Martin Campbell Biography: Movies, TV Shows, Instagram, Nationality, Wikipedia, Age, Parents, Wife, Children, Parents

Martin Campbell is a New Zealand-born film and television director renowned for revitalizing the James Bond franchise with GoldenEye (1995), introducing Pierce Brosnan, and Casino Royale (2006), marking Daniel Craig’s debut.

Beginning his career in London during the 1970s with softcore comedies and action TV series, he rose to prominence with the acclaimed BBC drama Edge of Darkness (1985), earning a BAFTA for Best Director.

Beyond Bond, Campbell has helmed several notable action and thriller films, including The Mask of Zorro (1998), The Legend of Zorro (2005), Vertical Limit (2000), and The Foreigner (2017).

Profile

• Full Name: Martin Campbell
• Stage Name: Martin Campbell
• Born: 24 October 1943
• Age: 81 years old
• Birthplace: Hastings, New Zealand
• Nationality: New Zealand
• Occupation: New Zealand-born film and television director
• Height: 1.78 m
• Parent: Mr. and Mrs. Campbell
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Sol E. Romero (m. 2006), Valarie Trapp (m. 2002–2006)
• Children: Elina Campbell, Fabrice Campbell, Tomas Campbell
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $20 million and $30 million

Early Life And Education

Martin Campbell was born on October 24, 1943, in Hastings, New Zealand. While the names of his parents remain undisclosed, they are referred to as Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, and it is unclear whether he has any siblings.

Information about his educational background is not publicly available. He is of white ethnicity, though his religious affiliation has not been confirmed.

Career

Martin Campbell began his career in the film industry as a cameraman after relocating to London, gradually transitioning into directing. He made his mark in British television by directing episodes of popular series such as The Professionals (1977), Shoestring (1979), and Minder (1979), building a strong foundation in the action and crime genres.

In the late 1970s, he expanded his scope by producing notable films like Scum (1979), a controversial drama, and Black Joy (1977), which was selected for competition at the Cannes Film Festival. His directorial credibility solidified with the critically acclaimed Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983), followed by the award-winning BBC miniseries Edge of Darkness (1985), which earned six BAFTAs including Best Director.

Campbell transitioned to Hollywood in the 1990s, directing a variety of thrillers such as Defenseless (1991), No Escape (1994), and Criminal Law (1988), as well as the HBO fantasy noir Cast a Deadly Spell (1991). He also directed episodes of Homicide: Life on the Street (1993), showcasing his range across different storytelling formats.

His international breakthrough came with GoldenEye (1995), a major box office success that reintroduced the James Bond franchise with Pierce Brosnan in the lead. He returned to the series with Casino Royale (2006), introducing Daniel Craig and earning widespread praise as one of the best Bond films, making him the oldest director to helm a Bond movie at the time.

Outside of Bond, Campbell directed The Mask of Zorro (1998) and its sequel The Legend of Zorro (2005), both starring Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, with the former receiving Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.

He continued working on high-profile projects including Beyond Borders (2003) with Angelina Jolie, Green Lantern (2011), and The Foreigner (2017) starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan. His most recent works include The Protégé (2021), and he is set to release Cleaner in 2025, underscoring a five-decade-long career defined by dynamic storytelling in the action and thriller genres.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @filmsofmartincampbell

Personal Life

Martin Campbell has been married twice, first to Valarie Trapp in 2002, with the marriage ending in divorce in 2006. Later that same year, he married actress Sol E. Romero, with whom he remains married.

He is a father to three children: two sons, Tomas and Fabrice Campbell, and a daughter, Elina Campbell.

Filmography

Films:

• The Sex Thief (1973)
• Criminal Law (1988)
• Defenseless (1991)
• No Escape (1994)
• GoldenEye (1995)
• The Mask of Zorro (1998)
• Vertical Limit (2000)
• Edge of Darkness (2010)
• Green Lantern (2011)
• The Foreigner (2017)
• The Protégé (2021)
• Memory (2022)
• Dirty Angels (2024) (also writer)
• Cleaner (2025)

Television:

• The Professionals
• Minder
• Shoestring
• Bergerac
• Reilly: Ace of Spies
• Charlie
• Edge of Darkness
• Homicide: Life on the Street
• 10-8: Officers on Duty
• Last Resort
• Reckless
• Warriors

Net Worth

Martin Campbell’s net worth is estimated between $20 million and $30 million, earned mainly through directing major box office successes like GoldenEye, Casino Royale, and The Mask of Zorro, with his films grossing over $2 billion worldwide.