X

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Kenneth Lonergan Biography

Birth Name:Kenneth Lonergan

Birth Place:New York City, New York, United States

Profession Writer, Actor, Director, Soundtrack, Music department

Fast Facts

  • Earned an AACTA International Award in 2017 for his screenplay "Manchester by the Sea․"
  • Won the Satellite Award for his screenplay of "Manchester by the Sea in 2016
  • Received an Independent Spirit Award for his screenplay of "You Can Count on Me" in 2001
  • Won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for "You Can Count on Me" at the Sundance Film Festival in 2000
  • Attended the Wesleyan University and New York University
  • Mother was a psychiatrist and father was a physician
  • Is married to actress J․ Smith-Cameron and they have a daughter Nellie born in 2002
  • Was affiliated with the Off-Broadway troupe Naked Angels
  • His first play "The Rennings Children" was produced at the Young Playwrights Festival in 1982, when he was 18
  • Quote: "Filmmaking, like any other art, is a very profound means of human communication; beyond the professional pleasure of succeeding or the pain of failing, you do want your film to be seen, to communicate itself to other people․"
  • Quote: "I still haven't quite caught on to the idea of writing without dialogue․ I like writing dialogue, and there's nothing wrong with dialogue in movies․"
  • Composed speeches for the Environmental Protection Agency and Weight Watchers
  • Wrote the script for "Analyze This" inspired by his stepfather's true story of a Mafioso seeking psychiatric therapy

Awards

  • 2000Best New Writer-: winner
  • 2000New Directions Award-: winner
  • 2000ACCA-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2000BSFC Award-Best New Filmmaker: winner
  • 2000Sutherland Trophy-: winner
  • 2000Open Palm Award-: nominated
  • 2000LAFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2000Grand Prix des Amériques-: nominated
  • 2000Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Special Mention-: winner
  • 2000Special Achievement Award-: winner
  • 2000NYFCC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2000Bronze Horse-: nominated
  • 2000Grand Jury Prize-Dramatic: winner
  • 2000Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award-: winner
  • 2000TFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2001Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
  • 2001CFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2001Chlotrudis Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2001Russell Smith Award-: winner
  • 2001Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: winner
  • 2001Independent Spirit Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2001Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2001Humanitas Prize-Feature Film Category: winner
  • 2001NSFC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2001OFTA Film Award-Best First Feature: winner
  • 2001OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
  • 2001OFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2001PFCS Award-Best Screenplay - Original: nominated
  • 2001Golden Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Original: winner
  • 2001WGA Award (Screen)-Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: winner
  • 2002ACCA-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2002Bodil-Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film): nominated
  • 2003Oscar-Best Writing, Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2003BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay - Original: nominated
  • 2003Edgar-Best Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2003Gold Derby Film Award-Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2003IOMA-Best Screenplay (Miglior sceneggiatura): nominated
  • 2003WGA Award (Screen)-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2011BSFC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2011ICP Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2011VVFP Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2012COFCA Award-Best Overlooked Film: winner
  • 2012ICS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2012ALFS Award-Screenwriter of the Year: nominated
  • 2012Founders Prize-Special Mention: winner
  • 2012FIPRESCI Prize-Best Film: winner
  • 2016AFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016AFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016ACCA-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016ACCA-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2016BOFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2016BSFC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016BSFC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2016Capri Original Screenplay Award-: winner
  • 2016CFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2016CFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016Critics Choice Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016Critics Choice Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2016DFWFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2016DFWFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016DFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016DFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016FFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016FFCC Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016Special Jury Award-: winner
  • 2016Grand Prix Asturias-Best Film: nominated
  • 2016Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2016Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016Audience Award-: nominated
  • 2016Hollywood Film Award-Screenwriter of the Year: winner
  • 2016IGN Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016IFJA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016IFJA Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2016ICP Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2016ICP Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016KCFCC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016Prix du public-: winner
  • 2016Sierra Award-Best Screenplay, Original: nominated
  • 2016Jaeger - LeCoultre Best Film Award-Best Film: nominated
  • 2016LAFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016NBR Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2016NMFC Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2016NYFCC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2016NTFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016PCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016PFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016PFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016BNL People's Choice Award-Best Film: nominated
  • 2016SDFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016SDFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016SFFCC Award-Best Screenplay, Original: winner
  • 2016SFFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016SEFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2016SLFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016SLFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016Bronze Horse-Best Film: nominated
  • 2016TFCA Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted or Original: winner
  • 2016UFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016VFCC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2016VFCC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016VVFP Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2016WAFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016WAFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017AACTA International Award-Best Direction: nominated
  • 2017AACTA International Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2017Movies for Grownups Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2017Movies for Grownups Award-Best Screenwriter: winner
  • 2017Oscar-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2017Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
  • 2017EDA Award-Best Writing, Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2017EDA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017Amanda-Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske spillefilm): winner
  • 2017Golden Reel-Best Foreign Film: winner
  • 2017David Lean Award for Direction-: nominated
  • 2017BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay (Original): winner
  • 2017COFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017COFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017CIFCC Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2017Chlotrudis Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017Cinema for Peace Award-Cinema for Peace Award for the Most Valuable Film of the Year: nominated
  • 2017César-Best Foreign Film (Meilleur film étranger): nominated
  • 2017DFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017DFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: nominated
  • 2017Dorian Award-Screenplay of the Year: nominated
  • 2017Dorian Award-Director of the Year: nominated
  • 2017DFCC-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017DFCC-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017Independent Spirit Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017GAFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017GAFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017Gold Derby Film Award-Director: nominated
  • 2017Gold Derby Film Award-Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2017Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2017Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2017HFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017HFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017HFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017ICS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017INOCA-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2017IFC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017ALFS Award-Director of the Year: nominated
  • 2017ALFS Award-Screenwriter of the Year: winner
  • 2017NSFC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017NSFC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2017NCFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017NCFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017OFCC Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2017OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: winner
  • 2017OFTA Film Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017OFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017OFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017Outstanding Director of the Year Award-: winner
  • 2017Satellite Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2017Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Original: nominated
  • 2017SFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017WGA Award (Screen)-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2018Silver Condor-Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera): winner
  • 2018BAFTA TV Award-Best Mini-Series: nominated
  • 2018Grand Prix-: winner
  • 2018Bodil-Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film): nominated
  • 2018CinEuphoria-Best Screenplay - International Competition: nominated
  • 2018CinEuphoria-Best Director - Audience Award: winner
  • 2018Robert-Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film): winner
  • 2018David-Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero): nominated
  • 2020Gold Derby Film Award-Original Screenplay of the Decade: nominated