Lawrence Kasdan Biography
Lawrence Kasdan is an American screenwriter, film director, and film producer who was born in Miami, Florida, and brought up in Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America. He is widely known as co-writer of The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens, and Solo.
Lawrence 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 the father of directors Jake Kasdan and Jonathan Kasdan, and the father-in-law of musician Inara George.
10 Quick Facts About Lawrence Kasdan
Lawrence Kasdan Age
Kasdan is 74 years old as of 2023, he was born on 14 January 1949, in Miami, Florida, United States. He celebrates his birthday on 14 January every year and his birth sign is Capricorn.
Lawrence Kasdan Height
Kasdan stands at a height of 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m).
Lawrence Kasdan Weight
Kasdan Weighs 72 kg (158.4 lbs).
Lawrence Kasdan Education
Kasdan graduated from Morgantown High School and he then graduated from the University of Michigan with an MA degree in Education, and he is planning to be an English teacher.
Lawrence Kasdan Family, Parents
Kasdan was born to his parents Sylvia Sarah Landau and Clarence Norman Kasdan in Miami Beach. His mother Sylvia was an employment counselor, while his father Clarence was an electronics-store manager.
Lawrence Kasdan Siblings
Kasdan spent his childhood with his three siblings, a brother named Mark Kasdan and two sisters. His brother Mark is a screenwriter and film producer known for Criminal Law, Silverado, and Dreamcatcher.
Lawrence Kasdan Wife
Kasdan is currently married to his wife Meg Kasdan (née Mary Ellen Goldman). Thy got married on November 28, 1971. The couple met at the University of Michigan, where they were both English majors. They have two children and three grandchildren.
Lawrence Kasdan Children
Kasdan and his wife Meg Kasdan have two sons named Jake Kasdan and Jonathan Kasdan. Jake is a filmmaker and actor, while Jonathan is a film and television screenwriter, director, producer and actor.
Lawrence Kasdan Net worth
Kasdan has an estimated net worth of $30 million dollars as of 2023. This includes his assets, money and income. His primary source of income is his career as a screenwriter, film director, and film producer. Through his various sources of income, he has been able to accumulate a good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Lawrence Kasdan Measurements and Facts
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Lawrence.
Lawrence Kasdan Wiki
- Full Names: Lawrence Edward Kasdan
- Popular As: Lawrence
- Gender: Male
- Occupation / Profession: Screenwriter, Film Director, and Film Producer
- Nationality: American
- Race / Ethnicity: Not Available
- Religion: Not Known
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
Lawrence Kasdan Birthday
- Age / How Old?: 74 years (2023)
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- Date of Birth: 14 January 1949
- Place of Birth: Miami, Florida, USA
- Birthday: 14 January
Lawrence Kasdan Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: Not Available
- Height / How Tall?: 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m)
- Weight: 72 kg (158.4 lbs)
- Eye Color: Brown
- Hair Color: Grey
- Shoe Size: Not Available
Lawrence Kasdan Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): Clarence Norman Kasdan
- Mother: Sylvia Sarah Landau
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Three including Mark Kasdan
- Marital Status: Married
- Wife/Spouse: Married to Meg Goldman
- Dating / Girlfriend: Not Applicable
- Children: Sons (Jake and Jonathan Kasdan) Daughter(s) (None)
Lawrence Kasdan Net Worth and Salary
- Net Worth: $30 Million
- Salary: Under Review
- Source of Income: Screenwriter, Film Director, and Film Producer
Lawrence Kasdan Screenwriter, director, and producer
Lawrence Kasdan after his graduation he was unable to find a teaching position, so he became an advertising copywriter, a profession he did not enjoy, but remained in for five years, earning a Clio Award for his work. Kasdan began his career in Detroit, later relocating to Los Angeles where he began to write screenplays.
He was introduced into the film business which came in the mid-1970s when, after being rejected 67 times, his script for The Bodyguard was sold to Warner Bros. as a vehicle for Diana Ross and Steve McQueen.
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.
After he sold his screenplay Continental Divide to Steven Spielberg, George Lucas commissioned he wrote to the screenplay for Raiders of the Lost Ark, based on a story written by Philip Kaufman and himself. Lucas then hired Kasdan to rework some dialogues of his screenplay for his Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
Lawrence Kasdan made his directing debut with Body Heat of (1981), which he also wrote. Lucas later commissioned Kasdan again to rework the dialogues of his screenplay for Return of the Jedi (1983). He is known for both writing and directing his films, which have ranged from Westerns and romantic comedies to thought-provoking dramas.
He has also 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. Grand Canyon won the Golden Bear at the 42nd Berlin International Film Festival.
From 1994 to 2003, he made a set of films that, went into contrast to the hits that he had in the 1980s, and failed to break the bank receipts; among these films were Wyatt Earp and Dreamcatcher, the latter based on the Stephen King bestseller. The exception was 1995’s French Kiss, which grossed $100 million.
Lawrence Kasdan made cameo appearances as the lawyer of River Phoenix’s character in I Love You to Death, the director of Steve Martin’s character’s latest action film in Grand Canyon, and in James L. Brooks’ comedy As Good as It Gets as the fed-up psychiatrist of Jack Nicholson’s novelist.
In 2001, Kasdan was the recipient of the Austin Film Festival’s Distinguished Screenwriter Award. In 2006, Kasdan received the Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement from the Writers Guild of America.
He directed the 2012 dramedy Darling Companion, starring Diane Keaton and Kevin Kline. On October 2013, it was announced that J. J. Abrams had taken over screenwriting duties for the seventh episode of the Star Wars saga,
The Force Awakens, working alongside Kasdan, following the departure of Michael Arndt. After his involvement with Solo: A Star Wars Story, he left the Star Wars universe and has no involvement in Episodes VIII and IX, The Last Jedi or The Rise of Skywalker.
On May 22, 2016, he was honored by the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and ArtsATL.org as the inaugural recipient of their “ICON Award for Contributions to the Cinematic Arts” in a ceremony held at the Woodruff Arts Center.
Lawrence Kasdan Movies
- 1980 – The Empire Strikes Back
- 1981 – Raiders of the Lost Ark
- 1981 – Body Heat
- 1981 – Continental Divide
- 1983 – Return of the Jedi
- 1983 – The Big Chill
- 1985 – Silverado
- 1987 – Cross My Heart
- 1988 – The Accidental Tourist
- 1990 – I Love You to Death
- 1991 – Grand Canyon
- 1992 – The Bodyguard
- 1994 – Wyatt Earp
- 1995 – French Kiss
- 1998 – Home Fries
- 1999 – Mumford
- 2003 – Dreamcatcher
- 2012 – Darling Companion
- 2015 – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- 2018 – Solo: A Star Wars Story
- 2019 – Last Week at Ed’s
- TBA – November Road
Lawrence Kasdan Books
- Wyatt Earp: The Film and the Filmmakers 1994
- Silverado: The Screenplay 2000
- Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Illustrated Screenplay George Lucas 1981
- The Big Chill 1982
- Star Wars: The Scripts George Lucas
- The Bodyguard 1990
- Bodyguard Movie Tie In 1992
- The Empire Strikes Back: The Complete, Fully Illustrated Script George Lucas
- The Empire Strikes Back: The Complete, Fully Illustrated Script George Lucas 1983
- The Empire Strikes Back Notebook
- The Art of Return of the Jedi George Lucas 1994
- Return of the Jedi: The Complete, Fully Illustrated Script George Lucas 1999
- The Accidental Tourist: Screenplay 1987
- Body Heat 1980
Lawrence Kasdan Awards
- Golden Bear 1992 · Grand Canyon
- Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation 1984, 1982, 1981 · Return of the Jedi, Raiders of the
Lost Ark, The Empire Strikes Back
- Writers Guild of America Award – Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement
2006 - New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film 1988 · The Accidental Tourist
- Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Comedy
1984 · The Big Chill
Frequently Asked Questions About Lawrence Kasdan
Who is Lawrence Kasdan?Lawrence is a famous screenwriter, film director, and film producer who gained extensive recognition for his work in the films Star Wars (2018) and The Big Chill (1983).
How old is Lawrence Kasdan?Lawrence is an American national born on 14th January 1949, in Miami, Florida.
How tall is Lawrence Kasdan?Lawrence stands at a height of 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 meters).
Is Lawrence Kasdan married?Yes, Lawrence is currently married to his wife Meg Kasdan (née Mary Ellen Goldman). Thy got married on November 28, 1971. They have two children and three grandchildren.
How much is Lawrence Kasdan worth?Lawrence has an approximate net worth of $30 million. This amount has been accrued from his leading roles in the entertainment industry.
How much does Lawrence Kasdan make?Details about Lawrence’s salary are not yet disclosed. However, information about how much he makes will be updated as soon as it is available.
Where does Lawrence Kasdan live?Because of security reasons, Lawrence has not shared his precise location of residence. We will update this information if we get the location and images of his house.
Is Kasdan dead or alive?Lawrence is alive and in good health. There have been no reports of him being sick or having any health-related issues.
Where is Kasdan Now?Lawrence is still an active participant in the creative entertainment industry, he is a cast member of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
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