Award-winning director of commercials and rock videos in the 1980s turned polished and proficient helmer of Hollywood genre movies. Mulcahy directed over 300 rock videos by 1983, including 15 starring Elton John and others featuring glitzy sets and costumes and fluid camerawork which highlighted Duran Duran, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Fleetwood Mac ("Gypsy") and Rod Stewart ("Young Turks"). He also made many TV commercials, including advertisements for HBO, Doritos, Miller Lite beer, Ford and British Petroleum. Mulcahy made his feature debut with the British-produced "Derek and Clive Get the
Taught himself to use a camera at age 14; began photographing and creating short films; first effort, "Vampire Island", shot with two friends until one of them fell off a cliff and broke his ankle; production unfinished (date approximate)
1978
Work was noticed by music video impresario John Roseman
1980
Directed first film, the United Kingdom production, "Derek and Clive Get the Horn"; also edited
Directed over 300 rock video by 1983, including "Young Turks" with Rod Stewart, "Gypsy" with Fleetwood Mac, and 15 for Elton John
Made various TV commercials for Miller Lite, British Petroleum, Ford, Smirnoff Vodka, Opel Cars, Heinecken, Doritos and HBO
