Darren Aronofsky (born February 12, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American filmmaker, screenwriter and film producer.

Aronofsky was born in Brooklyn to Abraham "Abe" Aronofsky and Charlotte, both school teachers. His father taught science at the Yeshivah of Flatbush and was a dean at Bushwick High School.

He graduated from Edward R. Murrow High School, where he was selected to attend Camp Rising Sun, the Louis August Jonas Foundation's international summer scholarship program. Upon graduating early, he backpacked around the Middle East, Europe and Guatemala for six months and, in 1987, entered Harvard University where he studied anthropology, live action film and animation. His senior thesis film, Supermarket Sweep, starred his fellow student and friend Sean Gullette. It was a finalist in the 1991 Student Academy Awards. He graduated in 1991 with honors. He received his M.F.A. in directing from AFI and was honored with the institute's prestigious Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal.