Wikipedia

Peter Hedges

Peter Hedges
BornPeter Simpson Hedges
(1962-07-06) July 6, 1962 (age 63)
West Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Occupation
  • Novelist
  • playwright
  • screenwriter
  • film director
  • film producer
EducationUniversity of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA)
Period1984–present
Notable worksWhat's Eating Gilbert Grape (novel, 1991)
Dan in Real Life (film, 2007)
Spouse
Susan Bruce Titman
​
(m. 1993)​
[1]
Children2, including Lucas
Website
peterhedgeswriter.com/ph/

Peter Simpson Hedges (born July 6, 1962) is an American novelist, playwright, screenwriter, film director and film producer.

Early life

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Hedges was born in West Des Moines, Iowa, where he was raised, the son of Carole (Simpson), a psychotherapist, and the Rev. Robert Boyden Hedges, an Episcopal priest.[1][2] His mother left when he was young so he was raised by his single father. He attended Valley High School, where he was involved in the theater department, including the improvisational group and the mime troupe, The Bakers Dozen. He later went to the North Carolina School of the Arts, where he studied drama.

Career

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Hedges' novel What's Eating Gilbert Grape was adapted into a critically acclaimed movie of the same title, for which he wrote the screenplay, launching his film career.

In 2002, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for About a Boy, alongside Chris and Paul Weitz. In the same year, he wrote and directed Pieces of April, starring Katie Holmes, which he dedicated to his mother.

In 2007, he co-wrote and directed Dan in Real Life.

He wrote and directed The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012), a film conceived by Ahmet Zappa, produced by Zappa and Scott Sanders, and released by Walt Disney Pictures.[3] In 2018, he wrote and directed the drama Ben Is Back, about drug addiction, starring his son Lucas Hedges, and Julia Roberts.

His latest novel The Heights was published March 4, 2010 by Dutton.

Personal life

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His wife is Susan Bruce (Titman), a poet. They have two sons; Simon, who works in private equity[4] in New York, and actor Lucas Hedges.

Filmography

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Film

Year Title Director Writer Producer
1993 What's Eating Gilbert Grape No Yes No
1999 A Map of the World No Yes No
2002 About a Boy No Yes No
2003 Pieces of April Yes Yes No
2007 Dan in Real Life Yes Yes No
2012 The Odd Life of Timothy Green Yes Yes No
2018 Ben Is Back Yes Yes Yes
2021 The Same Storm Yes Yes No

Television

Year Title Director Writer Consulting
Producer 		Notes
2021 Ordinary Joe Yes Yes Yes Episode "The Letter"

Plays

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  • Oregon (1984)
  • Champions of the Average Joe (1985)
  • The Age of Pie (1986)
  • Andy and Claire (1986)
  • Teddy by the Sea (1986)
  • Imagining Brad (1988)
  • Baby Anger (1993)
  • What's Eating Gilbert Grape (Musical) (2024)

Novels

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  • What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1991)
  • An Ocean in Iowa (1998)
  • The Heights (2010)

References

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  1. ^ a b "WEDDINGS; Susan B. Titman, Peter S. Hedges (Published 1993)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2023-07-11.
  2. ^ "Robert Hedges Obituary (1925 - 2014) - San Angelo, IA - the Des Moines Register". Legacy.com.
  3. ^ Borys Kit, "Hedges on tap for Zappa's 'Odd' movie idea," Reuters.com
  4. ^ Gregory, Alice (2019-02-19). "Lucas Hedges Is Hollywood's "Good Egg". GQ. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
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