Elizabeth Becker Henley Bio/Wiki, Net Worth, Married 2018
Elizabeth Becker "Beth" Henley (born May 8, 1952) is an American dramatist and actress. She writes primarily about women's issues and family in the Southern United States. She is also a screenwriter who has written many film adaptations of her plays. She is known for her intertwining comic and serious moments in her pieces.Her most famous play, Crimes of the Heart (1978), was her first produced professionally. It opened at the Actors Theatre of Louisville and then to the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City. The play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1981), as well as the award for Best American Play of 1981 from the New York Drama Critics' Circle. The play also earned Henley a nomination for a Tony Award, and her screenplay adaptation for the 1986 film of the same name was nominated for an Oscar as Best Adapted Screenplay.Henley adapted her 1984 play, The Miss Firecracker Contest, into a 1989 film starring Holly Hunter entitled Miss Firecracker. Henley's play Ridiculous Fraud was produced at the McCarter Theatre in 2006, and her play Family Week was produced at MCC Theater in 2010, directed by Jonathan Demme.
Compared to being a playwright, when you're on the set you're really not meant to talk to people or give any advice. In theater you have more of a relationship with the director. You can say things to the actor. If the movie gets made, there's something so beautiful about it being seen all over the world. [With Crimes of the Heart (1986)] you made a lot more money. That was to my liking.
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Fact
1
Lives in Los Angeles with her son, Patrick. [July 2004]
2
With Stephen Tobolowsky, she co-wrote David Bryne's "True Stories". Tobolowsky documents much of their time together on his podcast "The Tobolowsky Files".
3
Won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the play "Crimes of the Heart".
4
Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 1989.
5
Was nominated for Broadway's 1982 Tony Award as author of Best Play nominee "Crimes of the Heart."
6
While studying at an acting workshop in the Burbank, California, she wrote a play called "Crimes of Passion". The title was later changed to "Crimes of the Heart" and it won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
7
Taught playwrighting at the University of Illinois (Urbana) and the Dallas Minority Repertory Theater.
8
One of four daughters born to a lawyer (her father) an an actress (her mother).
9
She attended SMU in the late 1960s-early 1970s with fellow actors
10
Received a BFA degree from Southern Methodist University 1974. Attended University of Illinois 1975-1976. Performed with the Dallas Minority Repertory Theater as well as the New Salem Sate Park Theatre, (Illinois), in 1976. Wrote the script for the pilot episode of "Morgan's Daughters."
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Crimes of the Heart
2013
It Must Be Love
2004
TV Movie teleplay
Miss Firecracker
1989
play "The Miss Firecracker Contest" / screenplay
Crimes do Coração
1989
TV Movie play
Trying Times
1987
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Crimes of the Heart
1986
play / screenplay
Nobody's Fool
1986
True Stories
1986
Survival Guide
1985
TV Movie
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Swing Shift
1984
Bible Pusher
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Intimate Portrait
1993
TV Series documentary
Herself
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1987
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
$1.3 Million
