Joan Tewkesbury facts for kids

Joan Tewkesbury, born on April 8, 1936, is an American director, writer, producer, and actress for movies and TV shows. She worked closely with famous director Robert Altman. Joan wrote the scripts for his films Thieves Like Us (1974) and Nashville (1975). Nashville is considered one of Altman's best movies, and Joan was even nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay for it!

Joan's Early Life and Start in Show Business

Joan Tewkesbury was born in Redlands, California. Her mom, Frances, was a nurse, and her dad, Walter, fixed office machines. Joan started her career very young, at just ten years old! She was a dancer in the movie The Unfinished Dance. Later, she had an early acting role on the TV show It's a Man's World on NBC.

Joan's Amazing Career in Film and TV

Joan Tewkesbury worked on many projects with director Robert Altman. She was a script supervisor for his film McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971). Her first big writing job for a movie was Thieves Like Us (1974).

Writing the Movie Nashville

Joan had an idea for a movie called Nashville. She suggested it to Altman even before he filmed McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Altman liked the idea of a movie set in Nashville, Tennessee. He sent Joan there in 1973 to observe the city and its people. Joan kept a diary during her trip. This diary became the main idea for the movie's script! Many things she saw, like a highway pileup, ended up in the final film.

Directing and Writing for Television

Joan also wrote and directed many TV shows. She worked for big channels like Disney, HBO, CBS, TNT, and NBC. She has also directed plays off-Broadway. Joan even helped choreograph and direct for the Oregon Ballet Theatre. She has performed, written, and directed shows for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland.

Other Projects and Teaching

In 2011, Joan published her first novel. It was called Ebba and the Green Dresses of Olivia Gomez in a Time of Conflict and War. She also teaches screenwriting, which is the art of writing movie scripts. Her workshop, "Designed Obstacles, Spontaneous Response," has traveled to places like the University of Southern California, Israel, and Japan. Since 2003, Joan Tewkesbury has lived in Tesuque, New Mexico.

Movies and TV Shows Directed by Joan

Here are some of the movies and TV series Joan Tewkesbury has directed:

Movies Directed

• Old Boyfriends (1979)
• The Tenth Month (1979) (TV movie)
• The Acorn People (1981) (TV movie)
• Cold Sassy Tree (1989) (TV movie)
• Scattering Dad (1998) (TV movie)

TV Series Directed

• Elysian Fields (1989)
• Strangers (1992)
• Felicity
• The Guardian (2001)