“DN GWCPQUK ZPCPQ’U….. (Please refer to your newspaper for complete puzzle.)
TODAY’S CLUE: D = M
ANSWER: “MY PARENTS WEREN’T TRAVELING, WE DIDN’T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT. FILMMAKING ALLOWED ME TO SEE THE WORLD.” — RYAN COOGLER
RYAN COOGLER
BORN MAY 23, 1986 • AGE 40 • AMERICAN FILM DIRECTOR, SCREENWRITER & PRODUCER
🏡 FROM OAKLAND TO HOLLYWOOD
Ryan Kyle Coogler was born in Oakland, California, and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. A talented football player, he attended California State University, Sacramento, before pursuing filmmaking at the University of Southern California.
🎬 A POWERFUL FIRST IMPRESSION
Coogler made his feature-film debut with Fruitvale Station in 2013, telling the story of Oscar Grant, a young man killed by a transit police officer in Oakland. Starring Michael B. Jordan, the film earned major recognition at the Sundance Film Festival and introduced Coogler as an important new director.
🥊 STEPPING INTO THE RING
In 2015, Coogler directed Creed, bringing new life to the Rocky film series through the story of Apollo Creed’s son. Michael B. Jordan starred as Adonis Creed, while Sylvester Stallone returned as Rocky Balboa and earned an Academy Award nomination for his performance.
🐾 WAKANDA FOREVER!
Coogler directed Marvel’s Black Panther in 2018, creating a superhero adventure celebrated for its African-inspired world and memorable characters. The film became a global box-office success and the first superhero movie nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
💜 A TRIBUTE TO A FALLEN STAR
Coogler returned to direct Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022 following the death of leading actor Chadwick Boseman. The sequel explored grief, family, and leadership while honoring Boseman’s contribution to the original film.
🌟 FROM SUPERHEROES TO SINNERS
In 2025, Coogler wrote and directed Sinners, a supernatural horror film set in the Mississippi Delta during the 1930s, with Michael B. Jordan playing twin brothers. The project blended blues music, historical themes, and horror, demonstrating Coogler’s versatility beyond established film franchises.
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