Richard LaGravenese
LaGravenese in September 2017
Born (1959-10-30) October 30, 1959
New York City, U.S.
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • film director
Years active1989–present
SpouseAnn Weiss
Children1

Richard LaGravenese (/ləˈɡrɑːvəneɪz/;[1] born October 30, 1959)[2][3] is an American screenwriter and film director, known for The Fisher King, The Bridges of Madison County, and Behind the Candelabra.

Personal life

LaGravenese was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of a taxi driver.[2] He is of Italian descent.[4] He graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 1980 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in acting.[5]

Career

LaGravenese wrote The Fisher King on spec in the late 1980s. It was acquired by Stacey Sher, Lynda Obst, Debra Hill's production company and subsequently directed by Terry Gilliam. For writing the film, LaGravenese received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

In New York City during the early 1980s, billed as "The Double R" comedy duo, in collaboration with playwright Richard O'Donnell, LaGravenese co-penned and consecutively performed in several Off-Off-Broadway productions including Spare Parts, Blood-Brothers at The 78th Street Theatre Lab, The Lion Theatre, and West Bank Cafe.[6]

LaGravenese wrote an adaptation for the famously on-and-off version of the musical Gypsy for Barbra Streisand. In 2015, he revealed that he'd spent several months working on the script with Streisand. "I had the best time with her. I can’t even tell you. It was like a fantasy come true. I did my first draft and went to her house to do rewrites. She’s so meticulous in the best possible way. We went through it page by page by page."

Filmography

Film

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
1989 Rude Awakening No Yes No
1991 The Fisher King No Yes No
1994 The Ref No Yes Yes
1995 A Little Princess No Yes No
The Bridges of Madison County No Yes No
Unstrung Heroes No Yes No
1996 The Mirror Has Two Faces No Yes No
1998 The Horse Whisperer No Yes No
Living Out Loud Yes Yes No
Beloved No Yes No
2006 Paris, Je T'aime No Yes No Segment: "Pigalle"
2007 Freedom Writers Yes Yes No
P.S. I Love You Yes Yes No
2010 Conviction No Uncredited No
2011 Water for Elephants No Yes No
2013 Beautiful Creatures Yes Yes No
2014 The Last Five Years Yes Yes Yes
Unbroken No Yes No
2016 The Comedian No Yes No
2022 Disenchanted No Story No
2024 A Family Affair Yes No No

Television

Year Title Writer Executive
Producer		 Creator Notes
2013 Behind the Candelabra Yes No No Television film
2014 The Divide Yes Yes Yes

References

  1. ↑ "Say How: L". National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Richard Lagravenese Biography (1959?-)". FilmReference.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12. Born October 30, 1959 (some sources say 1960)...
  3. ↑ "FamilySearch.org". FamilySearch. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  4. ↑ Hornaday, Ann (March 27, 1994). "Film; Still Speaking After Writing 'The Ref'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  5. ↑ "Primetime Emmy Nominees > And the Tisch nominees are..." Tisch School of the Arts. 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-12-15. Retrieved 2013-12-12. Outstanding Writing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special ... Richard LaGravenese '80 (BFA, Acting)
  6. ↑ Sawyer, June (May 15, 1992). "New Variety A Cabaret For The 90s". Chicago Tribune. No. Friday, Page 2 - Section 7. Tribune, Inc.

7. ^Jeremy Kinser (February 13, 2015) ‘The Last Five Years’ Director On His Heartbreaking New Musical And Working On ‘Gypsy’ With Barbra Streisand'

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