James Francis Cameron, born August 16, 1954, in Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada, is a filmmaker and deep-sea explorer renowned for pioneering visual effects and blockbuster films that have grossed over $10 billion worldwide, making him the second-highest-grossing director in history.[1][2] Raised in Ontario, he moved to California at 17, studied at Fullerton Community College, and began his career with the short film *Xenogenesis* (1978), followed by roles at New World Pictures under Roger Corman, including directing *Piranha II: The Spawning* (1982).[1][3][4] Cameron's breakthrough came with writing and directing *The Terminator* (1984), launching Arnold Schwarzenegger's stardom and establishing his signature blend of sci-fi action and innovation.[1][2][5] He achieved further success with *Aliens* (1986), *The Abyss* (1989)—both Oscar winners for visual effects—*Terminator 2: Judgment Day* (1991), and *True Lies* (1994).[1][2][4] His epic *Titanic* (1997) became the first film to exceed $1 billion at the box office, earning him three Academy Awards (Best Director, Best Picture, Best Film Editing), plus DGA and Golden Globe honors.[1][2][3][7] *Avatar* (2009) shattered records as the highest-grossing film ever at the time, winning Golden Globes for Best Director and Best Picture.[1][2][7] Beyond cinema, Cameron co-founded Lightstorm Entertainment (1990) and executive-produced films like *Point Break* (1991).[1] A deep-sea explorer and inventor, he reached the Mariana Trench's Challenger Deep in 2012 and contributed to documentaries like *Deepsea Challenge 3D*.[1][3] He co-wrote *Alita: Battle Angel* (2019).[2] Cameron's *Avatar: The Way of Water* (2022) ranked as the third-highest-grossing film ever, with *Avatar: Fire and Ash* (2025) continuing the franchise's dominance, underscoring his ongoing influence in high-budget spectacle cinema.[2][1] He has earned three Oscars, two Emmys, and four Golden Globes.[1]