Hill was born in Long Beach, California and educated at Michigan State University. He worked in oil drilling and construction in the 60s before becoming a 2nd assistant director in 1967. He has written and co-written screenplays, including several uncredited works - Alien, for instance. He has produced and directed films since 1975.
Has an affinity for the city of El Paso. El Paso has been mentioned in or has been the location of several Walter Hill movies. Frequently works with character actors James Remar, David Patrick Kelly, Brion James, and Ed O'Ross. Frequently casts actors Bill Paxton and Stoney Jackson in minor roles (e.g. Streets of Fire and Trespass). He once said in an interview that he considers all of his films as a director westerns. If you look closely, you can see western touches, such as revolvers, Winchester rifles and cowboy hats in all of his work. Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985". Pages 433-438. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988. Is a specialist of crime novels. Is an avid fan of John Wayne. When The Duke saw Hard Times, he wanted Hill to helm his last film, The Shootist. But Hill refused because he didn't want to see his hero dying in a movie. His favourites directors are John Ford, Howard Hawks, John Huston, Raoul Walsh, Sam Peckinpah and Sergio Leone. Was set to direct the remake of John Woo's The Killer, with Richard Gere as the Chow Yun-Fat character and with Denzel Washington as the Danny Lee character. But due to creative conflicts, Hill left the project.