Paul Thomas Anderson was an American film director who participated in many careers before making his mark with numerous allegedly artistic ventures. Paul Thomas Anderson was merely his show name, since he thought the initials P.T. suited his ego, as they were comparable to famous showman, P.T. Barnum. Anderson's real name was Jack Partridge. He was born to Earl and Lily Partridge on August 2nd, 1970 in the San Fernando Valley of California, but he liked to be thought of as being birthed by the land itself.