Michael McDowell (author) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael McDowell
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Born | Michael McEachern McDowell June 1, 1950 Enterprise, Alabama, United States |
| Died | December 27, 1999 (aged 49) Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Pen name |
|
| Occupation | Novelist, screenwriter |
| Nationality | American |
| Period | 1979–1999 |
| Genre | Horror |
Michael McEachern McDowell (born June 1, 1950 – died December 27, 1999) was an American writer and screenwriter. He wrote many books and helped create movies. Famous author Stephen King once called him "the finest writer of paperback originals in America today." Michael McDowell is perhaps best known for writing the screenplay for the popular Tim Burton movie Beetlejuice.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Michael McDowell was born in 1950 in Enterprise, Alabama. He went to T.R. Miller High School in Brewton, Alabama. After high school, he studied at Harvard College, where he earned two degrees. He later received a Ph.D. in English from Brandeis University in 1978. Michael McDowell lived in Medford, Massachusetts, and also had a home in Hollywood.
Writing Career
Michael McDowell was a very talented writer. He wrote many different types of stories, even though he is most famous for his horror books. His historical novels are known for their amazing details and accurate facts about the past. These stories could be set in fancy New York City during the Gilded Age or in rural Alabama during the Great Depression.
Mystery Novels
McDowell worked with his friend Dennis Schuetz on four mystery books. These books featured characters named Daniel Valentine and Clarisse Lovelace. They were called Vermillion (1980), Cobalt (1982), Slate (1984), and Canary (1986). They published these books using the pen name Nathan Aldyne.
In the early 1980s, McDowell and Dennis Schuetz also wrote two exciting thrillers. These were Blood Rubies (1982) and Wicked Stepmother (1983). They used the pen name Axel Young for these books. These stories were fun, exaggerated versions of popular suspense novels.
In the mid-1980s, McDowell created the "Jack and Susan" mystery series for Ballantine Books. These books were inspired by the classic "Thin Man" films. The series included Jack and Susan in 1953 (1985), Jack and Susan in 1913 (1986), and Jack and Susan in 1933 (1987). The stories followed an always-young couple and their changing dog on their adventures.
Movie and TV Work
Michael McDowell also had a successful career writing for movies and television. His most famous movie credit is Beetlejuice (1988). He also worked on The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) and Thinner (1996). In 1985, he wrote the book version of the movie Clue. This book even included an extra ending that was not in the movie! He also wrote scripts for several TV horror shows, like Tales from the Darkside.
In a book from 1985 called Faces of Fear, Michael McDowell talked about his writing. He said, "I am a commercial writer and I'm proud of that. I am writing things to be put in the bookstore next month." This means he wrote books that people would want to buy and read right away.
Later Life and Legacy
Michael McDowell lived with his close friend, Laurence Senelick, for thirty years. He taught screenwriting at Boston University and Tufts University. He continued to write movie scripts. One of his last projects was a sequel to Beetlejuice, which he was working on when he passed away. His final book, Candles Burning, was not finished by him. Another author, Tabitha King, completed it, and it was published in 2006.
Death
Michael McDowell died on December 27, 1999, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was 49 years old.
Screenwriting Credits
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (episode "The Jar")
- Amazing Stories (episode "Miscalculation")
- Beetlejuice (1988) (shared story and screenplay); nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Writing
- Tales from the Darkside (1984–1987) (eleven episodes)
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) (episode "Lover Come Hack to Me")
- Monsters (1989–1990) (episodes "La Strega" and "Far Below")
- Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990) (segments "Lot 249" and "Lover's Vow")
- Thinner (1996) (screenplay by McDowell and Tom Holland, based on the 1984 novel by Stephen King)
Adaptations of His Work
- Beetlejuice (TV series based on the 1988 film)
- Cold Moon (based on the 1980 novel, Cold Moon Over Babylon)
Images for kids
-
Michael McDowell
