Stephen Chbosky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stephen Chbosky
Chbosky on the Jericho panel at San Diego Comic-Con, 2006
Born	(1970-01-25) January 25, 1970 (age 55) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation	Screenwriter director author
Years active	1995–present
Relatives	John Erick Dowdle (brother-in law)

Stephen Chbosky (born January 25, 1970) is an American film director, screenwriter, and author. He is widely known for writing the popular coming-of-age novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower (1999). He also wrote and directed the 2012 film based on his book. Chbosky directed the heartwarming movie Wonder (2017) and the 2021 film version of Dear Evan Hansen. His suspenseful novel, Imaginary Friend, was published in 2019.

Early Life and Inspirations

Stephen Chbosky was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States. He grew up in a suburb called Upper St. Clair Township. His mother, Lea, worked as a tax preparer, and his father, Fred, was a business executive. Stephen has a sister named Stacy, who is married to director John Erick Dowdle.

As a teenager, Stephen enjoyed reading many different types of books. He liked classic stories, exciting thrillers, and fantasy tales. He was greatly inspired by books like The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. He also admired the writing of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Tennessee Williams.

After graduating from high school in 1988, Stephen met Stewart Stern. Stern was a famous screenwriter who wrote the 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause. Stewart Stern became a close friend and mentor to Stephen. He had a big impact on Stephen's career as a writer and director.

Stephen Chbosky's Creative Journey

Starting in Film and Writing

In 1992, Stephen Chbosky finished his screenwriting studies at the University of Southern California. He then wrote, directed, and acted in his first independent film, The Four Corners of Nowhere, in 1995. This film was shown at the Sundance Film Festival, which is a big event for independent movies. It was also one of the first films ever shown on the Sundance Channel.

The Story of The Perks of Being a Wallflower

In 1994, Stephen was working on a different book when he wrote a special sentence: "I guess that's just one of the perks of being a wallflower." This line made him realize he had found the main character he wanted to write about. After several years, he started writing The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

This book is written as a series of letters from a teenager named Charlie. It tells the story of his first year in high school and how he grows up and learns about life. The book is partly based on Stephen's own experiences, but his high school life was also different in many ways.

The book was published in 1999 and quickly became very popular with teenagers. By 2000, it was a top-selling book, and by 2013, over two million copies had been printed. It has been translated into 31 languages.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower became a popular book, but it also discussed some challenging topics that teenagers might face. Because of this, the book was sometimes debated and even removed from some school libraries. However, it remained a very important and widely read book for many young people.

Working on Other Projects

In 2000, Stephen edited a collection of short stories called Pieces. He also wrote the screenplay for the 2005 film Rent, which was based on a popular Broadway musical.

Later, Stephen started working in television. He helped create, produce, and write the TV show Jericho, which started in 2006. This show was about a small town in Kansas after some big events. Stephen said that the relationship between the main character and his mother in the show reminded him of his own family. The show was canceled after a while, but fans worked hard to bring it back for a second season before it was canceled again.

Bringing Wallflower to the Big Screen

Stephen Chbosky wrote the screenplay for and directed the film version of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The movie was made in 2011 and released in 2012. It starred Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller. The film received many awards, including the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. Stephen was also nominated for a Writers Guild Award for his screenplay.

Directing and Writing More Films

Stephen also helped rewrite the script for Disney's live-action movie Beauty and the Beast in 2017. He had worked closely with Emma Watson on The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and she starred as Belle in this film. The movie stayed true to the original animated classic.

In 2017, Stephen directed the movie Wonder. He also co-wrote the script, which was based on a popular novel. The film starred Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Jacob Tremblay. It tells the story of a boy with a facial difference starting school.

Stephen Chbosky also directed the 2021 film adaptation of the musical Dear Evan Hansen. This movie starred Ben Platt, who played the main role on Broadway. Other actors included Kaitlyn Dever and Julianne Moore. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

In 2019, Stephen published his second novel, Imaginary Friend. This suspenseful book became a best-seller on The New York Times list.

Personal Life

Stephen Chbosky lives in Los Angeles, California. He often says that his friend and mentor, screenwriter Stewart Stern, was a great inspiration for his writing career.

Filmography

Film

Television