Author. He was an American mystery writer. From the 1920s through the 1950s, "Bud" Kelland was one of the most famous and highly paid authors in the world. his well-known works included the novels "Scattergood Baines" and "Opera Hat," which was adapted for the 1936 Gary Cooper movie "Mr Deeds Goes To Town," and Adam Sandler's 2002 remake "Mr. Deeds." Some 30+ novels were adapted to motion pictures, such as "Speak Easily," starring Buster Keaton, and his novel "Arizona," which was made into a movie by the same name in 1940, starring Jean Arthur. His writing career spanned over six decades. He wrote 60 novels and more than 200 short stories. He gained his reputation by writing for magazines, mostly the "Saturday Evening Post" and "The American." It was through these magazines that he chronicled the fiction characters of Scattergood Baines, Mark Tidd, and Mr. Deeds. Baines debuted in a 1914 issue of "The American Magazine." Born Clarence Budington Kelland, he earned a law degree from Detroit College of Law in 1902 by attending night school, but practiced law for less than a year before going into writing for newspapers. He had left formal education in the 10th grade. Although he made millions of dollars early in his career, his family did poorly financially during the Great Depression years. Politically, he was an outspoken ring-wing Republican, who was a candidate for Republican National Committeeman from Arizona in the 1930's. Besides his adult books, he published two juvenile series early in his career.

Author. He was an American mystery writer. From the 1920s through the 1950s, "Bud" Kelland was one of the most famous and highly paid authors in the world. his well-known works included the novels "Scattergood Baines" and "Opera Hat," which was adapted for the 1936 Gary Cooper movie "Mr Deeds Goes To Town," and Adam Sandler's 2002 remake "Mr. Deeds." Some 30+ novels were adapted to motion pictures, such as "Speak Easily," starring Buster Keaton, and his novel "Arizona," which was made into a movie by the same name in 1940, starring Jean Arthur. His writing career spanned over six decades. He wrote 60 novels and more than 200 short stories. He gained his reputation by writing for magazines, mostly the "Saturday Evening Post" and "The American." It was through these magazines that he chronicled the fiction characters of Scattergood Baines, Mark Tidd, and Mr. Deeds. Baines debuted in a 1914 issue of "The American Magazine." Born Clarence Budington Kelland, he earned a law degree from Detroit College of Law in 1902 by attending night school, but practiced law for less than a year before going into writing for newspapers. He had left formal education in the 10th grade. Although he made millions of dollars early in his career, his family did poorly financially during the Great Depression years. Politically, he was an outspoken ring-wing Republican, who was a candidate for Republican National Committeeman from Arizona in the 1930's. Besides his adult books, he published two juvenile series early in his career.

Bio by: Tracy Rademacher