Donald E. Westlake Bio/Wiki, Net Worth, Married 2018
Donald Edwin Westlake (July 12, 1933 – December 31, 2008) was an American writer, with over a hundred novels and non-fiction books to his credit. He specialized in crime fiction, especially comic capers, with an occasional foray into science fiction or other genres. He was a three-time Edgar Award winner, one of only three writers (the others are Joe Gores and William L. DeAndrea) to win Edgars in three different categories (1968, Best Novel, God Save the Mark; 1990, Best Short Story, "Too Many Crooks"; 1991, Best Motion Picture Screenplay, The Grifters). In 1993, the Mystery Writers of America named Westlake a Grand Master, the highest honor bestowed by the society.
If I write a novel, I'm a god. If I write a screenplay, I'm a minor deity.
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Fact
1
Served in the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1956.
2
He had four sons by his first two wives: Sean Alan (B. 1959), Steven Albert (B. 1961), Tod David (B. 1963 and adopted by him in 1969), and Paul Edwin (B. 1969).
3
When it was discovered that Stephen King had been using the pseudonym Richard Bachman, King turned that story into a novel as well: The Dark Half (1993) is about a writer whose pen name is discovered. In that book, Thad Beaumount uses the pen name "George Stark." Both that name and Richard Bachman are taken from Westlake's pen name, Richard Stark.
4
Awarded three Edgar Awards and the title of Grand Master (1993) from the Mystery Writers of America.
5
Created all his manuscripts on manual typewriters.
6
Shares his middle name, Edwin, with Stephen King. His own pseudonym, Richard Stark, partially inspired King's pseudonym, Richard Bachman.
7
His novel "Drowned Hopes" shares a chapter with the novel "32 Cadillacs" by Joe Gores. The chapters are not identical, however, instead presenting the same event from the perspective of the characters in each book. Similarly, Westlake's "Plunder Squad" (a Richard Stark/Parker novel) shares a chapter with Gore's "Dead Skip.".
8
His novels "Slayground" (featuring professional thief Parker) and "The Blackbird" (featuring Parker's sometime-accomplice Alan Grofield) share the same opening chapter.
9
In Westlake's comic crime novel "Jimmy the Kid," a group of thieves stage a kidnapping using a novel by Richard Stark as the basis for their plan. Richard Stark is the pseudonym that Westlake publishes is dark and gritty crime novels under. In addition, Richard Stark himself appears (briefly) as a character in "Jimmy the Kid.".
10
Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors". New Revision Series, vol. 137, pages 407-414. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2005.
11
Lives in Ancram, NY where his beautiful garden is often open to public tours.
12
In addition to writing nearly 50 novels and a handful of screenplays under his own name, Westlake has written almost 30 novels as "Richard Stark", 4 novels as "Samuel Holt", 5 novels as "Tucker Coe", 1 science-fiction novel and several sf short stories as "Curt Clark", 1 novel as "J. Morgan Cunningham" and 1 novel as "Timothy J. Culver". He used multiple pseudonyms in part to combat skepticism over his rapid rate of writing books, sometimes as many as four a year, his friends said. Stephen King's pseudonym/alter ego Richard Bachman was named in honor of Richard Stark.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Stepfather II
1989
characters
Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery
1987
TV Movie written by
The Stepfather
1987
screenplay / story
The Twin
1984
novel "Two Much"
Slayground
1983
novel - as Richard Stark
Jimmy the Kid
1982
novel
Hot Stuff
1979
written by
Supertrain
TV Series creator - 1 episode, 1979 story - 1 episode, 1979
Come ti rapisco il pupo
1976
novel
Bank Shot
1974
novel
The Outfit
1973
novel "The Outfit" - as Richard Stark
Cops and Robbers
1973
novel - uncredited / written by
The Hot Rock
1972
novel
Journey to the Unknown
1968
TV Series story - 1 episode
The Split
1968
novel "The Seventh" - as Richard Stark
Mise à sac
1967
novel "The Score" - as Richard Stark
Point Blank
1967
novel "The Hunter" - as Richard Stark
The Busy Body
1967
novel
Made in U.S.A
1966
novel "The Jugger" - as Richard Stark
Commissaire mène l'enquête
1963
writer
87th Precinct
1962
TV Series story - 1 episode
Parker
2013
novel "Flashfire" - as Richard Stark
Baby, I Got Your Money
2012
Short novel "Somebody Owes Me Money" - uncredited
The Stepfather
2009
earlier screenplay / story
Payback: Straight Up
2006
Video novel "The Hunter" - as Richard Stark
Ripley Under Ground
2005
screenplay
The Ax
2005
novel "The Ax"
Ordo
2004
novel
Je suis un assassin
2004
novel "The Contract"
What's the Worst That Could Happen?
2001
novel
A Slight Case of Murder
1999
TV Movie book
Jimmy the Kid
1999
novel
Payback
1999/I
novel "The Hunter" - as Richard Stark
La divine poursuite
1997
novel "Dancing Aztecs"
Two Much
1996
novel
Fallen Angels
1995
TV Series teleplay - 1 episode
Stepfather III
1992
TV Movie characters
Myster Mocky présente
1991
TV Series short novel - 1 episode
The Grifters
1990
screenplay
Why Me?
1990
book / screenplay
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Father Dowling Mysteries
1991
TV Series
Rich Vincent
Muy personal
1988
TV Series
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Parker
2013
in memory of
Baby, I Got Your Money
2012
Short special thanks
Paybacks Are a Bitch
2007
Video documentary very special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Hunter: A Conversation with Author Donald E. Westlake
2007
Video documentary short
Himself
Le cercle du cinéma
1998
TV Series
Himself
Numéros de Série
1995
TV Movie documentary
The Media Show
1990
TV Series
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2000
Edgar
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Best Television Feature or Miniseries
A Slight Case of Murder (1999)
1991
Edgar
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Best Motion Picture
The Grifters (1990)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1991
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
The Grifters (1990)
1991
WGA Award (Screen)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
$1 Million
