Bio

Peter Hedges is a novelist, playwright, and filmmaker.

Peter’s first novel, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, was the basis for the 1993 film, which he also wrote. It starred Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio, who was nominated for an Academy Award. His second novel, An Ocean in Iowa, was published in 1998 by Hyperion Press. His novels have been published in 15 languages. His latest novel, The Heights, was published by Dutton in 2010.

Peter was co-writer for the screenplay adaptation of Jane Hamilton’s A Map of the World, starring Sigourney Weaver and Julianne Moore, and for his work on Nick Hornby’s About a Boy, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

He made his feature film directorial debut with “Pieces of April” starring Katie Holmes and Patricia Clarkson. The acclaimed film garnered numerous awards including an Academy Award nomination for Clarkson. Following the film, Variety named Peter one of the “10 Directors to Watch”. In 2007, he directed and co-wrote “Dan in Real Life” starring Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche.

A graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts, Peter founded the Edge Theatre in 1985 along with Mary-Louise Parker and Joe Mantello. Over a three-year period, he wrote and directed 12 works for the company. His most recent plays include “Baby Anger” (Playwrights Horizons), “Good as New” (Manhattan Class Company), and “Imagining Brad” (Circle Rep), all of which have been published by Dramatists Play Service.

Current projects include his adaptation of Jonathan Tropper’s Everything Changes for producers Wendy Finerman and Tobey Maguire, and the writing of “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” for producers Ahmet Zappa, Scott Sanders and Walt Disney Pictures.

Peter has taught at Yale University, Bennington College, and the North Carolina School of the Arts. He has served as a Creative Advisor to the Sundance Screenwriters’ Lab and has been awarded residencies at Yaddo, the MacDowell Colony and the Millay Colony.

Peter grew up in West Des Moines, Iowa. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Susan Bruce, two children, Simon and Lucas, and their dog, Willy.