A writer and director with a love of classic Hollywood genres, Joel Coen and his partner, brother Ethan, are responsible for some of the big cult and critics' favorites of the last 20 years. Born Nov. 29, 1954, in Minneapolis, Minn., Joel attended Simon's Rock College in Great Barrington, Mass.

After their start as film editors, the Coens' debut feature, the low-budget Blood Simple (1984), brought the brothers instant recognition as pioneers in the independent film movement. Raising Arizona, Miller's Crossing and Barton Fink followed, but it was the darkly comic crime caper Fargo (1996) that struck gold, winning Oscars for Original Screenplay and Best Actress (Frances McDormand, Joel's wife).

O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Man Who Wasn't There and Intolerable Cruelty followed, but it was the critically acclaimed No Country for Old Men (2008) that won he and his brother three Oscar wins (Best Picture, Director and Adapted Screenplay).