Frank R. Pierson

Frank Romer Pierson (born 12 May 1925) is an Academy Award-winning American screenwriter and film director. Pierson was born in Chappaqua, New York, the son of Louise (née Randall), a writer, and Harold C. Pierson, an entrepreneur. Pierson attended Harvard. He got his break in Hollywood when he penned a script for the television series Naked City in 1958. He went on to write or co-write several notable films, including Cat Ballou. He helped write... more

Frank Romer Pierson (born 12 May 1925) is an Academy Award-winning American screenwriter and film director. Pierson was born in Chappaqua, New York, the son of Louise (née Randall), a writer, and Harold C. Pierson, an entrepreneur. Pierson attended Harvard. He got his break in Hollywood when he penned a script for the television series Naked City in 1958. He went on to write or co-write several notable films, including Cat Ballou. He helped write Cool Hand Luke and Dog Day Afternoon, which were both nominated for Academy Awards, the latter of which won Pierson his only Oscar statuette. A Star Is Born, which he directed and which he also contributed to the screenplay. Pierson has directed several notable films produced for television, including Dirty Pictures, Citizen Cohn, Conspiracy, and Somebody Has To Shoot the Picture. His direction on Truman and Soldier's Girl both garnered Peabody Awards. He was President of the Writers Guild of America, west from 1981—1983 and again from 1993... less