Derek Cianfrance Biography: Wife, Awards, Movies, TV Shows, Age, Height, Net Worth, Parents, Ethnicity

Derek Cianfrance, is an American film director, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, and producer.

He is acclaimed for emotionally driven films including Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines, and The Light Between Oceans, as well as the HBO miniseries I Know This Much Is True.

Derek Cianfrance
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Derek M. Cianfrance
Stage Name:	Derek Cianfrance
Born:	January 23, 1974 (age 52 years old)
Place of Birth:	Lakewood
Nationality:	American
Ethnicity:	White (Italian, German, Austrian, and English ancestry)
Height:	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Religion:	Christianity
Parents:	Gary Cianfrance and Janice Cianfrance
Spouse:	Shannon Plumb
Relationship:	Married
Children:	Cody Cianfrance, Walker Cianfrance
Occupation:	Film Director, Screenwriter, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor
Net Worth:	Estimated at $20 million

Early Life and Education

Derek Cianfrance was born on January 23, 1974, in Lakewood.

He spent his formative years under the care of his parents, Gary Cianfrance and Janice Cianfrance, in Colorado. Information regarding his siblings has not been publicly disclosed.

His ethnicity is White, with Italian, German, Austrian, and English ancestry, and he was raised in the Christian faith.

He developed an interest in filmmaking at the age of 13 and later studied film production at the University of Colorado Boulder under filmmakers Stan Brakhage and Phil Solomon.

Career

Derek Cianfrance made his feature directorial debut with Brother Tied (1998), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

After years directing documentaries, music videos, and commercials, he earned international acclaim for Blue Valentine (2010), starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.

He followed that success with The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) and The Light Between Oceans (2016).

Cianfrance also directed the HBO miniseries I Know This Much Is True and co-wrote Sound of Metal, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

His work is recognized for its emotional realism and strong character development.

Awards and Nominations

• Academy Award nomination – Best Original Screenplay (Sound of Metal)
• Directors Guild of America Award – Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials (2016)
• Multiple Independent Spirit Award nominations
• Sundance Film Festival recognition for Brother Tied and Blue Valentine

Personal Life

Derek Cianfrance, 52 years old, has been married to filmmaker and artist Shannon Plumb since 2005.

The couple shares two sons, Cody Cianfrance and Walker Cianfrance. There are no publicly confirmed reports of past relationships before his marriage.

Away from filmmaking, he enjoys music and has played drums in rock bands. He has also spoken publicly about living with tinnitus, a condition that has influenced some of his creative work. His height is 5 ft 9 in (175 cm).

Net Worth

Derek Cianfrance’s estimated net worth is $20 million USD.

His income is generated primarily from directing, screenwriting, producing, cinematography, editing, commercial directing, and royalties from critically acclaimed film and television productions.

Additional earnings come from executive producing and development projects in the entertainment industry.

Filmography

• Brother Tied (1998)
• Blue Valentine (2010)
• The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
• The Light Between Oceans (2016)
• I Know This Much Is True (2020)
• Sound of Metal (2020) – Story
• Roofman (2025)