Person Biography:
Horton Foote was born on March 14, 1916, in Wharton, Texas. At the age of ten, he felt a "calling" to become an actor. When he was 16, he convinced his parents to allow him to attend acting school in Pasadena, California. He later moved to New York City and studied at Tamara Daykarhanova's Theatre School, where he was trained in Michael Chekhov's version of the Second Studio technique.
Early Career:
Foote was one of the founders of the American Actors Company. He began his career on stage, taking on minor roles, but soon decided that writing was his best bet for securing decent roles. He made his Broadway debut in 1944 with "Only the Heart," which received better reviews for its writing than its acting.
Television and Film:
Foote wrote for television, becoming a mainstay of the Golden Age of television drama. He wrote teleplays for "Playhouse 90," "The Philco Television Playhouse," and "The United States Steel Hour." He won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962),which marked the film debut of Robert Duvall. Foote continued to prosper on Broadway, with plays such as "The Chase," "The Trip to Bountiful," and "The Traveling Lady."
Decline and Revival:
After the film of "Mockingbird," Foote adapted "The Traveling Lady" into the movie "Baby the Rain Must Fall" (1965),but he grew disillusioned with Hollywood due to its treatment of his work. Foote went into exile in New Hampshire, but returned to form with "Tomorrow" (1972),an adaptation of William Faulkner's story, which starred Duvall. Foote won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for "Tender Mercies" (1983),which also earned Duvall the Best Actor award.
Later Life and Career:
In the 1970s, Foote presented his nine-play cycle "Orphans' Home," based on his family. He remained active as a dramatist and screenwriter throughout the 1980s and '90s, and in 1995, his play "The Young Man From Atlanta" won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Foote continued to work well into his 90s, winning an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Special in 2001.
