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James Orr

b. 1953

Canadian film director, producer and screenwriter

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About James Orr

Born 1953. James Orr is a Canadian film director, screenwriter, film producer, cinematographer, manufacturer and director.

James Joseph Orr (born March 23, 1953) is a Canadian writer, director and producer of motion pictures. Orr's screenplay credits include Three Men and a Baby, Tough Guys and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, whilst his director credits include Mr. Destiny and Man of the House.

Biography Born in Noranda, Quebec in 1953, he grew up in Toronto, Ontario. He attended the Carleton School of Journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, where he became the editor of The Charlatan student newspaper during the 1973–1974 term. Orr then went to the undergraduate film school at York University in Toronto, and in 1977 he became the first Canadian to be accepted as a Director Fellow in the AFI Conservatory of the American Film Institute in Los Angeles.

In the mid-1980s, Orr had a relationship with actress Jamie Rose.

From 1997 to 1998, Orr had a relationship with actress Farrah Fawcett, who had co-starred with Chevy Chase and Jonathan Taylor Thomas in Man of the House, a film that he wrote and directed. The relationship ended when Orr was arrested, charged, and later convicted of beating Fawcett during a 1998 fight.

Since the 1980s, Orr has been an avid wine collector and has participated in several wine auctions. This interest proved useful when, in September 2010, wine critic James Suckling announced the launch of his new video-based website featuring content taped in locations across the world, created in collaboration with Orr.

Orr has also indulged his passion for cigars by writing and directing the low-budget feature Blowing Smoke, as well as making a documentary on the Fuente Family called The Fuente Family: An American Dream, and a documentary on Cuban cigars called Cigars: The Heart and Soul of Cuba.

Filmography

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
AFI Conservatory
Also known as
James Joseph Orr

People in James Orr's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped James Orr's

Frequently asked questions

Who is James Orr?

Canadian film director, producer and screenwriter

When was James Orr born?

James Orr was born on 23 March 1953 in Canada, Noranda.

What is James Orr's occupation?

James Orr is a film director, screenwriter, film producer, cinematographer, manufacturer and director.

What nationality is James Orr?

James Orr is Canadian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: James Orr

· Wikidata: Q1680918

· DBpedia: James Orr (filmmaker)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James Orr. https://biography.guide/james-orr-film-director/

MLA: "James Orr." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-orr-film-director/.

Chicago: "James Orr." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-orr-film-director/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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