Kurt Luedtke
Kurt Luedtke | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 28, 1939 |
| Died | August 9, 2020(aged 80) Royal Oak, Michigan,U.S. |
| Alma mater | Brown University Medill School of Journalism |
| Occupations |
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Kurt Luedtke(/ˈluːtki/;[1]September 28, 1939 – August 9, 2020) was an American screenwriter and executive editor of theDetroit Free Press.He wroteOut of Africa(1985), for which he won theAcademy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.He also wroteAbsence of Malice(1981), for which he was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Original Screenplay,as well asRandom Hearts(1999). All three films were directed bySydney Pollack.
Early life[edit]
Luedtke was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan[2]on September 28, 1939.[3]His father, Herman, worked as a lumber broker; his mother was named Virginia. He obtained a bachelor's degree from Brown University, then joined the fast-track summer law program at theUniversity of Michigan Law School.However, he switched career paths after traveling to the Southern United States to observe the unfoldingcivil rights movementand penned several articles on the subject as a freelancer. He then studied at the Medill School of Journalism of Northwestern University.[2]
Career[edit]
Luedtke became a newspaper reporter, first in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and then at theMiami Herald.[4]Luedtke moved to theDetroit Free Pressin 1965. He started off as general assignment reporter, then rose to executive editor at age 33.[5][4]
Luedtke left the Free Press and quit journalism altogether in 1978.[2]He moved to Hollywood to break into the film business, where his only entry was as a screenwriter.[4]His intention was to write a book, but his idea for a book about reporting came to the attention ofOrion Pictures,which optioned it before it was written for $20,000 and pitched it to directorGeorge Roy Hill,who liked it but was unavailable to help on the screenplay.[4]Luedtke offered to write the screenplay for free providing that he could have his idea back if Orion didn't proceed with the movie.[4]Ultimately, Sydney Pollack was available to direct the movie, which becameAbsence of Malice,beginning the working relationship between the two men.[4]Luedtke received a nomination for theAcademy Award for Best Original Screenplay,a rare accomplishment for a first-time screenwriter. He again collaborated with Pollack inOut of Africa(1985).[2]The film won seven Oscars (from 11 nominations),[6]including Luedtke's award forBest Adapted Screenplay.[2]His final partnership with Pollack came inRandom Hearts,released in 1999.[7][8]
Personal life[edit]
Luedtke was married to Eleanor for 55 years until his death. The two met while they were working at theMiami Herald.He recovered from cancer on two occasions.[2]
On August 9, 2020, Luedtke died from multiple organ failure at Beaumont Hospital inRoyal Oak, Michigan,at the age of 80.[2][9]
References[edit]
- ^"Say How: L".National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.RetrievedAugust 10,2020.
- ^abcdefgKiska, Tim (August 9, 2020)."Kurt Luedtke, former Free Press editor and Oscar-winning screenwriter, dies at 80".Detroit Free Press.RetrievedAugust 9,2020.
- ^Kiska, Tim (1989).Detroit's Powers & Personalities.Momentum Books. p. 135.ISBN9780961872618.
- ^abcdefHaithman, Diane (December 22, 1985)."Dream Wasn't Impossible for Screenwriter Luedtke".Orlando Sentinel.RetrievedMarch 25,2019.
- ^Kamer, Foster."New York Times Top Brass Trolled by Former Editor Armed with Embarrassing Anecdote".Observer.The New York Observer.RetrievedMay 9,2015.
- ^"Out of Africa (1985)".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedAugust 9,2020.
- ^"Kurt Luedtke".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedAugust 9,2020.
- ^"Random Hearts (1999)".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedAugust 9,2020.
- ^Seelye, Katharine Q. (August 13, 2020)."Kurt Luedtke, Newspaperman Turned Screenwriter, Dies at 80".The New York Times.RetrievedAugust 13,2020.
External links[edit]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
- 1939 births
- 2020 deaths
- 20th-century American male writers
- 20th-century American newspaper editors
- 20th-century American screenwriters
- American male journalists
- American male screenwriters
- Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award winners
- Best Adapted Screenplay BAFTA Award winners
- Brown University alumni
- Deaths from multiple organ failure
- Detroit Free Press people
- Journalists from Michigan
- Medill School of Journalism alumni
- Screenwriters from Michigan
- University of Michigan Law School alumni
- Writers from Grand Rapids, Michigan