Fred Haines
Fred Haines | |
---|---|
Born | Los Angeles,California,U.S. | February 27, 1936
Died | May 4, 2008 | (aged 72)
Alma mater | Columbia University University of Arizona University of California, Berkeley |
Occupations |
|
Spouse(s) | Dede Wright (divorced 1961) Frances McCormack (divorced 2000) |
Children | 2 |
Fred Haines(February 27, 1936 – May 4, 2008) was an Americanscreenwriterandfilm director.
Early life
[edit]Haines was born inLos Angelesin 1936, and later moved toTucson, Arizonawith his family. He joined theU.S. Navyin 1953 during theKorean War,and served until 1956 when he received anhonorable discharge.While in the Navy, he had married Dede Wright, the daughter of his commandingAdmiral,although they divorced in 1961 after having two children.[1]
Film career
[edit]After leaving the military, Haines studied literature atColumbia Universityand theUniversity of Arizonabefore receiving his degree from theUniversity of California, Berkeley.He got a job atKPFA,where he met film directorJoseph Strickthrough film criticPauline Kael.Strick was impressed with Haines' intellectual curiosity and film knowledge, and got him a job in the writing department atColumbia Pictures.[2]
Strick obtained the film rights to theJames JoycenovelUlysses,and brought Haines on board as co-writer andassociate producerfor the film, with Strick directing.Ulysseswas released in 1967, and was praised for its faithfulness to Joyce's novel, receiving a nomination forBest Adapted Screenplayat the1967 Academy Awards.While filmingUlyssesinIreland,Haines met his second wife, Frances McCormack.[2]
Haines continued to work closely with Strick, although he requested his name be taken off the credits for Strick's 1970 adaptation ofHenry Miller'sTropic of Cancerafter a disagreement between the pair. Haines spent the early 1970s trying to arrange funding for his proposed adaptation ofHermann Hesse's novelSteppenwolf.The film versionwas released in 1974, with Haines directing the film himself.[2]
When McCormack fell ill withmultiple sclerosis,Haines and his wife moved to Ireland to be closer to her family and theIrish health care system.The couple lived in a rented apartment in the house of writerConstantine Fitzgibbonon the outskirts ofDublin,and Haines worked as a script editor for the Irish broadcasterRTÉand helped to run Stage One, afringe theatrecompany with fellow American expatriate writerDouglas Kennedy.[2]
Later life
[edit]By 1984, money troubles prompted Haines and McCormack to return to Los Angeles. Their marriage ended in 2000,[1]and Haines later lived next door to his son Sean inVenice Beachuntil he died aged 72 on May 4, 2008, due to complications fromlung cancer.[2]
References
[edit]- ^abRourke, Mary:Fred Haines, 72; film writer and director,Los Angeles Times,May 22, 2008.
- ^abcdeKennedy, Douglas:OBITUARY - Fred Haines: Screenwriter who adapted 'Ulysses',The Independent,May 10, 2008.
External links
[edit]- 1936 births
- 2008 deaths
- 20th-century American male writers
- 20th-century American screenwriters
- American expatriates in Ireland
- American male screenwriters
- Deaths from lung cancer in California
- Film directors from Los Angeles
- Military personnel from California
- United States Navy sailors
- United States Navy personnel of the Korean War
- University of California, Berkeley alumni
- Screenwriters from Los Angeles