born Nov. 29, 1955, St. Louis Park, Minn., U.S.
born Sept. 21, 1958, St. Louis Park
U.S. filmmakers.
The brothers were brought up in Minnesota but moved to New York City to write scripts for independent films. Their own first film, Blood Simple (1984), a stylish thriller, was followed by such notable works as Raising Arizona (1987), Miller's Crossing (1990), Barton Fink (1991), Fargo (1996, Academy Award for direction and screenwriting), The Big Lebowski (1998), and O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000). With Joel serving as director and Ethan as producer, they cowrote all their screenplays, which reflected their offbeat blend of well-paced drama and macabre humour.