David Lord Paterson (born 1966) is an American

screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...

, actor, stuntman and producer. In August 1974, David's best friend, eight-year-old Lisa Hill, was struck by

lightning Lightning is a natural phenomenon consisting of electrostatic discharges occurring through the atmosphere between two electrically charged regions. One or both regions are within the atmosphere, with the second region sometimes occurring on ...

and killed. His mother, author

Katherine Paterson Katherine Paterson (née Womeldorf; born October 31, 1932) is an American writer best known for Children's literature, children's novels, including ''Bridge to Terabithia (novel), Bridge to Terabithia'' (1977), which won the Newbery Medal in 197 ...

, used this real-life experience as the basis for her children's novel '' Bridge to Terabithia''. David produced and co-wrote the screenplay for the

film adaptation A film adaptation transfers the details or story of an existing source text, such as a novel, into a feature film. This transfer can involve adapting most details of the source text closely, including characters or plot points, or the original sou ...

of the novel released in 2007. He graduated from

The Catholic University of America The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private Catholic research university in Washington, D.C., United States. It is one of two pontifical universities of the Catholic Church in the United States – the only one that is not primarily ...

(CUA) in 1989 with a BA. Paterson held a special advance screening of ''Bridge to Terabithia'' on February 1, 2007, for members of the CUA community at the AFI Silver Theatre in

Silver Spring, Maryland Silver Spring is a census-designated place (CDP) in southeastern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, near Washington, D.C. Although officially Unincorporated area, unincorporated, it is an edge city with a population of 81,015 at the 2020 ...

. As a playwright, Paterson has published over one dozen titles with Samuel French, Inc.. He holds the record for being the only playwright ever to have three plays premiere on New York stages within one month. In December 2012, Paterson ran a write-in campaign for Park District Commissioner of

Manhasset Manhasset is an affluent hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered the anchor community of the Greater Manhasset area. The population was 8,176 ...

, and won against the Incumbent. He has been re-elected three more times. In 2013 David was a stunt double for Robin Williams in ''

The Angriest Man in Brooklyn ''The Angriest Man in Brooklyn'' is a 2014 American comedy-drama film directed by Phil Alden Robinson, and starring Robin Williams, Mila Kunis, Peter Dinklage, and Melissa Leo. It is a remake of the 1997 Israeli film ''The 92 Minutes of Mr. ...

''. In the Fall of 2016, his feature film, ''

The Great Gilly Hopkins ''The Great Gilly Hopkins'' is a 1978 realistic children's novel by American author Katherine Paterson. It won the U.S. National Book Award in 1979.Kathy Bates Kathleen Doyle Bates (born June 28, 1948) is an American actress. Kathy Bates filmography, Her work spans over five decades, and List of awards and nominations received by Kathy Bates, her accolades include an Academy Awards, Academy Award, t ...

Bill Cobbs Wilbert Alexander Cobbs (June 16, 1934 – June 25, 2024) was an American actor, known for such film roles as Louisiana Slim in '' The Hitter'' (1979), Walter in '' The Brother from Another Planet'' (1984), Reginald in ''Night at the Museum' ...

, and

Sophie Nélisse Marie-Sophie Nélisse (born March 27, 2000) is a Canadian actress. She is known for her Genie Award–winning performance in ''Monsieur Lazhar'' (2011). She also played The Book Thief#Liesel Meminger, Liesel Meminger in the The Book Thief (film) ...

. In June 2024, David's documentary ''The Girl Who Wore Freedom'', will open on screens in 100 cities throughout the USA, marking the 80th Anniversary of

D-Day The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during the Second World War. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as ...

References

External links

Official homepage
Retrieved 12 Feb 2007. *
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Retrieved January 6, 2013. 1966 births Living people American male screenwriters Catholic University of America alumni Date of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people) American male dramatists and playwrights 21st-century American dramatists and playwrights 21st-century American male writers 21st-century American screenwriters Bridge to Terabithia (novel) {{US-screen-writer-1960s-stub