James Foley

James Foley (December 28, 1953 – May 6, 2025) was an American director of film, television and music videos. His notable works included At Close Range, After Dark, My Sweet (1990), Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), Fear (1996), Fifty Shades Darker (2017), and Fifty Shades Freed (2018). He was a regular collaborator of Madonna during the 1980s, directing her in the film Who's That Girl (1987) and in several music videos.

Early life and education Foley was born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York, on December 28, 1953, but grew up in Staten Island, New York, the son of a lawyer. He graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo, a flagship school of the SUNY system, in 1974, with a degree in psychology.

Career In 1984, Foley made his directorial debut with Reckless, which starred Aidan Quinn and Daryl Hannah. His 1986 film At Close Range was entered into the 36th Berlin International Film Festival.

In 1990, he wrote and directed After Dark, My Sweet, an adaptation of the Jim Thompson novel of the same name. Film critic Roger Ebert included the film as part of his Great Movies list saying, "After Dark, My Sweet is the movie that eluded audiences; it grossed less than $3 million, has been almost forgotten, and remains one of the purest and most uncompromising of modern film noir. It captures above all the lonely, exhausted lives of its characters." He directed Glengarry Glen Ross, based on the play of the same name by David Mamet, in 1992. The Chamber was based on the novel of the same name by author John Grisham. The Corruptor, his action film starring Chow Yun-Fat and Mark Wahlberg, was released in 1999.

His 2003 film, Confidence, starred Edward Burns. He directed Perfect Stranger, a thriller film starring Halle Berry, in 2007. His last films were the two sequels to Fifty Shades of Grey: Fifty Shades Darker (2017) and Fifty Shades Freed (2018).

Foley also directed for television, including 12 episodes of the Netflix series House of Cards.

He often collaborated with cinematographer Juan Ruiz Anchía, having made five films with him, as well as Madonna's "Live to Tell" music video.

Death Foley died from brain cancer at his home in Los Angeles, on May 6, 2025, at the age of 71.

Filmography Film Reckless (1984) At Close Range (1986) Who's That Girl (1987) After Dark, My Sweet (1990) (Also writer) Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) Two Bits (1995) Fear (1996) The Chamber (1996) The Corruptor (1999) Confidence (2003) Perfect Stranger (2007) Fifty Shades Darker (2017) Fifty Shades Freed (2018)

Television Year Title Notes 1991 Twin Peaks Episode "Wounds and Scars" 1997 Gun Episode "The Shot" 2004 Hollywood Division TV movie 2013 Hannibal Episode "Sorbet" 2013–2015 House of Cards 12 episodes 2014 Red Zone TV movie 2015 Wayward Pines Episode "The Truth" 2016 Billions Episodes "Short Squeeze" and "The Deal"

Music videos Besides the film Who's That Girl (1987), Foley directed the following music videos for Madonna (under the pseudonym "Peter Percher"). "Live to Tell" (1986) "Papa Don't Preach" (1986) "True Blue" (1986)

Foley was also the best man at Madonna's wedding to Sean Penn, although as of 2025, they were not on speaking terms.

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Title Result 1986 Berlin Film Festival Golden Bear Award At Close Range 1992 Deauville American Film Festival Critics Award Glengarry Glen Ross 1988Golden Raspberry AwardsWorst Director Who's That Girl 2018 Fifty Shades Darker 2019 Fifty Shades Freed 2003 Phoenix Film FestivalCopper Wing Tribute 1992 Venice Film Festival Golden Lion Glengarry Glen Ross