Gary Ross

Gary Ross (born November 3, 1956) is an American film director, writer, and author. He directed the film The Hunger Games, as well as Pleasantville and the Best Picture nominated Seabiscuit.

Life and career

Ross was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Gail and Arthur A. Ross, the latter of whom was an Oscar-nominated screenwriter (Brubaker). His family is Jewish. He attended (though did not graduate from) the University of Pennsylvania, worked as a fisherman, worked on Ted Kennedy's 1980 Presidential campaign, consulted on both Michael Dukakis's and Bill Clinton's Presidential campaigns, and wrote a novel before being hired to write screenplays for Paramount Pictures.

Big was his first produced screenplay. Co-written with Anne Spielberg (sister of Steven), it led to an Academy Award nomination and a Writers Guild of America Award. He went on to write several other successful films, including Dave in 1993. In 1998, he wrote and directed Pleasantville, and in 2003, he wrote, directed and produced Seabiscuit, based on Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand. The film earned seven Academy Award nominations.

Ross took on the high-profile project of co-adapting and directing the film adaptation of the first book in Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy. The film was released on March 23, 2012, and earned $672,826,249 worldwide as of June 2012. Although the movie was financially and critically successful, Ross opted to not adapt or direct the sequels, citing the rushed production schedule as his main reason.

Ross also wrote and produced the animated feature The Tale of Despereaux, based on the Newbery Medal-winning children's book by Kate DiCamillo. His first book, Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind, was published by Candlewick Press in 2012. A children's book, it is written completely in verse.

In August 2012, Ross was announced as the director of the upcoming film adaption of the novel Peter and the Starcatchers, by Walt Disney Pictures.

Awards

• Academy Award for Best Picture Nomination - Seabiscuit (2004)
• Academy Award for Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) Nomination - Seabiscuit (2004)
• Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) Nomination - Dave (1994)
• Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) Nomination - Big (1989)
• Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay Nomination - Seabiscuit (2004)
• Directors Guild of America Award Nomination - Seabiscuit (2004)
• Producers Guild of America Award Nomination - Seabiscuit (2004)
• Producers Guild of America Nova Award, Most Promising Producer - Pleasantville (1999)
• Satellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Nomination – Seabiscuit (2004)
• Satellite Award for Best Original Screenplay Win – Pleasantville (1998)
• Satellite Award for Best Film Musical or Comedy Nomination – Pleasantville (1998)
• Satellite Award for Best Director Nomination – Pleasantville (1998)
• USC Scripter Award - Seabiscuit (2004)
• Writers Guild of America Award Nomination - Seabiscuit (2004)
• Writers Guild of America Paul Selvin Award - Dave (1994)
• Writers Guild of America Award Nomination - Dave (1994)
• Writers Guild of America Award Nomination - Big (1989)

Filmography