Christopher Joseph Columbus, born September 10, 1958, in Spangler, Pennsylvania, is an American filmmaker known for his work as a director, producer, and screenwriter. He studied film at New York University, where he sold his first screenplay as a sophomore. Columbus began his career writing screenplays, including the successful comedy-horror film "Gremlins" (1984), which attracted the attention of Steven Spielberg. He subsequently wrote scripts for "The Goonies" (1985) and "Young Sherlock Holmes" (1985) while working for Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment. Columbus launched his directing career with "Adventures in Babysitting" (1987), followed by notable films such as "Home Alone" (1990), "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" (1992), and "Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993). These films established him as a leading figure in family-oriented comedy. He directed the first two installments of the "Harry Potter" film series—"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (2001) and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2002)—which were critical and commercial successes and helped launch one of cinema's most successful franchises. Columbus also produced "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004) and the acclaimed drama "The Help" (2011), for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Other directing credits include "Bicentennial Man" (1999), "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" (2010), and "Pixels" (2015). Columbus co-founded the production company 1492 Pictures and has remained active in film and television production. His work continues to influence popular culture, and he is recognized for his contributions to both family entertainment and major blockbuster franchises. As of 2024, Columbus remains involved in the film industry, with a career spanning over four decades and more than 80 film and television productions.