Prior to moving into film, Alan was noted as one of London's most talented advertising copywriters. He worked for the Collet Dickinson Pearce (CDP) ad agency in the 1960's and early 1970's, and began directing his own tvc scripts in their basement. Formed a partnership with David Puttnam as his producer (Puttnam had been a photographers agent), and left CDP to become a full time director of commercials before moving onto features.


Appointed a C.B.E. in 1995 and knighted in the 2002 New Year's Honours List. Now known as Sir Alan Parker. Writes the press kit annotations for journalists at advance screenings himself. Has done so since 1981. In an interview for The Road to Wellville (1994), Parker stated that his mission as a filmmaker was to make at least one movie for each genre available. Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1991 Considers Oliver Stone as his strong antagonist since their collaborations on Midnight Express (1978). Parker even declined several times to give him WGA credits for his previous work on Evita (1996), but finally agreed to do so after a long deliberation with WGA's law representatives.