Des McAnuff was born in 1952 in Illinois, USA. He is known for his work on Die Abenteuer von Rocky und Bullwinkle (2000), Cousin Bette (1998) and The Tempest (2010). He was previously married to Susan Berman .

Stage director He was awarded a 1997 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Director of 1996 for "Tommy", at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Twice won Broadway's Tony Award as Best Director (Musical): in 1985 for "Big River" and in 1993 for "The Who's Tommy." He was also Tony-nominated two other times: also in 1993 for Best Book (Musical), collaborating with Pete Townshend on "The Who's Tommy;" and in 1995 as Best Director (Musical) for a revival of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." Was nominated for 2006 Tony awards for Best Director of a Musical, for "Jersey Boys", based on the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons (which DID win Best Musical). Was brought up in Toronto. In 2012, was among 70 new appointees to receive the Order of Canada, one of the country's highest civilian honours. Good friends with Canadian actor Christopher Plummer . Ex-son-in-law of Anne Barton and Dan Barton . Artistic Director of the La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla, California. Will be for three more years. [October 2001] Directing 'Jersey Boys' at the Prince Edward Theater, London. [March 2008] Directing a "re-imagination" of the Tony Award-winning musical, "The Wiz", starring David Alan Grier , at La Jolla Playhouse. [September 2006] Working as Artistic Director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario (Canada)