Larry McMurtry Biography

Larry McMurtry is a famous American author who is known for his screenplay of the movie ‘Brokeback Mountain’. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, profile, career and timeline

Quick Facts

Birthday: June 3, 1936

Nationality: American

Famous: Novelists American Men

Age: 82 Years, 82 Year Old Males

Sun Sign: Gemini

Also Known As: Larry Jeff McMurtry

Born in: Archer City

Famous as: Novelist

Height: 6'0" (183 cm), 6'0" Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Jo Scott McMurtry, Norma Faye Kesey

father: William Jefferson McMurtry

mother: Hazel Ruth McMurtry

children: James McMurtry

U.S. State: Texas

More Facts

education: 1960 - Rice University, University of North Texas, Archer City High School

awards: 2006 - Academy Award for Best Writing Adapted Screenplay - Brokeback Mountain
1986 - Pulitzer Prize for Fiction - Lonesome Dove
2006 - Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture - Brokeback Mountain

2006 - BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay
Adapted - Brokeback Mountain
2006 - Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay - Brokeback Mountain
1985 - Spur Award for Best Western Novel - Lonesome Dove
1964 - Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts
US & Canada
1986 - Helmerich Award
1998 - Spur Award for Best Novel of the West - Comanche Moon

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'Pulitzer Prize'-winning author Larry McMurtry is known for his famous literary works like, 'Terms of Endearment', 'The Last Picture Show', 'Lonesome Dove', and ‘Horseman, Pass By'. Several of his writings have served as inspiration for American feature films and television series. Movies like 'Hud', 'Lovin' Molly', 'Texasville', and 'The Evening Star', amongst others, have been based on his novels. He has also found success with writing for the screen, be it for the television or for films. 'Montana' is one such work written for the small screen, while 'Falling from Grace', and 'Brokeback Mountain' are scripts meant for the movies. 'Brokeback Mountain', directed by the famous director, Ang Lee, in fact, was considered to be extremely well-written, thus bringing home for the author, the two prestigious honours, 'Academy Award' and 'Golden Globe'. He is also known for 'Terms of Endearment', a storyline that bagged the 'Oscar' for the movie adaptation. This prolific writer is also famous for his bookstore, 'Booked Up', which, with its huge collection of rare books, has earned him the reputation of being an ardent book-collector. He has been the recipient of several awards, the most significant one being the 'Pulitzer Prize' for his novel 'Lonesome Dove'

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Larry McMurtry

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Childhood & Early Life

Larry Jeff McMurtry was born to William Jefferson, a rancher, and Hazel Ruth, on June 3, 1936, in Archer City, Texas, United States. As a child, he was brought up on a farm in the outskirts of Archer City.
In 1958, he graduated from the 'University of North Texas' with a bachelor's degree. Two years later, he completed his master's from the 'Rice University' in Houston, Texas.
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Career

In 1960, American novelist, Wallace Stegner, taught McMurtry, along with other authors like Robert Stone, Ken Kesey, and Gordon Lish, the art of writing fiction, at the 'Stanford University'.
The following year, he published his first book, 'Horseman, Pass By', a novel that describes how it is to live on a farm.
The book was later made into the movie 'Hud', in the year 1963, featuring Paul Newman and Patricia Neal.
In 1963, McMurtry penned the novel, 'Leaving Cheyenne', which was adapted for the movie, 'Lovin' Molly', which was shot much later.
He received a 'Guggenheim Fellowship' the next year, in 1964, for his contribution to literature. During the same time, the eminent novelist taught English, at the 'Rice University'.
In 1966, the prolific writer published the novel, 'The Last Picture Show', which was later made into a movie with the same title. The movie starred Timothy Bottoms and Jeff Bridges in the roles of Sonny Crawford and Duane Jackson.
From 1968-74, he published fiction and non-fiction works, like 'In A Narrow Grave: Essays on Texas', 'Moving On', 'All My Friends Are Going To Be Strangers', and 'It's Always We Rambled'.
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During the same time, in 1970, he opened a used bookstore, called 'Booked Up', on a partnership basis.
In 1975, he wrote the novel, 'Terms of Endearment', which like his other works, formed the basis of a movie starring Shirley MacLaine, and Jack Nicholson, having the same name.
During 1978-83, the celebrated author brought out more works like 'Somebody's Darling', 'The Desert Rose', and 'Cadillac Jack', all of them being well-received by readers and reviewers.
Two years later, in 1985, Larry released the novel 'Lonesome Dove'. The book was the inspiration behind a television series with the same title.
In 1987, he penned the novel, 'Texasville', which was turned into a film, meant as a sequel to 'The Last Picture Show'. The following year, the brilliant writer inaugurated another branch of his bookstore, 'Booked Up', in his hometown of Archer City. The second branch of 'Booked Up' houses a collection of almost 450000 rare used books.
From 1989-90, the renowned novelist also published the books, 'Some Can Whistle' and 'Buffalo Girls'. The latter was made into a TV programme of the same name. Larry McMurtry also wrote the script for a television film titled 'Montana'.
In 1992, he wrote 'The Evening Star', which was once again made into a movie. The same year, he penned the screenplay for a movie, 'Falling from Grace', with American rockstar John Mellencamp in the lead.
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Throughout the remaining decade, he wrote novels like 'Streets of Laredo', 'Dead Man's Walk', 'Comanche Moon', 'Walter Benjamin at the Dairy Queen: Reflections on Sixty and Beyond', and 'Duane's Depressed'.
The American writer also wrote two biographies, 'Crazy Horse: A Life', and 'Pretty Boy Floyd', of which the latter, based on gangster Charles Floyd's life, has elements of fiction in it.
The 'New York Review Books' released a book of essays, ‘Sacagawea's Nickname’, written by this famous author, in 2001. The book contained, not just essays but also reviews of other books, and several articles.
During the 2002-04, he wrote the novels, Sin Killer, The Wandering Hill, By Sorrow's River, and Folly and Glory.
In 2005, McMurtry and Diana Ossana wrote the screenplay for an American film by Ang Lee, 'Brokeback Mountain'.
From 2007-2014, he has published several works of fiction like 'When the Light Goes', Books: A Memoir, Rhino Ranch: A Novel, Custer, and The Last Kind Words Saloon. Also during this time, being unable to compete with the internet boom in the sale of books, he had to close down 'Booked Up', and auction off his collection.
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Major Works

This writer is best known for his screen adaptation of E. Annie Proulx's short story, 'Brokeback Mountain', in collaboration with Diana Ossana. The movie was directed by Taiwanese-American filmmaker Ang Lee, and stars Heath Ledger alongside Jake Gyllenhaal.

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Awards & Achievements

In 1962, the 'Texas Institute of Letters' presented him with the 'Jesse H. Jones Award' for the book, 'Horseman, Pass By'.
Four years later, he was felicitated with the 'Amon G. Carter' award for his non-fictional work, 'Texas: Good Times Gone or Here Again?'.
He once again won the 'Jesse H. Jones Award', in 1967, this time for the book, ‘The Last Picture Show’.
In 1985, Larry was honoured with the 'Pulitzer Prize' for his novel, 'Lonesome Dove'. The next year, he was felicitated with the 'Jesse H. Jones Award' and 'Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award', for the same book.
McMurtry shared with Diana Ossana, the 'Academy Award' and the 'Golden Globe' for their screenplay of the film, 'Brokeback Mountain', in 2006.

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Personal Life & Legacy

In 1959, Larry McMurtry was married to Jo Ballard Scott, with who he had a son, James, a singer-songwriter. However, the couple separated after almost seven years of marriage.
Recently, the famous author got wedded to Norma Faye Kesey, on April 29, 2011. Norma was earlier married to McMurtry's friend Ken Kessey, before the latter's death.

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Trivia

In the 2006 ‘Golden Globe’ award ceremony, this American writer who won in the category of ‘Best Screenplay’ went the unconventional way, by mentioning his ‘Hermes 3000’ typewriter, instead of thanking family

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