Rainer Werner Fassbinder (German: [ˈʁaɪ̯nɐ ˈvɛʁnɐ ˈfasbɪndɐ] (listen); 31 May 1945 – 10 June 1982), sometimes credited as R. W. Fassbinder, was a German filmmaker, actor, playwright, theatre director, composer, editor, and essayist. He is widely regarded as a prominent figure and catalyst of the New German Cinema movement.