Richard LaGravenese (/ləˈɡrɑːvəneɪz/;[1] born October 30, 1959)[2][3] is an American screenwriter and film director, known for The Fisher King, The Bridges of Madison County, and Behind the Candelabra.
Richard LaGravenese | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) LaGravenese in September 2017 | |
| Born | October 30, 1959 New York City, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1989–present |
| Spouse | Ann Weiss |
| Children | 1 |
Personal life
editLaGravenese was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of a taxi driver.[2] He is of Italian descent.[4] He graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 1980 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in acting.[5]
Career
editLaGravenese wrote The Fisher King on spec in the late 1980s. It was acquired by Stacey Sher, Lynda Obst, Debra Hill's production company and subsequently directed by Terry Gilliam. For writing the film, LaGravenese received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
In New York City during the early 1980s, billed as "The Double R" comedy duo, in collaboration with playwright Richard O'Donnell, LaGravenese co-penned and consecutively performed in several Off-Off-Broadway productions including Spare Parts, Blood-Brothers at The 78th Street Theatre Lab, The Lion Theatre, and West Bank Cafe.[6]
LaGravenese wrote an adaptation for the famously on-and-off version of the musical Gypsy for Barbra Streisand. In 2015, he revealed that he'd spent several months working on the script with Streisand. "I had the best time with her. I can’t even tell you. It was like a fantasy come true. I did my first draft and went to her house to do rewrites. She’s so meticulous in the best possible way. We went through it page by page by page."
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Rude Awakening | No | Yes | No | |
| 1991 | The Fisher King | No | Yes | No | |
| 1994 | The Ref | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 1995 | A Little Princess | No | Yes | No | |
| The Bridges of Madison County | No | Yes | No | ||
| Unstrung Heroes | No | Yes | No | ||
| 1996 | The Mirror Has Two Faces | No | Yes | No | |
| 1998 | The Horse Whisperer | No | Yes | No | |
| Living Out Loud | Yes | Yes | No | ||
| Beloved | No | Yes | No | ||
| 2003 | A Decade Under the Influence | Yes | No | No | Documentary film |
| 2006 | Paris, Je T'aime | Yes | Yes | No | Segment: "Pigalle" |
| 2007 | Freedom Writers | Yes | Yes | No | |
| P.S. I Love You | Yes | Yes | No | ||
| 2010 | Conviction | No | Uncredited | No | |
| 2011 | Water for Elephants | No | Yes | No | |
| 2013 | Beautiful Creatures | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2014 | The Last Five Years | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Unbroken | No | Yes | No | ||
| 2016 | The Comedian | No | Yes | No | |
| 2022 | Disenchanted | No | Story | No | |
| 2024 | A Family Affair | Yes | No | No |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Writer | Executive Producer |
Creator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Behind the Candelabra | Yes | No | No | Television film |
| 2014 | The Divide | Yes | Yes | Yes |
References
edit- ^ "Say How: L". National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
- ^ a b "Richard Lagravenese Biography (1959?-)". FilmReference.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
Born October 30, 1959 (some sources say 1960)...
- ^ "FamilySearch.org". FamilySearch. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ Hornaday, Ann (March 27, 1994). "Film; Still Speaking After Writing 'The Ref'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
- ^ "Primetime Emmy Nominees > And the Tisch nominees are..." Tisch School of the Arts. 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-12-15. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
Outstanding Writing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special ... Richard LaGravenese '80 (BFA, Acting)
- ^ Sawyer, June (May 15, 1992). "New Variety A Cabaret For The 90s". Chicago Tribune. No. Friday, Page 2 - Section 7. Tribune, Inc.
7. ^Jeremy Kinser (February 13, 2015) ‘The Last Five Years’ Director On His Heartbreaking New Musical And Working On ‘Gypsy’ With Barbra Streisand'