Dennis Lehane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dennis Lehane
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Lehane in 2010
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| Born | August 4, 1965 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation | Novelist, screenwriter |
| Alma mater | Eckerd College Florida International University |
| Genre | Crime fiction, mystery fiction |
| Spouse | Chisa Lehane |
| Children | 2 |
Dennis Lehane (born August 4, 1965) is a famous American writer. He has written many exciting novels, especially mystery stories. Some of his books feature recurring characters like Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro.
Many of Lehane's novels have been made into popular movies. These include Mystic River (directed by Clint Eastwood), Shutter Island (directed by Martin Scorsese), and Gone Baby Gone and Live by Night (both directed by Ben Affleck). Even one of his short stories, "Animal Rescue," became a movie called The Drop.
Contents
About Dennis Lehane
His Early Life and Family
Dennis Lehane grew up in the Dorchester area of Boston, Massachusetts. He lived in Boston for most of his life, and many of his stories are set there. He is the youngest of five children. His parents moved to the U.S. from Ireland.
Lehane went to Eckerd College in Florida, where he discovered his love for writing. He also studied at Florida International University. His brother, Gerry Lehane, is an actor. Dennis Lehane is married to Chisa Lehane and has two children.
How He Started Writing
Dennis Lehane has taught writing at several colleges, including Pine Manor College and Harvard University. He also helps lead a writing conference called "Writers in Paradise."
Dennis Lehane's Career
His Books and Stories
Lehane's first novel was A Drink Before the War (1994). This book introduced his popular detective characters, Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro. It won an award for best first detective novel.
The fourth book in this series, Gone, Baby, Gone, was made into a movie in 2007. Ben Affleck directed it. Lehane really liked the movie and said it was "terrific." He has said he doesn't want to write the screenplays for movies based on his own books because he feels like he would be "operating on my own child."
Another famous novel by Lehane is Mystic River. It became a movie in 2003, directed by Clint Eastwood. Lehane even has a small cameo in the movie, waving from a car! The book won several awards, including the Anthony Award and the Barry Award for Best Novel.
Lehane also wrote a play called Coronado, which was based on his short story "Until Gwen." This story was chosen for "The Best American Short Stories" collection.
His historical novel, The Given Day, took him many years to write. It starts in 1918 and covers the Boston Police Strike of 1919. This strike was a big event that changed a lot about unions and politics in America. Lehane said this book was his "great white whale," meaning it was a huge project for him.
In 2007, Paramount Pictures decided to make Shutter Island into a movie. Martin Scorsese directed it, and Leonardo DiCaprio starred in it. The movie came out in 2010.
Lehane continued the Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro series with Moonlight Mile in 2010. He also published World Gone By in 2015. His novel Small Mercies was highly praised for its strong characters and exciting story.
His Work in Film and TV
Lehane has also worked in Hollywood. He wrote and directed an independent film called Neighborhoods in the 1990s.
He joined the writing team for the HBO TV series The Wire in 2004. He wrote several episodes for the show, which is known for its realistic portrayal of city life. Lehane even had a small acting role in one episode! He and the writing team won a Writers Guild of America (WGA) Award for their work on The Wire.
Lehane was also an executive producer for the Shutter Island movie. In 2012, he joined the writing staff of another HBO series, Boardwalk Empire, as a writer and creative consultant.
He wrote his first film screenplay, The Drop, which was based on his own short story "Animal Rescue." The movie starred Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini. It received good reviews for its smart script. Lehane has also worked on other screenplays, including one for a film called Silk Road and a remake of a French prison drama called A Prophet. He has also written for TV series like Mr. Mercedes, The Outsider, and Black Bird.
Awards and Recognition
Dennis Lehane has won many awards for his writing.
- He won the Shamus Award for Best First P.I. Novel for A Drink Before the War.
- Mystic River won the Anthony Award and the Barry Award for Best Novel.
- He and the writing team for The Wire won a WGA Award for Best Dramatic Series and an Edgar Award for Best Television Feature/Mini-Series Teleplay.
- His novel Live by Night won an Edgar Award for Best Novel.
Images for kids
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Lehane at a book signing in New York City, 2006
See also
In Spanish: Dennis Lehane para niños
