Karyn Kusama Biography: Age, Husband, Net Worth, Movies, Height, Parents, Son, Awards

Karyn Kiyoko Kusama also known as Karyn Kusama is an acclaimed American filmmaker, director, screenwriter, and producer known for her bold, genre-blending work that explores complex human emotions, relationships, and social issues.

She made her feature directorial debut with the acclaimed sports drama Girlfight (2000), which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Karyn Kiyoko Kusama
• Stage Name: Karyn Kusama
• Born: March 21, 1968
• Age: 58 years old
• Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
• Nationality: American
• Ethnicity: Japanese-American (father) and Scots-Irish (mother)
• Occupation: Filmmaker, Director, Screenwriter, Producer
• Height: Unknown
• Religion: Unknown
• Parents: Haruo Kusama and Susan McGuire
• Siblings: Kristen Kusama and Kevin Kusama (deceased)
• Spouse: Phil Hay
• Children: One
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $5 million USD

Early Life and Education

Karyn Kusama was born on March 21, 1968, in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, to parents Haruo Kusama, a Japanese-American child psychiatrist who immigrated from Japan and attended medical school at Washington University, and Susan McGuire, an occupational therapist/educational psychiatrist of Scots-Irish descent.

She has a sister named Kristen Kusama and a brother named Kevin Kusama (who passed away from a heroin overdose). She grew up highly invested in cinema, using films as an emotional outlet, and drew inspiration from female directors like Martha Coolidge and Amy Heckerling.

She graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis. In 1990, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film & Television from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Her ethnicity is Japanese-American and Scots-Irish. Her religion is unknown.

Career

Karyn Kusama began her career working as an assistant to John Sayles and taking various jobs including nannying, house painting, and editing independent films and music videos. She started boxing at Gleason’s Gym, which inspired her debut feature Girlfight (2000).

She directed the sci-fi action film Æon Flux (2005), the horror-thriller The Invitation (2015), the neo-noir Destroyer (2018) starring Nicole Kidman, and has served as executive producer and director on the hit Showtime series Yellowjackets. Her work often blends genre with deep character studies and has earned her multiple Emmy nominations and critical acclaim for her visual storytelling and feminist perspectives.

Social Media

Karyn Kusama does not have a social media account.

Personal Life

Karyn Kusama, 58 years old and height unknown, has been married to screenwriter Phil Hay since October 2006. They frequently collaborate professionally on writing and producing projects. They have one child, a son named Michio Hay. No other past relationships are publicly detailed. She keeps her family life relatively private while balancing her demanding directing career.

Net Worth

Karyn Kusama‘s net worth is estimated at $5 million USD. Her income primarily comes from directing, screenwriting, and producing feature films including Girlfight, The Invitation, and Destroyer; executive producing and directing television series such as Yellowjackets; residuals and fees from streaming platforms; festival awards and critical recognition leading to high-profile projects; and long-term work in the independent and studio film industry.

Filmography

• Girlfight (2000)
• Æon Flux (2005)
• The Invitation (2015)
• Destroyer (2018)