Colin Higgins (28 July 1941 – 5 August 1988) was an Australian-American screenwriter, actor, director, and producer. He was best known for writing the screenplay for the 1971 film Harold and Maude. and for directing the films Foul Play (1978) and 9 to 5 (1980).He is not to be confused with a British actor of the same name who is known to Star Wars trivia buffs as "Fake Wedge" and who died in December 2012.
Struggling financially at the time he wrote Harold and Maude (1971), he paid for his lodgings at a Hollywood producer's house by cleaning the swimming pool and sweeping the tennis court.
3
Served in the United States Merchant Marines.
4
His older brother is Australian actor John Higgins.
5
His screenplay for Harold and Maude (1971) was based on his thesis for the UCLA screenwriting MFA program.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Harold i Mod
2001
TV Movie
Out on a Limb
1987
TV Mini-Series teleplay - 2 episodes
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
1982
screenplay
9 to 5
1980
screenplay
Harold et Maud
1978
TV Movie play
Foul Play
1978
written by
Silver Streak
1976
written by
The Devil's Daughter
1973
TV Movie
Harold and Maude
1971
written by
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Foul Play
1978
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
1982
9 to 5
1980
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Out on a Limb
1987
TV Mini-Series co-producer - 2 episodes
Harold and Maude
1971
producer
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Into the Night
1985
Kalijak Actor
The Troops in New York
1965
Un policier américain (uncredited)
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Before Stonewall
1984
Documentary special thanks - as Colin Higgens
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
This Is Your Life
1983
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Celebrating Laughter: The Life and Films of Colin Higgins
2016
Documentary
Himself
The 61st Annual Academy Awards
1989
TV Special
Himself (Memorial Tribute)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1987
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Miniseries
Out on a Limb (1987)
1981
WGA Award (Screen)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
Nine to Five (1980)
1979
Golden Globe
Golden Globes, USA
Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Foul Play (1978)
1977
WGA Award (Screen)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
Silver Streak (1976)
Known for movies
Harold and Maude (1971) as Writer
9 to 5 (1980) as Writer
Foul Play (1978) as Writer
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) as Writer
$1.5 Million
