), 女谍玉娇龙 (1966) and 车祸 (1967).