Person Biography:
Joan Micklin Silver was a renowned American film director, screenwriter, and producer, born in 1935 in Omaha, Nebraska. She was the daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants, Maurice David and Doris (Shoshone) Micklin, who founded the Micklin Lumber Company. Silver developed a deep love for movies from an early age, attending local cinemas in Omaha and later studying at Sarah Lawrence College.
After graduating in 1956, she married Raphael D. Silver, and they had three daughters. Silver taught music and wrote plays in Cleveland, where they lived from 1956 to 1967. She worked briefly for the Village Voice and adapted Lois Gould's novel Such Good Friends for Otto Preminger.
Silver's first original screenplay, Limbo, was purchased by Universal Pictures, but she was fired and replaced by James Bridges. She then wrote and directed a series of short films for The Learning Corporation of America, including The Immigrant Experience: The Long Long Journey, which won several awards.
With her husband's support, Silver made her debut feature film, Hester Street, in 1975, which was an independent production and a critical and commercial success. The film was nominated for an Academy Award and won a Best Actress nod for Carol Kane.
Silver continued to direct films, including Between the Lines, Chilly Scenes of Winter, and Finnegan Begin Again, as well as stage productions. Her later films included Crossing Delancey, Loverboy, and Stepkids.
Throughout her career, Silver received numerous awards and nominations, and her films were recognized for their unique perspectives on Jewish culture and experiences. She was a true pioneer in the film industry, breaking ground for women and minority directors.
