Ernest Thompson (born Richard Ernest Thompson; November 6, 1949) is an American writer, actor, and director. He won an

Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay The Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay is the Academy Award for the best screenplay adapted from previously established material. The most frequently adapted media are novels, but other adapted narrative formats include stage plays, mus ...

for '' On Golden Pond'', an adaptation of his own play of the same name.

Early life

Thompson was born as Richard Ernest Thompson in Bellows Falls, Vermont, to parents Theron and Esther Thompson. He spent his early years in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine, moving to Maryland as a junior high school student. He attended the

University of Maryland The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the Univ ...

and the Catholic University of America, before ultimately graduating cum laude from

American University The American University (AU or American) is a Private university, private University charter#Federal, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Its main campus spans 90-acres (36 ha) on Ward Circle, in the Spri ...

in 1971.

Career

Thompson is best known as the author of the play '' On Golden Pond'', which he wrote at the age of 28. The play opened off-Broadway in 1978, starring Tom Aldredge and Frances Sternhagen. A great success at the

Kennedy Center The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, commonly known as the Kennedy Center, is the national cultural center of the United States, located on the eastern bank of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Opened on September 8, ...

, it opened at the New Apollo Theater on Broadway February 28, 1979. Revived the following season at the Century Theatre, ''On Golden Pond'' ran for more than 400 performances. It became a hit 1981 film, starring

Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress whose Katharine Hepburn on screen and stage, career as a Golden Age of Hollywood, Hollywood leading lady spanned six decades. She was known for her headstrong ...

and Henry Fonda. Thompson won the

Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...

for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1981 as well as awards from the Golden Globes and the

Writers Guild of America The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the name of two American labor unions representing writers in film, television, radio, and online media: * The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) is headquartered in New York City and is affiliated wit ...

. '' The West Side Waltz'', Thompson's second popular play, opened on Broadway, starring Katharine Hepburn on November 19, 1981. Thompson is quoted as saying that ''The West Side Waltz'' came about after a telephone call he received on behalf of screenwriter

George Seaton George Seaton (April 17, 1911 – July 28, 1979) was an American screenwriter, playwright, film director and producer, and theater director. Seaton led several industry organizations, serving as a three-time president of the Motion Picture Aca ...

, creator of movies such as '' Miracle on 34th Street'', offering Thompson "the only George Seaton grant" to write a new play for the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Thompson wrote and directed a television version based on the play, premiering on Thanksgiving night 1995, starring

Shirley MacLaine Shirley MacLaine (born Shirley MacLean Beaty; April 24, 1934) is an American actress and author. With a career spanning over 70 years, she has received List of awards and nominations received by Shirley MacLaine, numerous accolades, including a ...

Liza Minnelli Liza May Minnelli ( ; born March 12, 1946) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Known for her commanding stage presence and powerful alto singing voice, Minnelli has received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, ...

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 ...

, and

Jennifer Grey Jennifer Grey (born March 26, 1960) is an American actress. She made her acting debut with the film Reckless (1984 film), ''Reckless'' (1984), and had her breakthrough with the teen comedy film ''Ferris Bueller's Day Off'' (1986). She earned wo ...

As an actor, Thompson's only Broadway appearance was as drifter Hal Carter in '' Summer Brave'', William Inge's revised version of his play ''

Picnic A picnic is a meal taken outdoors (Al fresco dining, ''al fresco'') as part of an excursion, especially in scenic surroundings, such as a park, lakeside, or other place affording an interesting view, or else in conjunction with a public event su ...

''. He portrayed Ranger Matt Harper on NBC’s 1974 series '' Sierra'' and Dr. Phil Parker on ABC's '' Westside Medical''. He appeared on the NBC soap opera ''

Somerset Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east ...

'' as Tony Cooper, son of Rex and Laura Cooper, and in the television films '' The Rimers of Eldritch'' and ''F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Last of the Belles''. Other acting credits include roles in the Bob Fosse movie '' Star 80'' and '' Next Stop Wonderland'', directed by Brad Anderson. Thompson wrote the screenplay for the feature film '' Sweet Hearts Dance'', directed by Robert Greenwald and starring Susan Sarandon and

Don Johnson Don Wayne Johnson (born December 15, 1949) is an American actor and singer-songwriter. He played the role of James "Sonny" Crockett in the 1980s television series '' Miami Vice'', for which he won a Golden Globe, and received a Primetime Emm ...

. He directed '' 1969'', starring Kiefer Sutherland, Robert Downey, Jr., and

Winona Ryder Winona Laura Horowitz (born ), known professionally as Winona Ryder, is an American actress. Having come to attention playing quirky characters in the late 1980s, she achieved success with her more dramatic performances in the 1990s. Ryder's L ...

. During the 1990s, Thompson wrote the television film ''Take Me Home Again'' (released on DVD as ''The Lies Boys Tell'') in 1994, based on the novel by Lamar Herrin, starring

Kirk Douglas Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch; December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020) was an American actor and filmmaker. After an impoverished childhood, he made his film debut in '' The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'' (1946) with Barbara Stanwyck. ...

and Craig T. Nelson, in which Thompson also appeared. He directed and acted opposite

and

in '' The West Side Waltz'' and co-wrote and directed the Emmy-nominated movie ''Out of Time'', starring James McDaniel and Mel Harris. In 2000, Thompson directed ''The Penis Responds'', with Richard Gilliland, as a "lighthearted" answer to '' The Vagina Monologues''. In 2001, he directed his own live TV version of '' On Golden Pond'', starring

Julie Andrews Dame Julie Andrews (born Julia Elizabeth Wells; 1 October 1935) is an English actress, singer, and author. She has garnered numerous accolades throughout her career spanning over eight decades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Fi ...

and

Christopher Plummer Arthur Christopher Orme Plummer (December 13, 1929 – February 5, 2021) was a Canadian actor. His career spanned seven decades, gaining him recognition for his performances in film, stage and television. His accolades included an Academy Aw ...

. His play ''White People Christmas'' played at the Zephyr Theatre in Los Angeles, directed by Thompson.

Personal life

In 1991 his son August was born. In 1993, Thompson married Kristie Lanier at his home in New Hampshire, where he raised daughters Heather and Danielle. Thompson and Lanier later divorced. On Christmas Day in 2012, he married Kerrin (Rocha) Adrian. Thompson lives most of the year in ew Hampshirere
Music Review: Ernest Thompson and Ray Porcell - New Hampshire Magazine - June 2016
Retrieved 2017-09-07. (very close to where '' On Golden Pond'' was filmed). In 2008, Thompson co-founded Whitebridge Farm Productions with partners Morgan Murphy and Lori Gigliotti-Murphy. He wrote, directed and starred in the company's first two movies, ''Heavenly Angle'' and ''Time and Charges'', both of which were primarily filmed in the Granite State and offered by Whitebridge Farm Productions.

References

External links

Ernest Thompson's official website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Ernest 1949 births American male actors 20th-century American dramatists and playwrights American male screenwriters American theatre directors Catholic University of America alumni American University alumni People from Bellows Falls, Vermont Living people Writers from Vermont Writers Guild of America Award winners Best Screenplay Golden Globe winners Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award winners American male dramatists and playwrights People from New Hampton, New Hampshire 20th-century American male writers Screenwriters from Vermont Screenwriters from New Hampshire