Terry Southern began writing satirical, outrageous fiction at the age of 12, when he took it upon himself to rewrite various Edgar Allan Poe stories "because they didn't go far enough". After serving as a lieutenant in the army in World War II, he began writing short stories in earnest while studying at the Sorbonne. "The Accident", published in ...
Well, it was a complete dichotomy, because working with him was like working with two people. He was an ultra-talented person who was one of the fastest improvisers ever. He could add to and enrich a scene or character tremendously beyond what was written. On the other hand, he could take it too far and detract from the quality of humor when it was his own. He was too complicated because he was so insecure. If he had reached the saturation point with the particular innovations he was making and you said 'yeah, I don't think we should go any further with this,' he would take it very personally as though you were putting him down as a friend. He thought you were withdrawing your affection from him or whatever he felt was there. Then he would just get more and more into the improvisation as though he were going to insist on it because then your suggestion would represent more than just the quality of the material. For Sellers, it would represent something excruciatingly personal, which was a lot more important than the movie or any of the aesthetics involved. So it was tough because it was a constant balancing act.
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Fact
1
Longtime companion of actress Gail Gerber whose stage name was Gail Gilmore. She documented her 30 years together with the writer in her award-winning 2010 memoir Trippin' with Terry Southern: What I Think I Remember.
2
Served in the US Army during World War II and fought at the Battle of the Bulge.
3
Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 1988.
4
He was visiting his friend Rip Torn on location in New Mexico for The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) and was roped into an uncredited cameo as a reporter at Newton's space launch.
5
Author of five novels, including Candy and The Magic Christian, as well as two short story collections.
6
In addition to co-writing the screenplay for Dennis Hopper's iconic biker odyssey Easy Rider (1969), he came up with the title (the original title was "Mardi Gras").
7
Early and important contributor to The Paris Review.
8
A native Texan who spoke fluent French, having studied at the Sorbonne on the GI Bill.
9
Appears on the sleeve of The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Terry Southern's Plums and Prunes
2007
Short
Heavy Put-Away
2004
Short short story
Terry Southern Interviews a Faggot Male Nurse
1998
Short short story
The Telephone
1988
screenplay
Saturday Night Live
TV Series writer - 19 episodes, 1981 - 1982 written by - 1 episode, 1981
The American Parade
1976
TV Mini-Series written by - 1 episode
End of the Road
1970
The Magic Christian
1969
novel / screenplay
Easy Rider
1969
written by
Candy
1968
novel
Barbarella
1968
screenplay
Don't Make Waves
1967
uncredited
Casino Royale
1967
uncredited
The Cincinnati Kid
1965
screenplay
The Loved One
1965
screenplay
The Collector
1965
uncredited
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
1964
screenplay
Armchair Theatre
TV Series teleplay - 1 episode, 1958 television adaptation - 1 episode, 1958
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Man Who Fell to Earth
1976
Reporter at space launch (uncredited)
End of the Road
1970
Mr. Caruso
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
End of the Road
1970
producer
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Acid Head: The Buzzard Nuts County Slaughter
2011
special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Source: The Story of the Beats and the Beat Generation
1999
Documentary
Himself
The 68th Annual Academy Awards
1996
TV Special
Himself - Memorial Tribute
Burroughs: The Movie
1983
Documentary
Arena
1983
TV Series documentary
Himself
Cocksucker Blues
1972
Documentary
Himself
The Queen
1968
Documentary
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1994
Writer Award
Gotham Awards
1965
Hugo
Hugo Awards
Best Dramatic Presentation
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
1965
WGA Award (Screen)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Best Written American Comedy
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1970
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Based on Material Not Previously Published or Produced
Easy Rider (1969)
1970
WGA Award (Screen)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen
Easy Rider (1969)
1965
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
1965
BAFTA Film Award
BAFTA Awards
Best British Screenplay
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
2nd Place Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1964
NYFCC Award
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Screenplay
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
$250,000