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Frank Pierson Biography

Birth Name:Frank Romer Pierson

Birth Place:Chappaqua, New York, United States

Profession Writer, Director, Producer, Script department

Fast Facts

Awarded the Distinguished Screenwriter Award at the Austin Film Festival by friend Brian Helgeland in 2003
Served as president of the Writers Guild of America on two occasions, both in the '80s and '90s, and later served the same position at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the 2000s
His family was subject of the 1945 film "Roughly Speaking", based upon a book of the same name written by his mother, Louise Randall Pierson
Quote: "One of the few things I've discovered about writing that seems to work, at least for me, is to form a habit that becomes an addiction so that if you don't put something down on paper every day, you get really mean and awful with withdrawal symptoms․"
After writing for television for several years, he would try his hand at directing made-for-television movies in the 1990s and 2000s
Served in WWII and graduated from Harvard before selling his first script to the Alcoa-Goodyear Theater before making his Hollywood big break in 1958 as an editor

Awards

1964WGA Award (TV)-Episodic Drama: nominated
1965Special Mention-: winner
1966Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
1966WGA Award (Screen)-Best Written American Comedy: nominated
1968Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
1976Oscar-Best Writing, Original Screenplay: winner
1976BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
1976Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
1976WGA Award (Screen)-Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen: winner
1991Edgar-Best Motion Picture: nominated
1991USC Scripter Award-: nominated
1992CableACE-Directing a Movie or Miniseries: winner
1993CableACE-Directing a Movie or Miniseries: winner
1993CableACE-Movie or Miniseries: winner
1993DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials: nominated
1993Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
1994American Indian Movie Award-Best Film: winner
1995Bronze Wrangler-Television Feature Film: winner
1996DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials: nominated
2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Made for Television Movie: nominated
2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: nominated
2002DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television: winner
2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special: nominated
2010WGA Award (TV)-Drama Series: winner
2012OFTA Television Award-Best Writing in a Drama Series: winner
2013OFTA Television Award-Best Writing in a Drama Series: nominated
2013WGA Award (TV)-Dramatic Series: nominated