WRITER · BORN 1949
Lawrence Kasdan
- Born
- 14 January 1949
15 archived facts 3 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
All facts (15)
- #001
Lawrence Kasdan chose to specialize in education during his university years. He studied in the education department at the University of Michigan, but instead of pursuing a career in that field he turned to writing. This educational background shaped his interest in storytelling and his ability to understand people. Choosing writing over teaching paved the way for him to become an important screenwriter and director in the world of cinema.
- #002
Lawrence Kasdan preferred writing to teaching.
- #003
Lawrence Kasdan guided two actresses to Oscar nominations: Glenn Close (Best Supporting Actress, The Big Chill (1983)) and Geena Davis (Best Supporting Actress, The Accidental Tourist (1988)). Davis won the Oscar for that performance.
- #004
As of September 2015, Lawrence Kasdan had collaborated with Kevin Kline six times on feature films. Those films are Silverado (1985), Grand Canyon (1991), French Kiss (1995), The Big Chill (1983), Darling Companion (2012) and I Love You to Death (1990).
- #005
Lawrence Kasdan worked as an advertising copywriter.
- #006
Lawrence Kasdan is the father of Jonathan Kasdan and Jake Kasdan.
- #007
Lawrence Kasdan grew up in Morgantown, WV.
- #008
In an AFI poll, Lawrence Kasdan chose Lawrence of Arabia (1962) as his favorite film.
- #009
Lawrence Kasdan frequently casts Kevin Costner, Ted Danson, Jeff Fahey, Danny Glover, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Jason Lee, Mary McDonnell, Bill Pullman, Kathleen Turner and JoBeth Williams. He also cast Goldblum's former wives Patricia Gaul in The Big Chill (1983) and Silverado (1985), and Geena Davis in The Accidental Tourist (1988).
- #010
Lawrence Kasdan directed Jeff Goldblum in two films: The Big Chill (1983) and Silverado (1985). Both featured Goldblum's first wife, Patricia Gaul. The Accidental Tourist (1988) featured his second wife, Geena Davis. Although Kasdan never directed a film with Goldblum's later partners, Goldblum was together with Laura Dern, who appeared in Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017); Kasdan wrote three "Star Wars" films.
- #011
Lawrence Kasdan is the brother of Mark Kasdan.
- #012
Lawrence Kasdan wrote Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) for Steven Spielberg as the first writer hired. Over his directing career, he also worked with many actors who had worked with Spielberg. These include William Hurt, Kevin Costner, Danny Glover, Ted Danson, David Paymer, Jeff Goldblum and River Phoenix.
- #013
Lawrence Kasdan wrote three films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), The Big Chill (1983) and The Accidental Tourist (1988). He also directed two Best Picture nominees: The Big Chill and The Accidental Tourist.
- #014
Lawrence Kasdan wrote three films selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically" significant: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and The Big Chill (1983). He also directed a film on the registry: The Big Chill.
- #015
Lawrence Kasdan is the nephew of Jack Landau.
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