---
name: "Steven E. de Souza"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/steven-e-de-souza"
fi1m_id: "steven-e-de-souza"
imdb_id: "nm0211823"
tmdb_id: 1726
wikidata_id: "Q724018"
roles: ["Writer"]
born: "17 November 1947"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 70
average_as: "writer"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-04T21:17:03.018537+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Steven E. de Souza

## Identity

Steven E. de Souza

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/steven-e-de-souza
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** steven-e-de-souza
- **IMDb ID:** nm0211823
- **TMDB ID:** 1726
- **Wikidata ID:** Q724018
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_E._de_Souza, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q724018, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0211823/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1726

Writer. Born 17 November 1947 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Writer
- **Born:** 17 November 1947, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- **Active:** 1982–1994
- **Also known as:** Steven Edward de Souza
- **Frequently works with:** [Joel Silver](https://film.one/person/joel-silver.md), [Lawrence Gordon](https://film.one/person/lawrence-gordon.md), [Bonnie Bedelia](https://film.one/person/bonnie-bedelia.md), [Bruce Willis](https://film.one/person/bruce-willis.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as writer, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 80 (3), 1990s 54 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 66 to 68 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Genres:** Action 5, Thriller 3, Comedy 2, Crime 2, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $671m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_E._de_Souza, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q724018, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0211823/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1726

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Die Hard*](https://film.one/film/die-hard.md) (89), [*48 Hrs.*](https://film.one/film/48-hrs.md) (78)
- **Tubi:** [*Commando*](https://film.one/film/commando.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Steven Edward de Souza (born 17 November 1947) is an American screenwriter, producer and director. He began his career in television as a story editor and producer on series including *Knight Rider* (1982), before moving into feature films.

De Souza is known for writing several high-profile action films of the 1980s and 1990s, including *48 Hrs.* (1982), *Commando* (1985), *The Running Man* (1987), *Die Hard* (1988), *Die Hard 2* (1990), *The Flintstones* (1994), *Beverly Hills Cop III* (1994), *Street Fighter* (1994, also directed) and *Judge Dredd* (1995). He has received Edgar Allan Poe Award nominations for *48 Hrs.* and *Die Hard*, and the Norman Lear Award for lifetime achievement in writing in 2000.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *Another 48 Hrs.* (1990), Fi1m 38, Characters — [page](https://film.one/film/another-48-hrs.md)
- *Die Hard 2* (1990), Fi1m 70, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard-2.md)
- *Die Hard* (1988), Fi1m 89, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard.md)
- *Commando* (1985), Fi1m 74, Story, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/commando.md)
- *48 Hrs.* (1982), Fi1m 78, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/48-hrs.md)

## Complete filmography (41)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Carolco, un rêve hollywoodien* (2026), Actor
- *A Man and His Horse: Steven E. de Souza on 'Knight Rider'* (2022), Actor
- *The Check In* (2022), Actor
- *Deathcember* (2019), as Mr. Handsome
- *Gotta Catch Santa Claus* (2008), Writer
- *Unknown Sender* (2008), series, Creator
- *Blast* (2004), Screenplay
- *Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life* (2003), Story
- *Possessed* (2000), Screenplay, Director
- *Knock Off* (1998), Writer
- *Judge Dredd* (1995), Screenplay
- *Street Fighter* (1994), Screenplay, Director
- *Vault of Horror I* (1994), Director
- *The Flintstones* (1994), Screenplay
- *Beverly Hills Cop III* (1994), Writer
- *Cadillacs and Dinosaurs* (1993), series, Writer, Creator
- *Ricochet* (1991), as TV Reporter (uncredited) · Screenplay
- *Hudson Hawk* (1991), Screenplay
- *Die Hard 2* (1990), Screenplay — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard-2.md)
- *Another 48 Hrs.* (1990), Characters — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/another-48-hrs.md)
- *K-9000* (1990), Writer
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, Director, Screenplay
- *Die Hard* (1988), Screenplay — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard.md)
- *Bad Dreams* (1988), Screenplay
- *Supercarrier* (1988), series, Writer
- *The Running Man* (1987), Screenplay
- *The Spirit* (1987), Writer, Supervising Producer
- *Commando* (1985), Screenplay, Story — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/commando.md)
- *V* (1984), series, Writer
- *The Return of Captain Invincible* (1983), Writer
- *48 Hrs.* (1982), Writer — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/48-hrs.md)
- *Knight Rider* (1982), series, Writer
- *The Powers of Matthew Star* (1982), series, Creator
- *The Renegades* (1982), Writer
- *Rosetti and Ryan* (1977), series, Writer
- *Lucan* (1977), series, Writer
- *The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries* (1977), series, Writer
- *Gemini Man* (1976), series, Writer
- *The Bionic Woman* (1976), series, Writer
- *The Six Million Dollar Man* (1974), series, Writer
- *Arnold's Wrecking Co.* (1973), as Kenny · Director, Writer

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay 1992: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay (won), for *Hudson Hawk*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/steven-e-de-souza