Rudolph "Rudy" Wurlitzer (**Rudy Wurlitzer** born January 3, 1937) is an American novelist and screenwriter. Wurlitzer's fiction includes ''

Nog NOG or Nog may refer to: * Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mixed martial arts fighter, also known as "Big Nog" * Antônio Rogério Nogueira, Mixed martial arts fighter, also known as "Little Nog" * Nog (''Star Trek''), fictional character, a young Fer ...

'', ''Flats'', ''Quake'', ''Slow Fade'', and ''Drop Edge of Yonder''. He is also the author of the travel memoir, ''Hard Travel to Sacred Places'', which recounts a spiritual journey through Asia following the death of his wife Lynn Davis's 21-year-old son.

Biography

Born in

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ; colloquially nicknamed Cincy) is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Settled in 1788, the city is located on the northern side of the confluence of the Licking River (Kentucky), Licking and Ohio Ri ...

, Wurlitzer's family moved to New York City shortly after his birth. He is a descendant of Rudolph Wurlitzer (1831–1914), founder of the jukebox company of the same name, though the family fortune had significantly diminished by the time Wurlitzer came of age in the 1950s. At 17, he worked on an oil tanker, beginning to write during this first trip. He attended Columbia University and served in the Army. He continued to travel, spending time in Paris and on Majorca, where he worked as a secretary for author

Robert Graves Captain Robert von Ranke Graves (24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985) was an English poet, soldier, historical novelist and critic. His father was Alfred Perceval Graves, a celebrated Irish poet and figure in the Gaelic revival; they were b ...

. He credits Graves with teaching him to "write short sentences." He returned to New York City in the mid-1960s, where he met and befriended artists

Claes Oldenburg Claes Oldenburg (January 28, 1929 – July 18, 2022) was a Swedish-born American sculptor best known for his public art installations, typically featuring large replicas of everyday objects. Another theme in his work is soft sculpture versions ...

Robert Frank Robert Frank (November 9, 1924 – September 9, 2019) was a Swiss American photographer and documentary filmmaker. His most notable work, the 1958 book titled ''The Americans'', earned Frank comparisons to a modern-day de Tocqueville for his ...

, and

Philip Glass Philip Glass (born January 31, 1937) is an American composer and pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. Glass's work has been associated with minimal music, minimalism, being built up fr ...

. He later collaborated with each of them. He is married to photographer Lynn Davis and divides his time between homes in upstate New York and Nova Scotia.

Novels

Wurlitzer's first novel, the experimental and psychedelic ''Nog'' (1968), was compared to the work of

Thomas Pynchon Thomas Ruggles Pynchon Jr. ( , ; born May 8, 1937) is an American novelist noted for his dense and complex novels. His fiction and non-fiction writings encompass a vast array of subject matter, Literary genre, genres and Theme (narrative), th ...

. It was followed in 1970 by the minimalist, Beckett-influenced ''Flats''. ''Quake,'', published in 1974, is set in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles where humanity's worst impulses are enacted in a single, continuous narrative. The 1984 novel ''Slow Fade'', also set in Hollywood, is a portrait of an aging, formerly brilliant film director trying to reconcile with his past and his inner turmoil. It has been suggested that ''Slow Fade'' was influenced by Wurlitzer's experiences with director

Sam Peckinpah David Samuel Peckinpah (; February 21, 1925 – December 28, 1984) was an American film director and screenwriter. His 1969 Western epic '' The Wild Bunch'' received two Academy Award nominations and was ranked No. 80 on the American Film Instit ...

on the set of ''

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid ''Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid'' is a 1973 American revisionist Western film directed by Sam Peckinpah, written by Rudy Wurlitzer, and starring James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson, Richard Jaeckel, Katy Jurado, Chill Wills, Barry Sullivan, Jaso ...

'', for which Wurlitzer wrote the screenplay. His most recent novel is ''The Drop Edge Of Yonder'', which originated from a screenplay titled ''Zebulon'' that had undergone various iterations over the years. Directors such as Peckinpah and

Hal Ashby William Hal Ashby (September 2, 1929 – December 27, 1988) was an Cinema of the United States, American film Film director, director and Film editing, editor. His work exemplified the countercultural attitude of the era. He directed wide-rangi ...

were attached to the project at different times, but the film was never produced.O'Brien, Joe. “On the Drift, Rudy Wurlitzer and the Road to Nowhere.” arthur. pg. 44 Number 29, May 2008.

Screenplays and other work

Wurlitzer's first script, ''

Glen and Randa ''Glen and Randa'' is a 1971 American post-apocalyptic science fiction drama film directed by Jim McBride. It was co-written by McBride, Lorenzo Mans and Rudy Wurlitzer. McBride made the film for $480,000 with an obscure cast including Steve ...

'', co-written with

Jim McBride Jim McBride (born September 16, 1941) is an American screenwriter, producer and director. Legacy Richard Brody, writing for ''The New Yorker'', named McBride as one of the twelve greatest living narrative filmmakers, citing ''David Holzman's D ...

and released in 1969, also explored a post-apocalyptic setting.

Monte Hellman Monte Hellman (; born Monte Jay Himmelbaum; July 12, 1929 – April 20, 2021) was an American film director, producer, writer, and editor. Hellman began his career as an editor's apprentice at ABC TV, and made his directorial debut with the ho ...

, who directed films for

Roger Corman Roger William Corman (April 5, 1926 – May 9, 2024) was an American film director, producer, and actor. Known under various monikers such as "The Pope of Pop Cinema", "The Spiritual Godfather of the New Hollywood", and "The King of Cult", he w ...

, read Wurlitzer's novel ''Nog'' and approached him to write the screenplay for ''

Two-Lane Blacktop ''Two-Lane Blacktop'' is a 1971 American road film directed and edited by Monte Hellman, from a screenplay by Rudy Wurlitzer and Will Corry. It stars musicians James Taylor and Dennis Wilson, Warren Oates, and Laurie Bird in the leading ro ...

''. The film became a cult classic, and the script was printed in full in the April 1971 issue of ''

Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman ...

''. While working in Hollywood, Wurlitzer also wrote screenplays for ''

Walker Walker or The Walker may refer to: People *Walker (given name) *Walker (surname) *Walker (Brazilian footballer) (born 1982), Brazilian footballer Places In the United States *Walker, Arizona, in Yavapai County *Walker, Mono County, California * ...

'' (1987), directed by

Alex Cox Alexander B. H. Cox (born 15 December 1954) is an English film director, screenwriter, actor, non-fiction author and broadcaster. Cox experienced success early in his career with ''Repo Man (film), Repo Man'' (1984) and ''Sid and Nancy'' (1986 ...

; ''

Candy Mountain ''Candy Mountain'' is a 1987 drama film directed by Robert Frank and Rudy Wurlitzer, and starring Kevin J. O'Connor, Harris Yulin and Tom Waits. Set in New York City and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, it is categorized as a drama and road movie, dr ...

'' (1988), which he co-directed with

; and ''

Little Buddha ''Little Buddha'' is a 1993 drama film directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, written by Rudy Wurlitzer and Mark Peploe, and produced by usual Bertolucci collaborator Jeremy Thomas. An international co-production of Italy, France and the United Kingd ...

'' (1993), directed by

Bernardo Bertolucci Bernardo Bertolucci ( ; ; 16 March 1941 – 26 November 2018) was an Italian film director and screenwriter with a career that spanned 50 years. Considered one of the greatest directors in the history of cinema, Bertolucci's work achieved inte ...

. At the time of Michelangelo Antonioni's death, Wurlitzer was working on a script with him. He wrote the libretto for Philip Glass's opera ''

In the Penal Colony "In the Penal Colony" ("") (also translated as "In the Penal Settlement") is a short story by Franz Kafka written in German in October 1914, revised in November 1918, and first published in October 1919. As in some of Kafka's other writings, the ...

'' and has written four television scripts for ''

100 Centre Street ''100 Centre Street'' is an American legal drama created by Sidney Lumet and starring Alan Arkin, Val Avery, Bobby Cannavale, Joel de la Fuente and Paula Devicq. Premise The show takes its name for the Manhattan street address of the New Y ...

'', directed by

Sidney Lumet Sidney Arthur Lumet ( ; June 25, 1924 – April 9, 2011) was an American film director. Lumet started his career in theatre before moving to film, where he gained a reputation for making realistic and gritty New York City, New York dramas w ...

Filmography

*''

'' (co-written with

) (1969, Writer) *''

'' (directed by

) (1971, Writer) - Hot Rod Driver (actor) *''

Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid ''Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid'' is a 1973 American revisionist Western film directed by Sam Peckinpah, written by Rudy Wurlitzer, and starring James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson, Richard Jaeckel, Katy Jurado, Chill Wills, Barry Sullivan, ...

'' (directed by

) (1973, Writer) - O'Folliard (actor) *''America'' (directed by

Robert Downey Sr. Robert John Downey Sr. ( Elias Jr.; June 24, 1936 – July 7, 2021) was an American film director, screenwriter and actor. He was known for writing and directing the underground film '' Putney Swope'' (1969), a satire on the New York Madison Ave ...

) (1986) - George, the Hit Man (actor) *''

'' (directed by

) (1987, Writer) - Morgan (actor) *''

'' (co-directed with

) (1988, Writer/co-director) *''

Homo Faber alludes to the idea that human beings are able to control their fate and their environment as a result of the use of tools. Original phrase In Latin literature, Appius Claudius Caecus uses this term in his ''Sententiæ'', referring to the ...

'' (aka ''Voyager'') (directed by

Volker Schlöndorff Volker Schlöndorff (; born 31 March 1939) is a German film director, screenwriter and producer who has worked in Germany, France and the United States. He was a prominent member of the New German Cinema of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He ha ...

) (1991, Writer) *''

Wind Wind is the natural movement of atmosphere of Earth, air or other gases relative to a planetary surface, planet's surface. Winds occur on a range of scales, from thunderstorm flows lasting tens of minutes, to local breezes generated by heatin ...

'' (directed by

Carroll Ballard Carroll Ballard (born October 14, 1937) is an American filmmaker. Originally a Documentary film, documentarian, he became known for directing sweeping, visually striking films with Nature, natural and ecological themes. His body of work include ...

) (1992, Writer) *''

'' (directed by

) (1993, Writer)

Publications

*''

'', published 1968 by Random House; reissued in 2009 by Two Dollar Radio *''Flats'', published 1971 by Random House, reissued in 2009 by Two Dollar Radio *''Quake'', published 1974 by E. P. Dutton, reissued in 2009 by Two Dollar Radio *''Slow Fade'', published 1984 by Alfred A. Knopf, reissued in 2011 by Drag City *''Hard Travel to Sacred Places'', published 1995 by Random House *''The Drop Edge of Yonder'', published 2008 by Two Dollar Radio

References

External links

*
''Vertigo'' magazine
interview
"Rudy Wurlitzer In Conversation
with

Theodore Hamm Theodore Hamm (October 14 or October 17, 1825 – July 31, 1903) was the founder of Hamm's Brewery. Biography Theodore Hamm was born in Herbolzheim, Germany, on October 14 or 17, 1825 to Johann and Franziska Hamm. Theodore was the third of te ...

" ''

The Brooklyn Rail ''The Brooklyn Rail'' is an American publication and platform for the arts, culture, humanities, and politics, based in Brooklyn, New York. It features in-depth critical essays, fiction, poetry, as well as interviews with artists, critics, and ...

'', (Dec 09 - Jan 10)
Conversing with Rudy Wurlitzer: A Beaten-Up Old Scribbler, Pop Matters

Rudy Wurlitzer, Bob Dylan, Bloody Sam, and the Jornado del Muerto, Pop Matters

Scott McClanahan Interviews Rudolph Wurlitzer, Ain't It Cool News
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wurlitzer, Rudy 21st-century American novelists American male novelists American male screenwriters American television writers Columbia University alumni Living people 1937 births Wurlitzer American opera librettists Writers from Cincinnati Writers from New York City American male television writers 21st-century American male writers Novelists from New York (state) Novelists from Ohio Screenwriters from New York (state) Screenwriters from Ohio 21st-century American screenwriters