Raised in the San Fernando Valley in Studio City, CA

Reportedly found his father's collection of pornographic tapes at age nine

Began making movies with a Betamax video camera purchased by his father

Made first amateur short film "The Dirk Diggler Story" about a male porno star

Briefly attended Emerson College; dropped out to pursue film career

Began career working as a production assistant on music videos and on independent films

Was a messenger and production assistant on the syndicated game show "Quiz Kid Challenge"

Met Philip Baker Hall while working as a production assistant on the PBS special "Campus Culture Wars"

Directed short film "Coffee and Cigarettes" starring Philip Baker Hall; premiered at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival

Made first full-length feature, "Sydney" (retitled "Hard Eight") starring Philip Baker Hall

Breakout film, "Boogie Nights" was an expanded version of his early short "Dirk Diggler" (1988); starred Philip Baker Hall in a small role; earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay

Directed two music videos featuring his off-screen companion Fiona Apple, "Across the Universe" and "Fast as You Can"

Helmed third feature, the ensemble piece "Magnolia"; received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay

Helmed "Punch-Drunk Love" starring Adam Sandler and Emily Watson; also scripted

Acted as a standby director for Robert Altman's "A Prairie Home Companion," presumably for insurance purposes, since Altman was 80 years old at the time; not formally credited in the film, but receives a "Special thanks" in the credits

Directed "There Will Be Blood," an adaptation of the Upton Sinclair novel Oil!, starring Daniel Day-Lewis; earned a DGA nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film; also received Oscar nominations for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture