Raised in Detroit suburbs

Moved to the Chicago area at age 13

Returned to Chicago after he dropped out of college; took a job in a warehouse; began sending comedians unsolicited jokes, sometimes writing 100 jokes a day (sold some to Rodney Dangerfield)

Joined DDB Needham Worldwide advertising agency; later worked at the Leo Burnett Company in Chicago; during his seven years in advertising worked on Johnson Floor Wax, and the Edge shaving cream commerical that used a credit card to test the closeness of a shave

Wrote full-time for the National Lampoon magazine

First on-screen credit, "National Lampoon Class Reunion"

Signed a film-development deal with Paramount Pictures; wrote original scripts, submitted ideas and doctored scripts; only on-screen credit from this period, "Nate and Hayes" (1983)

Directed first feature, "Sixteen Candles"

Founded his Chicago-based film company, Hughes Entertainment

Co-wrote (with Amy Holden Jones) screenplay for "Beethoven" under the pseudonym Edmond Dante