Frank Pierson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Pierson
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Frank Pierson in 2009
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| Born | May 12, 1925 Chappaqua, New York, U.S.
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| Died | July 22, 2012 (aged 87) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | B.A. from Harvard College |
| Alma mater | Harvard College |
| Occupation | Director, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1944–2012 |
| Spouse(s) | Helene Pierson (? – 2012; his death) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Academy Award |
Frank Romer Pierson (May 12, 1925 – July 22, 2012) was an American screenwriter and film director. This means he wrote the scripts for movies and TV shows, and also guided how they were made. He was known for his work on many famous films and television series.
Contents
Life and Career of Frank Pierson
Early Life and Education
Frank Pierson was born on May 12, 1925, in Chappaqua, New York. His mother, Louise Randall, was a writer. Their family life was even featured in a book and a movie called Roughly Speaking.
Frank served in the Army during World War II. After the war, he went to Harvard College and earned a degree. He then worked as a reporter for popular magazines like Time and Life.
Starting in Hollywood
Pierson began his career in Hollywood in 1958. He started as a script editor for the TV show Have Gun – Will Travel. A script editor helps make sure the story flows well. He then wrote for other TV series, including Naked City and Route 66.
He wrote or co-wrote several very successful movies. These include Cat Ballou and Cool Hand Luke. Both of these films were nominated for Academy Awards, which are very important movie awards.
Winning an Academy Award
Frank Pierson won an Academy Award for writing the movie Dog Day Afternoon. This film was released in 1975. He also directed and helped write the 1976 movie A Star Is Born.
Directing Television Films
Pierson directed many films made for television. Some of his notable works include Dirty Pictures, Citizen Cohn, and Conspiracy. His directing on Conspiracy earned him a Directors' Guild Award for Best Television Movie. He also received a Peabody Award and a BAFTA Award for his work.
Leadership Roles in Film Industry
Frank Pierson was a respected leader in the film world. He served as the President of the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) twice. This group represents screenwriters in the industry. He was also the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) from 2001 to 2005. This is the organization that gives out the Academy Awards.
In 2003, he received the Distinguished Screenwriter Award from the Austin Film Festival. He also taught at the Sundance Institute and was an artistic director at the American Film Institute. He even worked as a consultant and co-writer for an episode of the TV show Mad Men.
Later Life and Passing
Frank Pierson passed away on July 22, 2012, at his home in Los Angeles, California. He was 87 years old. He was survived by his wife, Helene, and his two children.
Filmography
Here is a list of some of the movies and TV shows Frank Pierson directed or wrote.
Director
- Have Gun – Will Travel (1962) (TV series)
- Route 66 (1963) (TV series)
- The Looking Glass War (1970)
- The Neon Ceiling (1971)
- Nichols (1971) (TV series)
- The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1973) (TV series)
- A Star Is Born (1976)
- King of the Gypsies (1978)
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985) (TV series)
- Somebody Has to Shoot the Picture (1990)
- Citizen Cohn (1992)
- Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee (1994)
- Truman (1995)
- Dirty Pictures (2000)
- Conspiracy (2001)
- Soldier's Girl (2003)
- Paradise (2004)
Screenwriter
- Have Gun – Will Travel (1962) (TV series)
- Naked City (1962–1963)
- Route 66 (1963)
- Cat Ballou (1965)
- The Happening (1967)
- Cool Hand Luke (1967)
- The Looking Glass War (1969)
- The 42nd Annual Academy Awards (1970)
- The Anderson Tapes (1971)
- Nichols (1971–1972)
- The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1973)
- Amanda Fallon (1973)
- Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
- A Star Is Born (1976)
- King of the Gypsies (1978)
- Haywire (1980)
- In Country (1989)
- Presumed Innocent (1990)
- The Good Wife (2010)
- Mad Men (2012)
See also
In Spanish: Frank Pierson para niños
