Lawrence Kasdan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lawrence Kasdan
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Kasdan at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con
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| Born |
Lawrence Edward Kasdan
January 14, 1949 Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Occupation | |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Meg Goldman
(m. 1971) |
| Children |
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| Relatives | Mark Kasdan (brother) |
Lawrence Edward Kasdan (born January 14, 1949) is an American filmmaker. He is famous for writing and directing many popular movies. He helped write some of the most well-known Star Wars films, like The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), and The Force Awakens (2015). He also wrote Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), which is part of the Indiana Jones series.
Kasdan is known for taking classic movie styles, like westerns or science fiction, and making them fresh for modern audiences. His films often have smart dialogue and explore themes about people and different generations. He has been nominated for four Academy Awards for his work as a writer and producer. He often works with his family, including his wife Meg, his brother Mark, and his sons Jonathan Kasdan and Jake Kasdan. Actors like Kevin Kline and William Hurt have appeared in many of his movies.
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Early Life and Inspiration
Lawrence Kasdan was born in Miami Beach, Florida, in 1949. His parents were Sylvia and Clarence Kasdan. His father wanted to be a playwright, and his mother enjoyed writing stories. Lawrence grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia. He felt lucky to have a "regular American childhood" there.
He said that many of his movies were inspired by his childhood. He found comfort and excitement in movies, especially since his family didn't have much money. He loved films like The Great Escape (1963) and The Magnificent Seven (1960). These movies helped shape his ideas about heroes.
When he was 14, his older brother Mark took him to see Lawrence of Arabia (1962). This movie deeply impressed him, and he realized he wanted to be a filmmaker, just like the director, David Lean.
Kasdan went to the University of Michigan. He studied drama writing and won a special writing award called the Hopwood Award four times. This award helped him believe that he could truly become a writer. After college, he wanted to be a director, so he decided that writing screenplays was the best way to start.
Becoming a Screenwriter
After college, Kasdan couldn't find a teaching job. So, he worked as an advertising writer in Detroit for five years. He didn't enjoy it much, but he was good at it. He spent his nights writing movie scripts.
Early Scripts
One of Kasdan's first finished screenplays was The Bodyguard, which he wrote in 1975. It was about a singer who falls in love with her bodyguard. This script helped him get an agent. However, the script was rejected 67 times before Warner Bros. finally bought it in 1977. The movie was made much later, in 1992, starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. Kasdan produced it. It became a huge box office success, earning over $411 million worldwide.
While The Bodyguard was being considered, Kasdan wrote another script called Continental Divide. This script was bought by Universal Pictures in 1977, with Steven Spielberg as an executive producer. Spielberg was very impressed with Kasdan's writing. The movie was released in 1981.
Writing for Big Franchises
Spielberg's excitement about Kasdan's writing led him to hire Kasdan for a very special project: Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Kasdan worked with George Lucas and Steven Spielberg to create the story for Raiders of the Lost Ark. Lucas wanted the movie to feel like old adventure serials. The main character, Indiana Jones, was named after Lucas's dog! Kasdan wanted Indiana Jones to be like classic Hollywood heroes such as Errol Flynn and Steve McQueen.
The movie was released in 1981 and was a massive hit, making over $390 million internationally. It also won five Academy Awards. Kasdan was very proud of the film. He was asked to write the sequel, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, but he didn't want to because he felt the story was too dark.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
George Lucas hired Kasdan to rewrite the script for the second Star Wars movie, The Empire Strikes Back. The first writer had passed away, and Lucas needed help with the dialogue. Kasdan made the story darker than the first Star Wars film. He focused on developing the characters more.
When The Empire Strikes Back came out in 1980, it was the first time Kasdan's name appeared in movie credits. It became a beloved film in the Star Wars saga.
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)
After directing his first movie, Kasdan wasn't planning to write another Star Wars film. But George Lucas had supported him, so Kasdan felt he should help. He worked with Lucas to write the script for Return of the Jedi. This film was released in 1983 and was another huge success. Kasdan believed this would be his last Star Wars movie for a long time.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Years later, when Disney bought Lucasfilm and planned new Star Wars movies, Kathleen Kennedy asked Kasdan to come back. He initially said no, but then they offered him a movie about Han Solo, which interested him.
He also helped with the script for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Kasdan always felt that Han Solo was the most interesting character. In this film, Han Solo's story came to a dramatic end, something Kasdan and actor Harrison Ford had wanted for a long time.
The Force Awakens was released in 2015 and earned over $2 billion worldwide, breaking box office records. Kasdan won an award for Best Writing for this film.
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Kasdan finally wrote the Han Solo origin story he had initially signed up for. He wrote the screenplay with his son, Jonathan Kasdan. The movie, Solo: A Star Wars Story, tells how Han got his name, met Chewbacca, and began his adventures.
The film was released in 2018. While it made nearly $393 million worldwide, it was the lowest-grossing live-action Star Wars movie at the time. After this, Kasdan decided to leave the Star Wars universe, as he had planned.
Directing His Own Films
After writing big hits like Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Empire Strikes Back, Lawrence Kasdan had the chance to direct his own movies.
Body Heat (1981)
His first film as a director was Body Heat, released in 1981. It was a crime thriller that critics praised. The movie was a success, making over $24 million on a budget of $7 million.
The Big Chill (1983)
While editing Body Heat, Kasdan got the idea for a movie with a large group of characters. He co-wrote The Big Chill with Barbara Benedek. It was about a group of college friends reuniting.
Hollywood studios were unsure about a movie with so many main characters. But the film was made and starred actors like Kevin Kline, Glenn Close, and Jeff Goldblum. It was filmed in a real house in South Carolina. The movie's soundtrack, filled with 1960s pop songs, became one of the best-selling soundtracks ever.
The Big Chill was released in 1983 and was very popular, earning over $56 million. It was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Many people felt the film captured the feelings of a whole generation.
Silverado (1985)
Kasdan was a big fan of western movies. He co-wrote Silverado with his older brother, Mark Kasdan. This western, set in 1880, follows a group of cowboys who team up to protect a town from a corrupt sheriff.
The film starred Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Danny Glover, and Kevin Costner. It was filmed in New Mexico, and a whole town set was built for the movie. Silverado was released in 1985 and was well-received by critics.
The Accidental Tourist (1988)
Kasdan directed The Accidental Tourist, based on a novel by Anne Tyler. This film earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. It was a story about a man dealing with loss and finding new connections.
The movie starred William Hurt and Kathleen Turner. It was a surprise hit in 1988, making over $32 million and receiving a lot of praise from critics. Kasdan said it was one of his most satisfying experiences.
Grand Canyon (1991)
In his 40s, Kasdan wrote Grand Canyon with his wife, Meg Kasdan. This film explored themes of marriage, parenting, and life in Los Angeles. It starred Kevin Kline, Danny Glover, and Steve Martin.
The movie was released in 1991 and was compared to The Big Chill because of its ensemble cast and social commentary. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Wyatt Earp (1994)
Kasdan directed another western, Wyatt Earp, starring Kevin Costner as the famous lawman. This was a very ambitious film, shot over 19 weeks in New Mexico with many actors and extras.
The film was released in 1994. It faced competition from another Wyatt Earp movie released around the same time, which affected its box office performance.
Later Films
After Wyatt Earp, Kasdan directed French Kiss (1995), a romantic comedy filmed in France. He then made Mumford (1999), about a psychologist with a secret past.
His film Dreamcatcher (2003) was an adaptation of a Stephen King novel. It was a horror film about four friends with special powers who encounter aliens.
Nine years later, Kasdan directed Darling Companion (2012). This independent film was based on a real-life event where his own dog got lost. It starred Kevin Kline and Diane Keaton.
As of 2020, Kasdan has been working on a documentary and adapting a novel. He has said that directing is a huge amount of work and heart, but it's the greatest job in the world.
Influences and Style
As a writer, Lawrence Kasdan was influenced by classic English literature and old movies from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. He enjoys updating classic movie types, like westerns and science fiction, for modern audiences.
In 2012, he shared a list of his ten favorite films of all time. These included classics like The Godfather (1972), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and Seven Samurai (1954).
Other Roles
Besides writing and directing, Kasdan has also produced several films that he didn't direct. These include Cross My Heart (1987) and Home Fries (1998). He also produced films directed by his sons, like The TV Set (2006) by Jake Kasdan and In the Land of Women (2007) by Jonathan Kasdan.
He has made small acting appearances in his own films, often uncredited. For example, he played a lawyer in I Love You to Death and a gambler in Wyatt Earp. He also had a role as a psychiatrist in the movie As Good as It Gets (1997).
Awards and Recognition
Lawrence Kasdan has received many awards and honors throughout his career. Besides his four Academy Awards nominations, he won the Distinguished Screenwriter Award from the Austin Film Festival in 2001. In 2006, he received the Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement from the Writers Guild of America, which is a very high honor for screenwriters.
He also has three honorary doctorates from different universities. In 2016, he was honored with the ICON Award for his contributions to filmmaking.
He has won several Hugo Awards for Best Dramatic Presentation for his Star Wars and Indiana Jones films. He also won a Saturn Award for Best Writing for Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Family Life
Lawrence Kasdan has been married to Meg Kasdan (born Mary Ellen Goldman) since 1971. They met while studying English at the University of Michigan. Their two sons, Jake Kasdan and Jonathan Kasdan, have followed in their father's footsteps and work in the film industry as actors, writers, producers, and directors. Lawrence and Meg have three grandchildren.
Images for kids
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Kasdan at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con
