Roger Spottiswoode has never been a director who avoids challenges.   He took on the controversy surrounding the pursuit of a cure for AIDS in And the Band Played On, revisited Nicaragua's Sandinista revolution in Under Fire, helmed the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, and is currently directing On the Sixth Day, a thriller about cloning starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert Duvall.

The Ottawa-born son of film theoretician Raymond Spottiswoode, Roger Spottiswoode began his career at the age of nineteen in the editing room on the 1966 comedy Georgy Girl, an experience which led to further editing assignments on documentary and television projects.

In 1971, producer Daniel Melnick gave Spottiswoode his first job as senior editor on the controversial Sam Peckinpah film Straw Dogs.  Spottiswoode continued his association with the legendary director on The Getaway and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.  He also edited the films The Gambler and Hard Times.

Spottiswoode left editing in 1977 to serve as associate producer and second unit director on Karel Reisz's acclaimed film Who'll Stop the Rain.  He later co-wrote the screenplay for the blockbuster action-comedy 48 Hrs., starring Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte.

Spottiswoode made his directing debut in 1980 with the Canadian thriller Terror Train.  He has also directed The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper, The Best of Times, Turner & Hooch, Air America, and Stop!  Or My Mom Will Shoot.