“I consider myself a minor poet who writes fairly small poems. I’d rather make a movie about a guy walking his dog than about the emperor of China.” —Jarmusch

Jim Jarmusch was born on January 22, 1953, in Akron, Ohio. After graduating from Cayahoga Falls High School in 1971, Jarmusch went directly to Northwestern University, where he majored in Journalism, and then English Literature. He then went to study in Paris, and fell in love with French cinematic style. Upon his return one year later, Jarmusch received a BA in English Literature from Columbia University. Following his graduation, he enrolled in the Tisch School of the Arts in New York City to study film.

While in New York, Jarmusch got a position as teacher's assistant to director Nicholas Ray (Rebel Without a Cause) at NYU. The two became close friends, with Ray assisting Jarmusch on his first feature length film, Permanent Vacation. While at the school, Jarmusch created a 30 minute short film, called "New World," which was later expanded into the feature "Stranger Than Paradise." The film won him Best New Director at Cannes, and received a lot of favorable attention from the media.

In addition to his directing credits, Jarmusch writes all of his own scripts, and occasionally plays cameo roles in films by other directors. Many of his plots portray the world as we know it in America as seen by outsiders: a Hungarian in "Stranger Than Paradise;" Japanese couple in "Mystery Train." Another theme of his films is the impact accidental encounters have on the lives of his characters.