Larry McMurtry

Writing

Born June 3, 1936 · Wichita Falls, Texas, USA

Died March 25, 2021

Biography

Larry Jeff McMurtry (1936-2021) was an American novelist, essayist, bookseller and screenwriter whose work is predominantly set in either the old West or in contemporary Texas. He is known for his 1985 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Lonesome Dove, a historical saga that follows ex-Texas Rangers as they drive their cattle from the Rio Grande to a new home in the frontier of Montana, and for co-writing the adapted screenplay for Brokeback Mountain. Lonesome Dove was adapted into a television miniseries, his novels Horseman, Pass By (1962), The Last Picture Show (1966), and Terms of Endearment (1975) were adapted into films. Films adapted from McMurtry's works earned 34 Oscar nominations (13 wins).

Awards & recognition

Carl Sandburg Literary Award · 2014
National Humanities Medal · 2014
Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 2006
BAFTA Award — Best Adapted Screenplay · 2006
Writers Guild of America Award — Best Adapted Screenplay · 2006

Show all 21 awards →

Golden Globe Award — Best Screenplay · 2005
Spur Award — Best Novel of the West · 1998
Helmerich Award · 1986
Pulitzer Prize — Fiction · 1986
Spur Award — Best Western Novel · 1985
Guggenheim Fellowship
Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 2006 · nominated
BAFTA Award — Best Adapted Screenplay · 2006 · nominated
Writers Guild of America Award — Best Adapted Screenplay · 2006 · nominated
Critics' Choice Movie Award — Best Original and Adapted Screenplay · 2005 · nominated
Golden Globe Award — Best Screenplay · 2005 · nominated
Satellite Award — Best Adapted Screenplay · 2005 · nominated
Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special · 1988 · nominated
PEN/Faulkner Award — Fiction · 1986 · nominated
Pulitzer Prize — Fiction · 1986 · nominated
Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1972 · nominated