Graham Moore (writer)
Graham Moore (born October 18, 1981) is an American screenwriter and author known for his 2010 novel The Sherlockian, as well as his screenplay for the historical film The Imitation Game,[1] which topped the 2011 Black List for screenplays and won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (awarded February 2015).
Graham Moore | |
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Graham Moore by Matt Sayles | |
Born | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | October 18, 1981
Occupation | Screenwriter and author |
Residence | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Columbia University |
Notable works | The Sherlockian, The Imitation Game, The Last Days of Night |
Website | |
mrgrahammoore |
Early life and family
Moore was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised on the city's north side[2] — "the son of two lawyers who divorced and then married two other lawyers."[3]
Moore's father, Gary Moore, is an insurance defense attorney and his mother, Susan Sher (née Steiner), works for the University of Chicago. His mother was formerly the City of Chicago's chief lawyer and First Lady Michelle Obama's chief of staff.[4][5][6] Moore's parents divorced when he was young.[2]
Moore's stepfather is Cook County Circuit Court Judge Neil Cohen.[7]
Raised Jewish,[2] Moore graduated from the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools[7][8] in 1999 and received a bachelor of arts degree in religious history in 2003 from Columbia University.
During his Academy Award acceptance speech in February 2015, Moore said that he had attempted suicide when he was 16.[9]
Moore lives in Los Angeles, California.[10]
Career
Moore began his writing career working with childhood friend Ben Epstein, who was attending Tisch School of the Arts in New York City.[2] One of his earliest Hollywood jobs was on the writing staff of the short-lived television series 10 Things I Hate About You.[11]
Moore's first book, The Sherlockian, was on the New York Times bestseller list for three weeks.[3]
His adapted screenplay for the 2014 film The Imitation Game, based on the biography Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges, topped the 2011 Black List of the best unproduced scripts in Hollywood.[12] The script earned Moore numerous nominations, including the 2014 Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay, and ultimately won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 87th Academy Awards (awarded February 2015).
Moore's second book, The Last Days of Night, was published by Random House on August 16, 2016. Set in 1888 New York City, the novel focuses on the heated rivalry between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse during the advent of electricity and is told through the eyes of Westinghouse's attorney, Paul Cravath.[13] Moore has adapted the screenplay for The Last Days of Night to be directed by Oscar-nominated director of The Imitation Game Morten Tyldum.[14] Moore will write, direct, and produce the sci-fi thriller Naked Is the Best Disguise for Studio 8.[15]
Novels
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Anthony Awards | Best First Novel | Won | |
2014 | British Independent Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Nominated | |
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award | Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
Chicago Film Critics Association | Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
2015 | Golden Globe Award | Best Screenplay | Nominated | |
Critics' Choice Movie Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
International Online Film Critics' Poll Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
AACTA International Awards | Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||
USC Scripter Award | Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
British Academy Film Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
Writers Guild of America Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
Satellite Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
Academy Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
PEN Center USA | Best Screenplay | Won | ||
2016 | The Washington Post | Notable fiction in 2016 | Nominated | |
2017 | American Library Association | Year's best in genre fiction for adult readers | Nominated |
References
- "Black Bear Pictures Wins Graham Moore Black List Script Imitation Game", Deadline.com; accessed February 23, 2015.
- Hanks, E.A. "How Benedict Cumberbatch And Alan Turing Helped A Writer Find Success In Hollywood". BuzzFeed. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- "How "The Imitation Game" Screenwriter Graham Moore Made It In Hollywood". Buzzfeed, Sept. 27, 2013, E.A. Hanks.
- Dorning, Mike (July 20, 2009). "Michelle Obama's confidant-in-chief: Susan Sher". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- "It's all about mom at first-time novelist Graham Moore's book party at the veep's house". Washington Post. December 2, 2010.
- Dornic, Matt (December 2, 2010). "Author Graham Moore's Presidential Perks". Mediabistro. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- Sweet, Lynn (December 8, 2010). ""Sherlockian" author Graham Moore: Sleuthing with Susan Sher, Valerie Jarrett and the Bidens". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on February 25, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- "RISING STAR PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD". University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Archived from the original on November 11, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- Goodman, Jessica (February 22, 2015). "Graham Moore Gives The Oscars' Most Moving Acceptance Speech". The Huffington Post.
- "Cracking the Code of Scripter Winner Graham Moore's Success". Annenburg Media Center, NeonTommy, Maureen Lee Lenker,February 4, 2015.
- Formo, Brian (September 10, 2014). "TIFF 2014 Interview: Graham Moore, Screenwriter of 'The Imitation Game'". Crave Online. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- Hollywood's 'Black List' of best unproduced scripts of 2011 revealed, theguardian.com; accessed February 23, 2015.
- Official Website: "Graham Moore", mrgrahammoore.com; accessed April 3, 2016.
- "Financiers Spark To Edison-Westinghouse Pic 'The Last Days Of Night'; Graham Moore & Morten Tyldum To Reteam".
- Kit, Borys (February 27, 2018). "'Imitation Game' Writer Sets Directorial Debut With Female-Led Futuristic Thriller (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
- "The Sherlockian - Hachett Book Group".
- "The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore".
- "The Holdout by Graham Moore".