Bruce Robinson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bruce Robinson
Robinson in 2016
Born	(1946-05-02) 2 May 1946 (age 79) London, England
Alma mater	Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Occupation	Actor screenwriter director
Years active	1967–present
Spouse(s)	Sophie Windham ​ (m. 1984)​
Partner(s)	Lesley-Anne Down (1969–1979)
Children	2
Awards	BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay 1984 The Killing Fields

Bruce Robinson, born on May 2, 1946, is an English actor, director, screenwriter, and novelist. He is well-known for writing and directing the film Withnail and I (1987). This movie, set in London in the late 1960s, shares funny and sad moments from his own life as an actor who was struggling and didn't have much money.

He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his work on the film The Killing Fields (1984). As an actor, he has worked with famous directors like Franco Zeffirelli, Ken Russell, and François Truffaut.

Early Life and Education

Bruce Robinson was born in London, England. He spent his childhood in Broadstairs, Kent, where he went to the Charles Dickens Secondary Modern School. His mother was Mabel Robinson, and his father was an American lawyer named Carl Casriel. They had a brief relationship during World War II.

As a child, Robinson faced difficulties at home. He also had an older sister, Elly, who helped him learn some French.

Film Career Highlights

Bruce Robinson and Lesley-Anne Down in the late 1970s

When he was young, Bruce Robinson dreamed of becoming an actor. He was accepted into the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. His very first movie role was as Benvolio in Franco Zeffirelli's film Romeo and Juliet in 1968.

He then appeared in other films, including Ken Russell's The Music Lovers (1970) and François Truffaut's The Story of Adèle H. (1975). After struggling to find acting work for several years, he decided to try writing screenplays.

Writing and Directing Success

Robinson was soon asked by David Puttnam to write the screenplay for The Killing Fields (1984). This film earned him an Academy Award nomination and a BAFTA award for his writing. He later wrote another screenplay for director Roland Joffé, called Fat Man and Little Boy in 1989.

His most famous work is likely Withnail and I (1987), which he wrote and directed. This film is based on his own experiences as an actor who was out of work. The character 'Withnail' is said to be based on his friend, Vivian MacKerrell, and the character 'I' (Marwood) is based on Robinson himself. Even though the film didn't make much money at first, it became a huge "cult film" after being released on video. It also helped start the acting career of Richard E. Grant.

Robinson at the premiere of The Rum Diary

Robinson directed two more films: How to Get Ahead in Advertising, which again starred Richard E. Grant, and Jennifer 8, a thriller made in Hollywood. After these films, Robinson became less interested in directing because of the strict rules in Hollywood filmmaking. He decided to focus mainly on writing.

He wrote screenplays for films like Return to Paradise (1998) and In Dreams (1999). However, these scripts were changed a lot by the producers, which made Robinson feel disappointed again.

Return to Directing

Robinson eventually returned to directing with a film based on Hunter S. Thompson's novel The Rum Diary. The main role was played by Johnny Depp. Filming began in Puerto Rico in 2009, and the movie was released in 2011.

In 2012, Robinson's short comic novel Paranoia in the Launderette was turned into a movie called A Fantastic Fear of Everything, starring Simon Pegg. Robinson has also finished a screenplay for his novel The Peculiar Memories of Thomas Penman and a book about the mystery of Jack the Ripper, titled They All Love Jack.

Author and Writer

Bruce Robinson is also a successful author. His first published book was The Peculiar Memories of Thomas Penman in 1998. This novel is partly about his own childhood growing up in Broadstairs, Kent.

In 2000, a book called Smoking in Bed: Conversations with Bruce Robinson was published. It was a collection of interviews with Robinson. After becoming a father, Robinson also wrote two children's books: The Obvious Elephant (2000) and Harold and the Duck (2005). Both books were illustrated by his wife. The Obvious Elephant is also available as an audiobook.

He spent about 15 years gathering information and researching the mystery of Jack the Ripper. This research became his book They All Love Jack: Busting the Ripper, published in 2015. In his book, Robinson suggested songwriter Michael Maybrick as his main suspect for the killings.

Personal Life

Bruce Robinson married artist Sophie Windham in 1984. They live in England and have two children, a daughter named Lily and a son named Willoughby.

Robinson has mentioned that the character of Uncle Monty in his film Withnail and I was influenced by director Franco Zeffirelli.

Filmography

Director and Writer

Actor Roles

• Romeo and Juliet (1968) as Benvolio
• Sleep Is Lovely (1968) as Colin
• Baby Love (1969) as Man in Nightclub (uncredited)
• Tam-Lin (1970) as Alan
• The Music Lovers (1971) as Alexei Sofronov
• Private Road (1971) as Peter Morrissey
• The Story of Adèle H. (1975) as Lt Albert Pinson
• Los viajes escolares (1976) as Óscar
• The Brute (1977) as Mark
• Kleinhoff Hotel (1977) as Karl Axel
• Harry's War (1981) as IRS Agent #2
• How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989) as The Boil (voice, uncredited)
• Still Crazy (1998) as Brian Lovell

See also

In Spanish: Bruce Robinson para niños