David Richard Ellis (September 8, 1952 – January 7, 2013) was an American film director and stunt performer born in Santa Monica, California, in 1952.

[1] He also served as second unit director on blockbuster action films like Waterworld, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Matrix Reloaded, and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.

His feature directorial credits included the action thriller Snakes on a Plane and two entries in the Final Destination series.

Other notable works as a stunt man include Fatal Attraction, Lethal Weapon, the television series Baywatch, and Patriot Games.

As a second unit director he worked on a number of well-known movies that include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Matrix Reloaded, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, and Cop Out.

Ellis was nominated for the Taurus Award along with Glenn Boswell and R. A. Rondell in 2003 for his stunt coordination work on The Matrix Reloaded.