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Dennis Lehane

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Dennis Lehane
Lehane in 2010
Lehane in 2010
Born(1965-08-04)August 4, 1965(age 58)
Boston, Massachusetts,U.S.
OccupationNovelist, screenwriter
Alma materEckerd College
Florida International University
GenreCrime fiction,mystery fiction
SpouseChisa Lehane
Children2
Website
www.dennislehane

Dennis Lehane(born August 4, 1965)[1]is an American author. He has published more than a dozen novels; the first several were a series of mysteries featuring recurring characters, includingA Drink Before the War.Four of his novels have been adapted into films of the same names:Clint Eastwood'sMystic River(2003),Martin Scorsese'sShutter Island(2010), andGone Baby Gone(2007) andLive by Night(2016), both directed byBen Affleck.His short story "Animal Rescue" was also adapted into the filmThe Drop,noted for being the final film role for actorJames Gandolfini.

Personal life[edit]

Lehane was born and raised in theDorchesterneighborhood ofBoston, Massachusetts.He lived in the Boston area most of his life, where he sets most of his books, but now lives in southern California.[2]He spent summers on Fieldston Beach inMarshfield.[3]Lehane is the youngest of five children. His father was a foreman forSears & Roebuck,and his mother worked in a Boston public school cafeteria.[4]Both of his parents emigrated from Ireland.[5]Lehane is a graduate ofEckerd CollegeinSt. Petersburg, Florida.

His brother, Gerry Lehane, who is two and a half years older than Dennis, trained at theTrinity Repertory Companyin Providence and became an actor in New York in 1990. Gerry is a member of the Invisible City Theatre Company.[6]

Lehane is married to Chisa Lehane. He has two children from a previous marriage.

He is a graduate ofBoston College High School(a Jesuit prep school),[5]Eckerd College(where he found his passion for writing),[7]and the graduate program increative writingatFlorida International UniversityinMiami, Florida.He occasionally made guest appearances as himself in theABCcomedy/drama TV seriesCastle.

Career[edit]

Literary career[edit]

Lehane's first novel,A Drink Before the War(1994), which introduced the recurring characters Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro, won the 1995Shamus Awardfor Best First P.I. Novel. The fourth novel in the series,Gone, Baby, Gone,was adapted into afilm of the same titlein 2007; it was directed byBen Affleckand starredCasey AffleckandMichelle Monaghanas Kenzie and Gennaro. Commenting on the movie after a sneak peek, Lehane said, "I saw the movie and it's terrific, I wasn't gonna say anything if I didn't like it but it's really terrific."[8]Reportedly, Lehane "has never wanted to write the screenplays for the films [based on his own books], because he says he has 'no desire to operate on my own child.'"[3]

Lehane at a book signing in February 2009

Lehane's novelMystic Riverwas adapted into a film in 2003; also calledMystic Riverand directed byClint Eastwood,it starredSean Penn,Tim Robbins,andKevin Bacon.Lehane can be briefly seen waving from a car in the parade scene at the end of the film. The novel itself was a finalist for the PEN/Winship Award and won theAnthony Awardand theBarry Awardfor Best Novel, the Massachusetts Book Award in Fiction, and France'sPrix Mystère de la critique.

Lehane's first play,Coronado,debuted in New York in December 2005, produced by Invisible City Theater Company. The play had its regional premiere at American Stage in St. Petersburg in April 2006[9]and its Midwest premiere in the fall of 2007 with Steep Theatre Company inChicago.Coronadois based on his acclaimed short storyUntil Gwen,[10]which was originally published inThe Atlantic Monthlyand was selected for bothThe Best American Short StoriesandThe Best Mystery Short Storiesof 2005.[6]

Lehane described working on his historical novel,The Given Day,[11]as "a five- or six-year project." the novel opens in 1918 and encompasses the 1919Boston Police Strikeand its aftermath.[12]According to Lehane, "The strike changed everything. It had a big effect on the unionization movement, andProhibitioncame on the heels of that, thenCalvin Coolidgepromising to break the unions. That's all linked to what's going on now. ".[12]While Lehane's epic novel centers on the 1919 Boston police strike, it contains a national sweep and may be the first of a trilogy or perhaps a four-book series.[13]Lehane called the novel his "great white whale" and said that when he finally finished it, he would "either write a sequel—or take a break from the cops and return to Patrick and Angie."[8]The novel was published in October 2008.[14]

On October 22, 2007, Paramount Pictures announced that it had optionedShutter IslandwithMartin Scorseseattached as director.[15]TheLaeta Kalogridis-scripted adaptation hasLeonardo DiCaprioplaying U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels, "who is investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on the remote Shutter Island."[16]Mark Ruffaloplays U.S. Marshal Chuck Aule.[17]Production started in March 2008;Shutter Islandwas released on February 19, 2010.

In 2010 Lehane publishedMoonlight Mile,his sixth book in the Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro series, and his first of that genre in 11 years.[18]He publishedWorld Gone Byin March 2015.

Lehane was appointed to the board of trustees of theBoston Public Libraryby MayorThomas Meninoin December 2011.[19]

Lehane'sSmall Merciesreceived praise fromRichard Russo,who said: "Think of all your favorite hard-boiled authors (Hammett? Chandler? Ross Macdonald? Robert Parker?) and their tough guy heroes (Spade? Marlowe? Lew Archer? Spenser?). Not one of them could take Lehane’s Mary Pat in a fair fight, and they wouldn’t last a day in his Southie."[20]

Teaching career[edit]

Lehane at Barnes & Noble Union Square, New York City, August 15, 2006

Since becoming a literary success, Lehane has taught at several colleges. He taught fiction writing and serves as a member of the board of directors for the Solstice Low-Residency MFA Program atPine Manor CollegeinChestnut Hill, Massachusetts.[21]He has also taught advanced fiction writing atHarvard University,where his classes quickly filled up.[citation needed]

In May 2005, Lehane was presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree fromEckerd Collegeand was appointed to Eckerd's board of trustees later that year. As of June 2006, he was living temporarily inSt. Petersburg, Florida,and teaching as writer-in-residence at Eckerd (usually during the spring semester), where he also co-directs the Writers in Paradise conference each January.[22]

Film career[edit]

Lehane wrote and directed an independent film calledNeighborhoods[citation needed]in the mid-1990s. Later described as similar toGood Will Hunting,it was set in Boston's working class areas likeSouthieand Dorchester. Its production ended in 1996, more than a year before the better-knownGood Will Hunting.

Lehane joined the writing staff of theHBOdrama seriesThe Wirefor the third season in 2004.[23][24]Lehane wrote the teleplay for the episode "Dead Soldiers"from a story by series creator and executive producerDavid Simon.[25][26]Lehane made a cameo appearance in the third-season episode, "Middle Ground,"as Sullivan, an officer in charge of special equipment.[27][28]Lehane has commented that he was impressed by the show's creators (David SimonandEd Burns) having such an ear for authentic street slang.[29]Lehane returned as a writer for the fourth season in 2006 and wrote the teleplay for the episode "Refugees,"from a story he co-wrote with producerEd Burns.[30][31]Lehane and the writing staff won theWriters Guild of America (WGA) Awardfor Best Dramatic Series at theFebruary 2008 ceremonyand the 2007Edgar Awardfor Best Television Feature/Mini-Series Teleplay for their work on the fourth season.[32][33]Lehane served as a writer for the fifth and final season in 2008 and was credited with the episode "Clarifications".[34][35]He and the writing staff were nominated for the WGA Award for Best Dramatic Series again at theFebruary 2009 ceremonyfor their work on the fifth season butMad Menwon the award.[36]

He served as an executive producer forShutter Island.On November 27, 2012,The Boston Heraldreported that Lehane would join the writing staff of HBO'sBoardwalk Empireas a writer and a creative consultant. He will consult with showrunnerTerence Winteron the outline of the fourth season of the show, and he confirmed that he would write at least one episode.[37]

Lehane wrote his first film screenplay,The Drop,as an adaptation of his short story "Animal Rescue". The film starsTom Hardy,Noomi Rapace,andJames Gandolfini(in his final film performance). Released September 12, 2014, the movie received positive reviews, particularly for its "smartly written script."[38][39]In 2013 Lehane was contracted to write a screenplay,Silk Road,about theonline black market.[40]That same year he was attached to adapt the script for the remake of the critically acclaimed French filmA Prophet,a prison drama.[41]

Works[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

Novels[edit]

Kenzie & Gennaroseries:

  1. A Drink Before the War(1994).ISBN015100093X
  2. Darkness, Take My Hand(1996).ISBN0688143806
  3. Sacred(1997).ISBN0688143814
  4. Gone, Baby, Gone(1998).ISBN0688153321
  5. Prayers for Rain(1999).ISBN068815333X
  6. Moonlight Mile(2010).ISBN0061836923

Coughlinseries:

  1. The Given Day(2008).ISBN978-0688163181
  2. Live by Night(2012).ISBN978-0060004873
  3. World Gone By(2015).ISBN978-0060004903

Stand-alones:

Short stories[edit]

  • "Until Gwen" (The Atlantic,June 2004)
  • "Animal Rescue" (2009)
  • "Red Eye" – in "FaceOff" (2014), co-written withMichael Connelly;a Harry Bosch story, with Patrick Kenzie

Filmography[edit]

  • Mystic River(2003) novel the film is based on
  • The Wire(2002 TV series) writer
  • Gone Baby Gone(2007) novel the film is based on
  • Shutter Island(2010) novel the film is based on; executive producer
  • Castle(2009) actor, as himself
  • Boardwalk Empire(2013 TV series) writer; creative consultant
    • Episode 4.02 "Resignation" (2013)
  • The Drop(2014) screenwriter, based on his own short story "Animal Rescue"
  • Live by Night(2016) novel the film is based on
  • Mr. Mercedes(2017 TV series) writer; consulting producer
    • Episode 1.04 "Gods Who Fall" (2017)
    • Episode 1.06 "People in the Rain" (2017)
    • Episode 1.07 "Willow Lake" (2017)
    • Episode 1.10 "Jibber-Jibber Chicken Dinner" (2017)
    • Episode 2.01 "Missed You" (2018)
    • Episode 2.07 "Fell On Black Days" (2018, with Samantha Stratton & Mike Batistick)
    • Episode 2.09 "Walk Like a Man" (2018, withDavid E. Kelley)
  • The Outsider(2020 miniseries) writer
    • Episode 1.07 "In the Pines, In the Pines" (2020)
    • Episode 1.09 "Tigers and Bears" (2020)
  • Black Bird(2022 miniseries) developer and writer
  • Firebug(TBA miniseries) developer and writer

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Nominated work Award Category Result
2003 Mystic River USC Scripter Awards Won[A] [42]
2004 Edgar Awards Best Motion Picture Screenplay Nominated[B] [43]
2007 The Wire Best TV Feature or Mini-Series Teleplay Won[C] [32]
WGA Awards Outstanding Dramatic Series Won[D] [33]
2008 Nominated[E] [36]
2010 Animal Rescue Edgar Awards Best Short Story Nominated [43]
2013 Live by Night Best Novel Won [44]
Boardwalk Empire OFTA Awards Best Writing in a Drama Series Nominated[F] [45]
Note: Awards are listed in order of the effective years, annual ceremonies are usually held the following.
Notes

He has won other professional awards and honorary degrees: In Spring 2009, Lehane received the Joseph E. Connor Award and was made an honorary brother of the Phi Alpha Tau professional fraternity atEmerson Collegein Boston, Massachusetts. Other brothers and Connor Award recipients includeRobert Frost,Elia Kazan,Jack Lemmon,Red Skelton,Edward R. Murrow,Yul Brynner,andWalter Cronkite.[46][47]Also in Spring 2009, Lehane presented the commencement speech atEmmanuel Collegein Boston, Massachusetts, and was awarded an honorary degree.[48]On October 6, 2015, Lehane won a spot inBest American Mystery Stories.

Novelizations[edit]

Adaptations[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Literary and Historical Notes".The Writer's Almanac.American Public Media. August 4, 2005.RetrievedDecember 30,2012.
  2. ^National Public Radio program May 10, 2017, interview by Robin Young
  3. ^abKristen Walsh, "Lehane likes to keep it close to home; Dorchester native favors South Shore locales",The Patriot Ledger(Quincy, MA). June 9, 2007. Pg. ONE21.
  4. ^Bio: Dennis LehaneArchived2007-09-27 at theWayback Machine.Mystery Authors Online.2004. Accessed July 13, 2007.
  5. ^abIntroduction of Dennis Lehane by Dr. Donald R. Eastman, IIIArchived2007-10-04 at theWayback Machine.Eckerd College Commencement 2005. Accessed July 13, 2007.
  6. ^"dennislehane".Retrieved2024-06-17.
  7. ^ab"Inside Track; Lehane: 'Gone' great, baby, great" by Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa with Erin Hayes.The Boston Herald.July 10, 2007. Pg. 010.
  8. ^"coronadotheplay".Archived fromthe originalon 2006-02-28.Retrieved2006-03-04.
  9. ^"After tedious first act, dark drama kicks into overdrive" by Marty Clear.St. Petersburg Times(Florida). April 27, 2006. Pg. 2B.
  10. ^Steve Persall, "Staying True to His Words,"St. Petersburg Times(Florida). Floridian; Pg. 1E. October 18, 2007.
  11. ^abGreenya, John (November 30, 2008)."The Given Day by Dennis Lehane"(Review).The Washington Times.RetrievedOctober 1,2010.
  12. ^Jon Wilson, "Novelist sees college as creative hub,"St. Petersburg Times(Florida). September 25, 2005. Pg. 9.
  13. ^Colette Bancroft, "From Passing Thought to 'Fiery Epic'",St. Petersburg Times (Florida),Festival of Reading; Pg. 5. October 23, 2008.
  14. ^""Scorsese, DiCaprio team for 'Island': Paramount, Columbia to co-produce film" by Michael Fleming ".Variety.October 22, 2007.Retrieved2007-10-22.
  15. ^Reagan, Gillian,"Scorsese, DiCaprio Team Up forShutter Island"Archived2011-06-16 at theWayback Machine,The New York ObservercitingVariety,October 23, 2007. Retrieved 2010-12-19.
  16. ^Reagan, Gillian,"Ruffalo to Star in Scorsese'sShutter Island"Archived2011-06-16 at theWayback Machine,The New York Observer,November 27, 2007 9:41 a.m ET. Retrieved 2010-12-19.
  17. ^Kung, Michelle (February 12, 2010)."The Author Who Aced Hollywood".The Wall Street Journal.p. W12.RetrievedJuly 20,2015.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^Dumcius, Gintautas (January 12, 2012)."Dot author Lehane tries on BPL trustee hat".Dorchester Report.RetrievedSeptember 13,2014.
  19. ^"Richard Russo Misses the Purity of Childhood Reading".The New York Times.20 July 2023.
  20. ^Carol Beggy and Mark Shanahan, "Just call him Professor Lehane,"The Boston Globe.July 12, 2006. Pg. E2.
  21. ^"The Eckerd College Writers in Paradise Home Page".Writersinparadise.eckerd.edu.Retrieved2012-01-27.
  22. ^"Dennis Lehane biography".HBO. 2007.Retrieved2007-10-16.
  23. ^"Season 3 crew".HBO. 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-10-12.Retrieved2007-10-16.
  24. ^ab"Episode guide - episode 28 Dead Soldiers".HBO. 2004. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-07-05.Retrieved2006-08-07.
  25. ^abDavid Simon, Dennis Lehane (2004-10-03). "Dead Soldiers".The Wire.Season 3. Episode 3. HBO.
  26. ^ab"Episode guide - episode 36 middle ground".HBO. 2004.Retrieved2006-08-09.
  27. ^abDavid Simon, George P. Pelecanos (2004-12-12). "Middle Ground".The Wire.Season 3. Episode 11. HBO.
  28. ^Margaret Talbot (2007)."Stealing Life".The New Yorker.Retrieved2007-10-14.
  29. ^ab"Episode guide - episode 41 Refugees".HBO. 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-07-05.Retrieved2006-10-03.
  30. ^abDennis Lehane, Ed Burns (2004-10-31). "Refugees".The Wire.Season 4. Episode 4. HBO.
  31. ^ab"Curtains Receives Edgar Award Nomination".Theatre Mania. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-12-16.
  32. ^ab"2008 Writers Guild Awards Television & Radio Nominees Announced".WGA. 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-12-19.Retrieved2007-12-13.
  33. ^ab"Episode guide - episode 58 Clarifications".HBO. 2008.Retrieved2008-02-24.
  34. ^abDennis Lehane, David Simon (2008-02-24). "Clarifications".The Wire.Season 5. Episode 8. HBO.
  35. ^ab"2009 Writers Guild Awards Television, Radio, News, Promotional Writing, and Graphic Animation Nominees Announced".Writers Guild of America Awards.2008. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-12-12.Retrieved2008-12-12.
  36. ^Fee, Gayle; Raposa, Laura (November 27, 2012)."Dennis Lehane signs on to HBO's 'Empire'".Boston Herald.RetrievedOctober 6,2014.
  37. ^The Drop,12 September 2014,retrieved2022-12-30
  38. ^Jones, J. R."The Drop".Chicago Reader.RetrievedOctober 6,2014.
  39. ^Hawker, Philippa (October 17, 2013)."Silk Roads Webbed Tale of Drugs and Murder to Become Film".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved2013-10-17.
  40. ^Kroll, Justin (October 29, 2013)."Dennis Lehane to Write Remake of French Pic 'A Prophet' for Sony (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.RetrievedSeptember 13,2014.
  41. ^"Past Scripter Awards: 2004".usc.edu. Archived fromthe originalon 2014-08-26.RetrievedSeptember 13,2014.
  42. ^ab"Search the Edgar® Award Winners And Nominees".TheEdgars. Archived fromthe originalon September 27, 2018.RetrievedSeptember 13,2014.
  43. ^Shanahan, Mark; Goldstein, Meredith (May 3, 2013)."Dennis Lehane'sLive by Nightbest novel of the year ".The Boston Globe.RetrievedSeptember 13,2014.
  44. ^"2012-13: THE SEASON OF AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM".Online Film & Television Association.Archived fromthe originalon October 6, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 13,2014.
  45. ^Rosen, David (March 31, 2009)."Author, Screenwriter Dennis Lehane is honored at Emerson College".Emerson College.RetrievedSeptember 3,2015.
  46. ^"Connor Award Recipients".Phi Alpha Tau.Archived fromthe originalon November 10, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 3,2015.
  47. ^English, Bella (May 14, 2009)."Speakers reach for words that fit the times".The Boston Globe.

External links[edit]

Library resourcesabout
Dennis Lehane
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