Directed shorts like "A Lizard Too Much" (1960) and "Let's Have a Party" (1963, which he also produced) before military service

Served as an officer in the Royal Dutch Navy film corps, making documentaries like "Het Korps Mariniers/The Royal Dutch Marine Corps" (1965)

Directed Dutch TV documentaries such as "Mussert" (1968), a profile of a notorious Dutch quisling who collaborated with the Nazis in WWII

Gained recognition for directing Dutch TV series, "Floris", a medieval adventure starring Rutger Hauer

Feature film directorial debut, "Wat Zien ik/Business is Business"; first collaboration with screenwriter Gerard Soeteman and producer Rob Houwer

Acted in "Oh Jonathan, Oh Jonathan"

Breakthrough film "Turkish Delight", starring Hauer; received Oscar nomination as Best Foreign Film; written by Soeteman and produced by Houwer

Second feature with Hauer, "Keetje Tippel"; written by Soeteman and produced by Houwer

First feature as screenwriter (with Soeteman and Kees Holierhoek), "Soldier of Orange"; also directed; Hauer starred as a handsome hero of the Dutch resistance; first association with cinematographer Jost Vacano; produced by Houwer

First film with Renee Soutendijk starring opposite Hauer, "Spetters"; written by Soeteman

Reteamed with Soutendijk (as a femme fatale) for noirish "The Fourth Man"; scripted by Soeteman

US debut (co-produced with the Netherlands), "Flesh + Blood"; also scripted with Soeteman; fifth and last feature to date with Hauer

Delivered sharp, slick action package with first Hollywood movie "RoboCop", a grim look into the not-too-distant future

Helmed "Total Recall", another sci-fi film featuring his trademark over-the-top violence; first feature with Sharon Stone

Scored hit with "Basic Instinct", his first collaboration with screenwriter Joe Eszterhas; film starred Stone as a bisexual femme fatale

Bombed with "Showgirls", the first mainstream Hollywood film released with an NC-17 rating; second teaming with Eszterhas

Returned to sci-fi with "Starship Troopers"; reteamed with screenwriter Edward Neumeier, special-effects wizard Phil Tippett and producer Jon Davison, having worked with all on "RoboCop"; sixth collaboration with director of photography Vacano

Directed the sci-fi tinged thriller "The Hollow Man", co-scripted by William Goldman; production delayed when leading lady Elisabeth Shue tore an Achilles tendon

Returned to directing with the war drama "Black Book," a story about the resistance in World War II; premiered at the Venice Film Festival