John Campbell McTiernan, Jr. (born January 8, 1951) is an American movie director, best known for his action films and his criminal conviction in the Anthony Pellicano wiretapping scandal.
McTiernan was born in Albany, New York and is an M.F.A. graduate of the AFI Conservatory. He arguably is most identifiable with the three films he directed back-to-back: Predator, Die Hard, and The Hunt for Red October.
On April 3 2006, McTiernan was charged in federal court with lying to the FBI during a phone call to McTiernan's home in the wiretapping investigation involving Anthony Pellicano. He was arraigned and pleaded guilty on April 17, 2006, and is the 14th person charged in this case.
McTiernan was charged with an information, rather than in grand jury indictment, which means he waived his right to an indictment and suggests he may have reached either a prior plea agreement with prosecutors or some sort of cooperating agreement.
Some time later, upon retaining new counsel, McTiernan attempted to withdraw his guilty plea because his prior counsel had not offered an available defense. On September 24, 2007 This bid was denied by Federal District Judge Dale S. Fischer. She then proceeded to sentence McTiernan to four months in prison for lying about his relationship with Pellicano. McTiernan's lawyers had asked for no jail time, arguing that even the Department of Justice policy manual stated that no single False Statement charges would be filed against an individual. The prosecution argued that the manual is a guide and the government cannot be held to the statements contained in it. The judge sided with the prosecution and characterized McTiernan as someone who "lived a privileged life and simply wants to continue that." He was ordered to surrender for incarceration by January 15, 2008. His lawyers stated thereafter he planned to appeal this conviction. Fischer allowed McTiernan to remain out of prison on bail pending his appeal of her decision to the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
On July 3, 2006, McTiernan's former wife, film producer Donna Dubrow, filed suit against him for invasion of privacy and other claims arising from her belief that he hired Pellicano to wiretap her telephone. Judge Dale S. Fischer refused to give any credence to the claim when it was mentioned by the prosecution during McTiernan's hearing.
Movies directed by McTiernan include:
