He has received four Academy Award nominations, for screenplays to The Big Chill, Grand Canyon, and The Accidental Tourist, for which he also earned a nomination for Best Picture. Kasdan is known for both writing and directing his films, which have ranged from Westerns and romantic comedies to thought-provoking dramas. Lucas later commissioned Kasdan again to rework the dialogues of his screenplay for Return of the Jedi (1983). Kasdan made his directing debut with Body Heat (1981), which he also wrote. Lucas then hired Kasdan to rework some dialogues of his screenplay for his Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back (1980).

The script became stuck in 'development hell' and became one of several screenplays successively called 'the best un-made script in Hollywood' it was eventually produced as a 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner.Īfter he sold his screenplay Continental Divide to Steven Spielberg, George Lucas commissioned Kasdan to write the screenplay for Raiders of the Lost Ark, based on a story written by Philip Kaufman and himself. as a vehicle for Diana Ross and Steve McQueen. Kasdan's introduction into the film business came in the mid-1970s when, after being rejected 67 times, his script for The Bodyguard was sold to Warner Bros. Kasdan began his career in Detroit, later relocating to Los Angeles where he began to write screenplays. Upon graduation, Kasdan was unable to find a teaching position, so he became an advertisingcopywriter, a profession he did not enjoy, but remained in for five years, earning a Clio Award for his work.

He was a student of Professor Kenneth Thorpe Rowe. Kasdan won a Hopwood Award for writing during the time of his studies. Debs Cooperative House for a time while in Ann Arbor. He graduated from the University of Michigan with an MA in Education, originally planning on a career as an English teacher. He was raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, where he graduated from Morgantown High School in 1966. His brother is the writer/producer Mark Kasdan. Kasdan was born Jewish in Miami, Florida, the son of Sylvia Sarah (née Landau), an employment counselor, and Clarence Norman Kasdan, who managed retail electronics stores. He is the father of directors Jake Kasdan and Jonathan Kasdan, and the father-in-law of musician Inara George. He has been nominated for three Oscars: twice for Best Original Screenplay for The Big Chill and Grand Canyon and once for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Accidental Tourist. He is best known as co-writer of The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens, and Solo. Lawrence Edward Kasdan (born January 14, 1949) is an American screenwriter, director and producer. The man responsible for Grand Canyon and The Big Chill. Most people who write want to bring about a script that reflects.

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