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Frank Pierson

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Frank Pierson
Frank Pierson in 2009
Born(1925-05-12)May 12, 1925
Chappaqua, New York,U.S.
DiedJuly 22, 2012(2012-07-22)(aged 87)
Los Angeles,California,U.S.
Resting placeWestwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
EducationB.A.from Harvard College
Alma materHarvard College
Occupation(s)Director, screenwriter
Years active1944–2012
Spouse(s)Helene Pierson
(? – 2012; his death)
Children2
AwardsAcademy Award for Best Original Screenplay

Frank Romer Pierson[1](May 12, 1925 – July 22, 2012) was an Americanscreenwriterandfilm director.[2][3]

Life and career

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Pierson was born inChappaqua, New York,the son of Louise (née Randall), a writer, and Harold C. Pierson.[1]Pierson's family was the subject of his mother's 1943 autobiographyRoughly Speakingand a 1945movieof the same name, starringRosalind RussellandJack Carsonas his parents.

Pierson served in the Army duringWorld War II,then graduated fromHarvard.[4]He worked as a correspondent forTimeandLifemagazines before selling his first script toAlcoa-Goodyear Theater.He got his break in Hollywood in 1958 as script editor forHave Gun – Will Traveland moved on to write for the television seriesNaked City,Route 66and others. He wrote or co-wrote several successful films, includingCat BallouandCool Hand Luke,which were both nominated forAcademy Awards.He wroteDog Day Afternoon,which won Pierson theAcademy Award.He directed and contributed to thescreenplayof the 1976 remake ofA Star Is Born;and the in-fighting between himself,Barbra Streisand,Kris Kristoffersonand producer (and at the time boyfriend of Streisand)Jon Peterson the film led him to write the article "My Battles with Barbra and Jon" forThe Village Voice.[5]

Pierson directed several films produced for television, includingDirty Pictures,Citizen Cohn,Conspiracy,andSomebody Has to Shoot the Picture.His direction onConspiracywon a Directors' Guild Award for Best Television Movie, and his second Peabody and BAFTA Award.

He was President of theWriters Guild of America,West (WGAW) from 1981 to 1983 and again from 1993 to 1995 and was President of theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences(AMPAS) from 2001 to 2005. In 2003, Pierson was the recipient of theAustin Film Festival's Distinguished Screenwriter Award. ScreenwriterBrian Helgelandpresented him with the Award. He was a consultant onMad Men,co-writing (withMatthew Weiner) the fifth episode of its fifth season, "Signal 30",[6]a member of the teaching staff ofSundance Institute,and artistic director of theAmerican Film Institute.

Pierson died on July 22, 2012, in his home in Los Angeles, California. He was survived by his wife Helene and his two children.

Filmography

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Director

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Screenwriter

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References

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  1. ^ab"Frank Pierson Biography (1925-)".Filmreference.RetrievedOctober 6,2010.
  2. ^Byrge, Duane (July 23, 2012). [Frank Pierson, Former Movie Academy President, Writer and Director, Dies at 87.]The Hollywood Reporter
  3. ^Yardley, William (July 24, 2012).Frank Pierson, Oscar-Winning Writer, Dies at 87.The New York Times
  4. ^Frank Pierson obituary.The Guardian.Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  5. ^Pierson, Frank (November 16, 1976). My Battles with Barbra and Jon.The Village Voice
  6. ^Rosen, Lisa (June 3, 2009)."'Mad Men' turns period drama into an exclamation point ".Los Angeles Times.
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Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by President of Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences
2001-2005 		Succeeded by
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