Following a successful career as a junior pro surfer, David Richard Ellis began his career in the film industry as a supporting actor in juvenile roles making his big screen debut in 1975 in the Kurt Russell film "The Strongest Man in the World". In 1978, he received a promotion to stunt coordinator on "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers". After several successful years in this position, he worked from 1986 onwards as a second unit director before making his debut as a director in the Disney live-action film "". He is best known for directing two of the "Final Destination" films and the 2006 film "Snakes on a Plane", which became an Internet phenomenon.