Charlie Kaufman

Charlie Kaufman

Screenwriter
Date of Birth: 01.11.1958
Country: USA

Biography of Charlie Kaufman

Charlie Kaufman, the renowned screenwriter, was born on November 1, 1958, in New York and grew up on the East Coast. He spent his early years in Long Island and attended school in West Hartford, Connecticut, where his family relocated in 1972. After graduating from high school in 1976, Charlie initially enrolled at Boston University but soon transferred to a film school in New York City to study cinema. During this time, he directed a couple of short films and participated in student productions as an actor.

After completing his university education, Kaufman moved to Minneapolis, where he worked at a newspaper and a local art museum. In 1990, he made the decision to pursue a career as a screenwriter and relocated to Los Angeles. He began working in television, writing scripts for several comedy series episodes. His very first full-length screenplay, "Being John Malkovich," received an Oscar nomination. Kaufman's second nomination came for "Adaptation," which he shared with his fictional brother Donald, becoming the first non-existent person to be recognized by the Academy.

Kaufman collaborated with directors who started their careers in music videos, including Spike Jonze ("Being John Malkovich," "Adaptation") and Michel Gondry ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "Human Nature"). Additionally, he wrote the screenplay for George Clooney's directorial debut, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind." Kaufman was also involved in the adaptation of Philip K. Dick's novel "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," although his version did not make it to production.

One of Kaufman's most recent works is the screenplay for the science fiction drama "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."

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