Motion Picture and Television Screenwriter, Director, Producer. He was associated with several Academy Award caliber pictures. Born to Harold C. Pierson and Louise Pierson, his mother was a screenwriter, his parents' lives were recounted in the 1945 motion picture "Roughly Speaking" (1945, based on a book by Louise whom also penned the screenplay) which starred Rosalind Russell and Jack Carson. He prepared for a career as a writer at Harvard University and following his graduation in 1950, he served with the US Army. Upon his return to civilian life, he landed positions as a correspondent with the publications Time and Life Magazines, prior to launching his career in Hollywood, initially as a script writer with the TV series "Have Gun- Will Travel," "Naked City" and "Route 66." This body of work was followed with the film "Cat Ballou" (1965, for which he shared an Oscar nomination with Walter Newman), "The Happening" (1967), "Cool Hand Luke" (1967, for which he shared an Oscar nomination with Donn Pearce), "The Anderson Tapes" (1971) and "Dog Day Afternoon" (1975), which earned him an Academy Award. Further film credits include "In Country" (1989) and "Presumed Innocent" (1990). Towards the later part of his career, he served as consulting producer for the series "The Good Wife" and "Mad Men." Pierson also lent his talents to directing as he had credits with the 1978 adaptation of "A Star is Born" (1978) and "King of the Gypsies" (1978). Pierson served as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 2001 to 2005. He died from natural causes.
Motion Picture and Television Screenwriter, Director, Producer. He was associated with several Academy Award caliber pictures. Born to Harold C. Pierson and Louise Pierson, his mother was a screenwriter, his parents' lives were recounted in the 1945 motion picture "Roughly Speaking" (1945, based on a book by Louise whom also penned the screenplay) which starred Rosalind Russell and Jack Carson. He prepared for a career as a writer at Harvard University and following his graduation in 1950, he served with the US Army. Upon his return to civilian life, he landed positions as a correspondent with the publications Time and Life Magazines, prior to launching his career in Hollywood, initially as a script writer with the TV series "Have Gun- Will Travel," "Naked City" and "Route 66." This body of work was followed with the film "Cat Ballou" (1965, for which he shared an Oscar nomination with Walter Newman), "The Happening" (1967), "Cool Hand Luke" (1967, for which he shared an Oscar nomination with Donn Pearce), "The Anderson Tapes" (1971) and "Dog Day Afternoon" (1975), which earned him an Academy Award. Further film credits include "In Country" (1989) and "Presumed Innocent" (1990). Towards the later part of his career, he served as consulting producer for the series "The Good Wife" and "Mad Men." Pierson also lent his talents to directing as he had credits with the 1978 adaptation of "A Star is Born" (1978) and "King of the Gypsies" (1978). Pierson served as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 2001 to 2005. He died from natural causes.
Bio by: C.S.
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