Background
Hickenlooper was born in Saint Louis, Missouri, the son of Barbara Jo Wenger, a social worker and stage actress, and George Loening Hickenlooper, Junior., a teacher and playwright.
director screenwriter film producer
Hickenlooper was born in Saint Louis, Missouri, the son of Barbara Jo Wenger, a social worker and stage actress, and George Loening Hickenlooper, Junior., a teacher and playwright.
He attended high school at Saint Louis University High, where he was part of a group of teenage filmmakers he informally called the "Splicers".
After graduating from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Film Studies in 1986, Hickenlooper interned for the producer Roger Corman, and launched his directing career with Art, Acting, and the Suicide Chair: Dennis Hopper in 1988. His first feature-length documentary, Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker"s Apocalypse, explored the making of Apocalypse Now. John was the mayor of Denver at the time, and has since become the Governor of Colorado.
In addition to his films, Hickenlooper authored a book in 1991, Reel Conversations.
Hickenlooper died in his sleep on October 29, 2010. Despite initial reports that Hickenlooper had suffered a heart attack, the coroner ruled that his death was the result of accidental painkiller overdose, combining oxymorphone with alcohol.
Sleep apnea and a "moderately enlarged heart" were contributing factors.