Douglas Gresham
USABiography of Douglas Gresham
Douglas Gresham, a writer, biographer, and film producer, is best known for his involvement in the adaptation of his stepfather's, Clive Staples Lewis, famous series of children's fantasy novels, "The Chronicles of Narnia." Born in New York City, Gresham is the son of writers William Lindsay Gresham and Joy Davidman. While his father gained recognition as the author of the classic noir novel "Nightmare Alley," his mother became famous for her book "Smoke on The Mountain." Gresham's parents divorced in 1954, and Joy moved with her two sons to England.
After corresponding with renowned writer Clive Lewis, Joy Davidman became acquainted with him, and their friendship eventually developed into a romance. In 1956, Joy and Clive got married, and four years later, Joy passed away from cancer. Lewis became a father figure to Gresham and his older brother David, formally adopting them right after the wedding. Lewis dedicated one of his books, "The Horse and His Boy," to his stepsons.
In 1963, Clive Lewis passed away, and his estate was inherited by his brother, Warren Hamilton Lewis. Ten years later, Warren transferred the estate to Douglas and David. In a 2005 interview with NPR, Douglas Gresham revealed that he and his brother no longer maintain a close relationship, although they still communicate via email. Douglas, like his mother and Clive Lewis, adheres to the Christian faith, whereas David converted to Orthodox Judaism during childhood. Interestingly, Lewis accepted David's decision with understanding and even attempted to provide him with kosher food.
Currently, Douglas Gresham is most recognized for his work on various projects associated with his stepfather's legacy. He hosted a series of radio audio dramas based on Lewis's notable books on the show "Family." Additionally, Gresham served as one of the producers for "The Chronicles of Narnia" film series. In all three films released so far, including "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" (2005), "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" (2008), and "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" (2010), Douglas made cameo appearances.
Gresham chronicled his memories from childhood until the age of 28 in his autobiographical work, "Lenten Lands." Part of the biographical film "Shadowlands," which tells the story of Lewis's love affair with Davidman, was based on this book. Interestingly, Gresham's brother David was not mentioned in either the film or the play that inspired it, although both boys were present in the original teleplay that served as the basis for the later play adaptation.
For some time, Douglas Gresham and his wife Merrie resided in Leighlinbridge, County Carlow, Ireland, before relocating to Malta in 2008. They have five children, three sons, and two daughters. The Christian faith continues to hold great importance in Douglas Gresham's life. According to him, there is nothing more significant than Christ, and after experiencing a series of unpleasant events, he became convinced that one cannot solely rely on oneself in this life.
