First worked as office boy for HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS

After graduating from high school, joined advertising agency as an office boy at age 19 (date approximate)

After working at various agencies and progressing to writing copy, landed at Collet, Dickinson and Pearce; while there met David Puttnam and Alan Marshall; also worked with Ridley Scott and Adrian Lyne

At urging of Puttnam, went to work on first feature film script; eventually made as "Melody" (1972), Puttnam's producing debut

Television commercial directing debut

Directed nearly 500 TV commercials in London

Formed own production company, The Alan Parker Film Company, with Alan Marshall

Medium-length film writing and directing debut, "No Hard Feelings" (50 mins); independently produced (Parker invested his own 30,000 pounds), it was subsequently bought by the BBC, and aired in 1976

TV-movie directing debut, "The Evacuees" (BBC-produced)

Feature film directing debut (also writer), "Bugsy Malone"

Published novel, "Puddles in the Lane"

Directed the international hit "Midnight Express"; won Oscar nomination as Best Director

First US-produced feature, "Fame"

Published collection of cartoons, "Hares in the Gate"

Expanded the themes of the bestselling rock concept album in the film version of "Pink Floyd--The Wall"; employed innovative animation techniques

Scored big at Cannes Film Festival with "Birdy"

Personally challenged the ratings board of the MPAA for their "X" rating of "Angel Heart"

Helmed the civil rights drama "Mississippi Burning"; film received seven Academy Award nominations including one for Parker's direction

Returned to movie musical format with "The Commitments", an upbeat story of poor North Dublin kids who form a band to play American soul music

Wrote, produced and directed "The Road to Wellville", a sendup of health fadist John Kellogg

Film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's "Evita" opened to mixed reviews

Signed first-look producing deal with PolyGram (May)

Appointed as chair of the British Film Institute (BFI)

Became head of the Film Council, which oversees funding allotted to the British Film Commission, the Arts Council's Film Lottery panel, the British Film Institute and British Screen Finance