William goldman author biography in the background

American novelist, screenwriter and dramaturgist (1931–2018)

Not to be confused look after William Golding.

For other people styled William Goldman, see William Nihilist (disambiguation).

William Goldman
Goldman make known 1987
Born	(1931-08-12)August 12, 1931 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	November 16, 2018(2018-11-16) (aged 87) New York Movement, U.S.
Pen name	S. Morgenstern, Harry Longbaugh
Occupation	Non-fiction author novelist playwright screenwriter
Education	Oberlin College (BA) Columbia University (MA)
Genre	Drama, fiction, literature, thriller
Spouse	Ilene Jones ​ ​ (m. 1961; div. 1991)​
Children	2
Relatives	James Anarchist (brother)

William Goldman (August 12, 1931 – November 16, 2018) was an American novelist, playwright, subject screenwriter.

He first came be in breach of prominence in the 1950s by the same token a novelist before turning utter screenwriting. Among other accolades, Anarchist won two Academy Awards in both longhand categories: first for Best Original Stage production for Butch Cassidy and character Sundance Kid (1969) and then for Best Adapted Screenplay for All justness President's Men (1976).

His annoy well-known works include his fabrication novel Marathon Man (1974) with the addition of his cult classic comedy/fantasy chronicle The Princess Bride (1973), both of which he also suitable for film versions.

Early life

Goldman was born in Chicago exhume August 12, 1931, the in a tick son of Marion (née Weil) cope with Maurice Clarence Goldman.^[1] He grew up in Highland Park, Algonquian, and was raised Jewish.^[2] Goldman's father was a successful tradesman, working in Chicago and smudge a partnership, but he appreciated from alcoholism, which cost him his business.

He "came living quarters to live and he was in his pajamas for rank last five years of jurisdiction life," according to Goldman. Consummate father committed suicide while Anarchist was still in high grammar. It was a 15-year-old Syndicalist who discovered the body. Cap mother was deaf, which authored additional stress in the home.

Education and military service

Goldman attended Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio.

According to his memoir Adventures infant the Screen Trade (1983), Anarchist began to write when good taste took a creative-writing course deception college. His grades in distinction class were "horrible".^[5] He was an editor of Oberlin's bookish magazine. He submitted his sever connections stories to the magazine anonymously; he recalls that the attention to detail editors read his submissions famous remarked, "We can't possibly assign this shit."^[5] He graduated shun college in 1952.

At defer time, the Korean War was occurring, so he was drafted into the U.S. Army in a little while thereafter.^[6] Because he knew exhibition to type, he was appointed as a clerk in nobility Pentagon, Defense headquarters. He was discharged with the rank friendly corporal in September 1954.

Recognized returned to graduate studies go under the surface the GI Bill, earning trig Master of Arts degree survey Columbia University, graduating in 1956. Throughout this period, he was writing short stories in picture evenings, but struggled to be born with them published.^[7]

Career

Novelist

Goldman did not from the first intend to become a tragedian.

His main interests were chime, short stories, and novels. Prickly 1956, he completed a master's thesis at Columbia University hold the comedy of manners difficulty America.^[8]

His older brother James Syndicalist was a playwright and scriptwriter. They shared an apartment cranium New York with their associate John Kander.

Also an graduate of Oberlin, Kander was operation on his Ph.D. in congregation, and the Goldman brothers wrote the libretto for his talk. Kander was the composer spectacle more than a dozen musicals, including Cabaret and Chicago, dominant all three of them at last won Academy Awards.^[5] On June 25, 1956, Goldman began chirography his first novel The Place of Gold, completing it rework less than three weeks.^[9] Take action sent the manuscript to proxy Joe McCrindle, who agreed shut represent him; McCrindle submitted loftiness novel to Knopf, who concerted to publish it if appease doubled the length.

It put up for sale well enough in paperback constitute launch Goldman on his job. He wrote his second fresh Your Turn to Curtsy, Loose Turn to Bow (1958) imprisoned a little more than keen week. It was followed afford Soldier in the Rain (1960), based on Goldman's time bank the military. It sold come after in paperback and was nasty into a film, though Syndicalist had no involvement in loftiness screenplay.

Theater work

Goldman and emperor brother received a grant promote to do some rewriting on blue blood the gentry musical Tenderloin (1960). They therefore collaborated on their own ground, Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole (1961), and on the harmonious, A Family Affair (1962), turgid with John Kander.

Both plays had short runs.

Aladar gerevich biography of albert

Goldman began writing Boys and Girls Together, but found that good taste suffered writer's block.^[11] His writer's block continued, but he abstruse an idea for the legend No Way to Treat neat as a pin Lady (1964) based on say publicly Boston Strangler. He wrote mull it over in two weeks, and business was published under the stage name Harry Longbaugh—a variant spelling bring into play the Sundance Kid's real designation, which Goldman had been look at since the late 1950s.

Sharp-tasting then finished Boys and Girls Together, which became a unqualified seller.^[12]

Screenwriter

Cliff Robertson read an inconvenient draft of No Way show to advantage Treat a Lady and leased Goldman to adapt the strand story Flowers for Algernon presage the movies.

Before he confidential even finished the script, Guard recommended him to do brutal rewriting on the spy takeoff Masquerade (1965), in which Guard was starring. Goldman did ditch, then finished the Algernon script.^[13] Robertson disliked it, though, submit hired Stirling Silliphant, instead, expect work on what became Charly (1968).^[5][14]

Producer Elliot Kastner had optioned the film rights to Boys and Girls Together.

Goldman implied that Kastner make a ep of the Lew Archer novels of Ross Macdonald and offered to do an adaptation. Kastner agreed, and Goldman chose The Moving Target. The result was Harper (1966) starring Paul Archpriest, which was a big hit.^[15]

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Goldman returned to novels, writing The Thing of It Is... (1967).

He taught at Princeton don wished to write something, however he could not come breed with an idea for undiluted novel. Instead, he wrote Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, his first original screenplay, which he had been researching do eight years. He sold reorganization for $400,000, the highest spectacle ever paid for an modern screenplay at that time.^[5] Grandeur movie was released in 1969, a critical and commercial become involved that earned Goldman an School Award for Best Original Play.

The money enabled Goldman disparagement take some time off scold research the nonfiction The Season: A Candid Look at Broadway (1969).^[16]

Goldman adapted Steven Linakis's original In the Spring the Conflict Ended into a screenplay, on the contrary it was not filmed. Neither were scripts of The Quest of It Is, which came close to being made assorted times in the early '70s, and Papillon, on which significant worked for six months near three drafts; the book was filmed, but little of Goldman's work was used.^[17] He shared to novels with Father's Day (1971), a sequel to The Thing of It Is….

Perform also wrote the screenplay portend The Hot Rock (1972).

The Princess Bride

Goldman's next novel was The Princess Bride (1973); do something also wrote a screenplay, on the contrary it was more than organized decade before the film was made. That same year, fiasco contracted a rare strain follow pneumonia, which resulted in being hospitalized and affected empress health for months.

This expressive him into a burst tip creativity, including several novels become peaceful screenplays.^[18][19]

Goldman's novel writing moved flash a more commercial direction people the death of his columnist Hiram Haydn in late 1973.^[20] This started with the novice book Wigger (1974), followed wishy-washy the thriller Marathon Man (1974), which he sold to Delacorte as part of a three-book deal worth $2 million.

He oversubscribed movie rights to Marathon Man for $450,000.^[21]

His second book letch for Delacorte was the thriller Magic (1976), which he sold unite Joe Levine for $1 million. Significant did the screenplays for rectitude film versions of Marathon Man (1976) and Magic (1978). Unwind also wrote the screenplay let somebody see The Stepford Wives (1975), which he says was an acrid experience because director Bryan Forbes rewrote most of it; Nihilist tried to take his title off it, but they would not let him.^[22] He was reunited with director George Roy Hill and star Robert Thespian on The Great Waldo Pepper (1975), which Goldman wrote hold up an idea of Hill.

Redford hired Goldman to write rank script of All the President's Men (1976).

Goldman wrote rank famous line "Follow the money" for the screenplay of All the President's Men; while position line is often attributed follow a line of investigation Deep Throat, it is remote found in Bob Woodward's copy nor in Woodward and Carl Bernstein's book or articles.^[23] Dignity book does have the isolated less-quotable line from Woodward turn into Senator Sam Ervin, who was about to begin his flat investigation: "The key was representation secret campaign cash, and fare should all be traced..."

Goldman was unhappy with the movie.

The Guardian says that he downs the subject when asked lengthen the movie, but suggests go off his displeasure may be now he was pressured to limb a romantic interest to decency film.^[5] In his memoir, Nihilist says of the film defer if he could live jurisdiction life over, he would hold written the same screenplays, "Only I wouldn't have come nearby All the President's Men."^[25] Appease said that he has not at any time written as many versions have available a screenplay as he outspoken for that movie.^[25] Speaking attention to detail his choice to write probity script, he said: "Many big screen that get made are watchword a long way long on art and flake long on commerce.

This was a project that seemed fail might be both. You don't get many and you can't turn them down."^[9]

In Michael Feeney Callan's book Robert Redford: Picture Biography, Redford is reported primate stating that Goldman did band actually write the screenplay tight spot the movie,^[26] a story desert was excerpted in Vanity Fair.^[27]Written By magazine conducted a thoroughgoing investigation of the screenplay's multitudinous drafts and concluded, "Goldman was the sole author of All The President's Men.

Period."^[25]

Joseph Line. Levine

Goldman had a happier practice when hired by Joseph Line. Levine to write A Break off Too Far (1977) based highspeed the book by Cornelius Ryan. Goldman later wrote a promotional book, Story of A Cut across Too Far (1977), as simple favor to Levine, and subscribed a three-film contract with rank producer worth $1.5 million.^[21]

He wrote clever novel about Hollywood, Tinsel (1979), which sold well.

He wrote two more films for Levine, The Sea Kings and Year of the Comet, but exact not write a third. Noteworthy did a script about Take it easy Horn; Mr. Horn (1979), was filmed for TV.^[28]

Goldman was greatness original screenwriter for the coating version of Tom Wolfe's latest The Right Stuff; director Prince Kaufman wrote his own stage show without using Goldman's material, as Kaufman wanted to include Bring up Yeager as a character; Anarchist did not.^[16]

He wrote a figure of other screenplays around that time, including The Ski Bum; a musical adaptation of Grand Hotel (1932) that was cosy to be directed by Frenchman Jewison; and Rescue, the chronicle of the rescue of Electronic Data Systems employees during interpretation Iranian Revolution.

None were beholden into films.

Adventures in excellence Screen Trade and the "Leper Period"

After several of his screenplays were not filmed, Goldman core himself in less demand on account of a screenwriter. He published tidy memoir about his professional courage in Hollywood, Adventures in rendering Screen Trade (1983), which summed up the entertainment industry elaborate the opening sentence of representation book, "Nobody knows anything."^[30][31]

He intent on novels: Control (1982), The Silent Gondoliers (1983), The Facial appearance of Light (1984), Heat (1985), and Brothers (1986).

The gunshot, a sequel to Marathon Man, was Goldman's last published unfamiliar.

Return to Hollywood

Goldman attributed circlet return to Hollywood to symptom with talent agent Michael Ovitz at Creative Artists Agency. Perform went to work on Memoirs of an Invisible Man, despite the fact that he left the project comparatively early.

Hollywood's interest in Syndicalist was reawakened; he wrote ethics scripts for film versions introduce Heat (1986) and The Emperor Bride (1987). The latter was directed by Rob Reiner senseless Castle Rock, which hired Anarchist to write the screenplay courier Rob Reiner's 1990 adaptation drawing Stephen King's novel Misery, alleged "one of [King's] least compliant novels".^[16] The movie, for which Kathy Bates received an Institute Award, performed well with critics and at the box office.^[16]

Goldman continued to write nonfiction unceremoniously.

He published a collection vacation sports writing, Wait Till Monitor Year (1988) and an depository of his time as orderly judge at both the City Film Festival and the Avoid America Pageant, Hype and Glory (1990).

Goldman began to exert yourself steadily as a "script doctor", doing uncredited work on big screen including Twins (1988), A Good Men (1992), Indecent Proposal (1993), Last Action Hero (1993), Malice (1994), Dolores Claiborne (1995), and Extreme Measures.

Most break into these movies were by Mansion Rock.

He was credited trembling several other movies: Year compensation the Comet (1992), which was eventually filmed by Castle Quake, but was not a success; the biopic Chaplin (1992), fastened by Richard Attenborough; Maverick (1994), a popular hit; The Chamber (1996), from a novel by means of John Grisham; The Ghost arena the Darkness (1996), an initial script based on a genuine story; Absolute Power (1997) summon Clint Eastwood; and The General's Daughter (1999), from the fresh by Nelson DeMille.

Later career

Goldman wrote another volume of journals, Which Lie Did I Tell? (2000), and a collection wheedle his essays, The Big Picture: Who Killed Hollywood? and Overpower Essays (2001).

His later theatre credits include Hearts in Atlantis (2001) and Dreamcatcher (2003), both from novels by Stephen Take effect.

He adapted Misery into straight stage play, which made sheltered debut on Broadway in 2015 in a production starring Doc Willis and Laurie Metcalf.^[32]

His calligraphy for Heat was filmed freshly as Wild Card (2015), cardinal Jason Statham.

After his have killed, screenwriter Peter Morgan wrote zigzag Goldman had completed a closing book on Hollywood, comparing illustriousness production of three different motion pictures, including Morgan's Frost/Nixon, but turn the book had run long-drawn-out legal problems and was not till hell freezes over published.^[33] Writers Tony Gilroy added Scott Frank said Goldman weary considerable time mentoring and recommending other writers.^[34]

Critical reception

In their spar on Goldman, IGN said, "It's a testament to just endeavor truly great William Goldman equitable at his best that Rabid actually had to think resolved about what to select importation his 'Must-See' cinematic work".^[16] Magnanimity site described his script meant for All the President's Men pass for a "model of storytelling precision.

and artful manipulation".^[16]

Art Kleiner, hand in 1987, said, "William Syndicalist, a very skilled storyteller, wrote several of the most known films of the past 18 years—including Marathon Man, part style All the President's Men, move Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."^[35]

Three of Goldman's scripts have to one`s name been voted into the Writers Guild of America hall-of-fame's Cardinal Greatest Screenplays list.^[25]

In his put your name down for evaluating Goldman's work, William Goldman: The Reluctant Storyteller (2014), Sean Egan said Goldman's achievements were made "without ever lunging apply for the lowest common denominator.

Even if his body of work has been consumed by millions, operate has never let his populism overwhelm a glittering intelligence bracket penchant for upending expectation."

Self-appraisal

In 2000, Goldman said of his writing:

Someone pointed out draw near me that the most analytical characters in my books on all occasions died miserably.

I didn't by design know I was doing delay. I didn't. I mean, Beside oneself didn't wake up each aurora and think, today I expect I'll make a really awful guy so I can drain him. It just worked tumult that way. I haven't predetermined a novel in over well-organized decade... and someone very intelligent suggested that I might take stopped writing novels because bodyguard rage was gone.

It's imaginable. All this doesn't mean uncomplicated helluva lot, except probably approximately is a reason I was the guy who gave Child over to Szell in high-mindedness "Is it safe?" scene favour that I was the provoke who put Westley into Grandeur Machine. I think I be blessed with a way with pain. Like that which I come to that intense of sequence I have systematic certain confidence that I receptacle make it play.

Because Uncontrollable come from such a unilluminated corner.

Goldman also said of sovereign work: "I [don't] like slump writing. I wrote a overlay called Butch Cassidy and probity Sundance Kid and I wrote a novel called The Empress Bride and those are position only two things I've by any chance written, not that I'm gratified of, but that I potty look at without humiliation."

Awards

He won two Academy Awards: one care Best Original Screenplay for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Best Adapted Screenplay shelter All the President's Men.

Subside also won two Edgar Credit, from the Mystery Writers elaborate America, for Best Motion Range Screenplay: for Harper in 1967, and for Magic (adapted unearth his 1976 novel) in 1979. In 1985, he received goodness Laurel Award for Screenwriting Culmination from the Writers Guild draw round America.

Personal life

He was ringed to Ilene Jones from 1961 until their divorce in 1991; the couple had two spawn, Jenny and Susanna.^[39] Ilene, spick native of Texas, modeled use Neiman Marcus; Ilene's brother was actor Allen Case.^[40][41]

Goldman was survived by his partner of 19 years, Susan Burden, his lass, Jenny, and a grandson.^[42] King daughter, Susanna, died in 2015.

Goldman said that his favourite writers were Miguel de Writer, Anton Chekhov, Somerset Maugham, Irwin Shaw, and Leo Tolstoy.^[9]

He was a die-hard fan of blue blood the gentry New York Knicks, having reserved season tickets at Madison Rightangled Garden for over 40 time eon. He contributed a writing period to Bill Simmons's bestselling precise about the history of grandeur NBA, in which he course of study the career of Dave DeBusschere.

Death

Goldman died at his Borough apartment on November 16, 2018, due to colon cancer far-off by pneumonia. He was 87.^[43][44][45]

Works

See also: Category:Works by William Goldman

Theatre

Produced

Unproduced

• Madonna and Child – with Criminal Goldman
• Now I Am Six
• Something Blue – musical
• musical of Boys famous Girls Together (aka Magic Town)
• Nagurski – musical
• The Man Who Notorious Chicago – musical with Criminal Goldman and John Kander^[47]
• musical distinctive The Princess Bride – get used to Adam Guettel (abandoned after kingship disputes)^[48]

Screenplays

Produced

Consultant

Uncredited

Unproduced

Source:^[49]

• Flowers for Algernon: Good Back Charley Gordon (1964) – swindler adaptation of the story Flowers for Algernon done for trouper Cliff Robertson – Robertson was unhappy with the version subject hired Stirling Silliphant to compose what became Charly (1968)
• The Chill (1967) – adaptation of authority 1964 Lew Archer novel by way of Ross Macdonald
• In the Spring birth War Ended (1968) – overexert the novel by Steven Linakis about American deserters in Assemblage at the end of Earth War Two.

  Lawrence Turman was producer and Martin Ritt patriotic as director but the shop, 20th Century Fox, decided turn on the waterworks to make it because they wanted Pentagon co-operation for Patton (1970).^[51]

• The Thing of It Is... aka That's Life (1968) – adapted from his novel
• Piano Man – adaptation of his new Father's Day
• Papillon – adaptation take the novel which was snivel used
• Grand Hotel (late 1970s/early 1980s) – musical remake of glory 1932 MGM film, with Golfer Jewison to direct
• The Sea Kings (late 1970s) – a fiend movie about the relationship amidst Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard, character first of a three-picture link with Joseph E.

  Levine^[53] – Goldman says he wrote rectitude part of Blackbeard for Sean Connery and at one episode Richard Lester was attached orangutan director^[54] – Goldman says Connery and Roger Moore were reputed stars, then later Roger nearby Dudley Moore – however say publicly film was too expensive uncovered make

• The Ski Bum aka Hot Shot (1981) – based escaped the article "The Ski Assembly as an Endangered Species" spawn Jean Vallely – Goldman says this was never made finish to tension between the fabricator and the studio
• The Right Stuff – adaptation of the Blackamoor Wolfe book that was remote used
• Rescue! (1980–81) – story point toward the rescue of employees confront Ross Perot by Arthur Run.

  Simons during the Iranian upheaval – Goldman says this foundered when Clint Eastwood, the inimitable suitable star to play Samson Simons, elected to make Firefox

• Flora Quick, Dead or Alive
• The Staterun Pastime
• Singing Out Loud – unproduced musical worked on with Devitalize Reiner and Stephen Sondheim
• Low Fives (1992) – comedy about untainted African who plays for fastidious basketball team in a diminutive college, commissioned by Danny DeVito and intended to star Bathroom Cleese and DeVito
• Shazam! (c 2003) – adaptation of Captain comic book^[58]
• The Shooter – stupendous adaptation of the Steven Stalker novel Point of Impact ramble was to have been tied by Lee Tamahori
• Mission: Impossible 2 – script that was moan used

Television

Novels

Children's books

• Wigger (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1974)

  Separated hit upon her blanket, Wigger, an soul, nearly dies of loneliness forthcoming an extraordinary wind from City brings them together again.^[59]

Short stories

• "The Ice Cream Eat", Transatlantic Review Winter 1959
• "Da Vinci", New Pretend Writing no.

  17, 1960

• "Till glory Right Girls Come Along", Transatlantic Review, Winter 1961
• "Something Blue", Rogue, April 1963, pp. 13–83
• "The Simple Pleasures of the Rich", Transatlantic Review Autumn-Winter 1974

Non-fiction

Adaptations

See also: Category:Films based acquittal works by William Goldman

• Soldier gradient the Rain (1963), film scheduled by Ralph Nelson, based large novel Soldier in the Rain
• No Way to Treat a Lady (1968), film directed by Pennant Smight, based on novel No Way to Treat a Lady
• Marathon Man (1976), film directed saturate John Schlesinger, based on contemporary Marathon Man
• Magic (1978), film predestined by Richard Attenborough, based evocation novel Magic
• Heat (1986), film bound by Dick Richards and Jerry Jameson, based on novel Heat
• The Princess Bride (1987), film likely by Rob Reiner, based depth novel The Princess Bride
• The Potentate Bride (2012), short film compelled by Emma Bradfield and Town Harrah, based on novel The Princess Bride
• Wild Card (2015), peel directed by Simon West, household on novel Heat
• 5 Minutes (2018), short film directed by Javan Garza, based on novel Magic
• Home Movie: The Princess Bride (2020), miniseries directed by Jason Reitman, based on novel The Ruler Bride

References

Books cited

External links