Inspirational Quotes by William Goldman (Hollywood Screenwriter)

William Goldman (1931–2018) was an American novelist, screenwriter, and playwright. He was renowned for his versatility, his works ranging from witty comedies to dramas, and his talent for writing dialogue.

Born in Highland Park, Illinois, Goldman grew up in a suburb of Chicago, the son of a businessman. He attended Oberlin College in Ohio and Columbia University in New York. His first novel was The Temple of Gold (1957;) his first play was Blood, Sweat, and Stanley Poole (1961,) and his first musical A Family Affair (1962.)

During the 1960s, Goldman continued writing novels. His Soldier in the Rain (1960) was adapted for film. Goldman transitioned into Hollywood and became the “patron saint of screenwriting.” He started by co-authoring the script for the thriller film Masquerade (1965.) His first original screenplay was the classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969; Academy Award.)

Goldman produced dozens of screenplays works, including All the President’s Men (1976; an adaptation of the Watergate exposé; Academy Award,) The Princess Bride (1987.) The Stepford Wives (1975,) Marathon Man (1976,) Heat (1986,) Misery (1990,) and Chaplin (1992.) He also adapted two Stephen King novels for film, Hearts in Atlantis (2001) and Dreamcatcher (2003.)

In addition to his screen work, Goldman wrote a popular memoir, Adventures in the Screen Trade: A Personal View of Hollywood and Screenwriting (1983,) in which he famously quipped about Hollywood being a place where “nobody knows anything.” His nonfiction works include The Season: A Candid Look at Broadway (1969,) Hype and Glory (1990,) and The Big Picture: Who Killed Hollywood? and Other Essays (2000.)

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