Robert Getchell, a renowned screenwriter, was born in 1936 in Kansas City, Missouri, and pursued a degree in English at the University of Missouri in Columbia, graduating in 1965. Prior to his success in the film industry, Getchell worked as a freelance writer and reviewer, honing his craft and laying the foundation for his future endeavors.
His big break came with the screenplay for 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore', which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay in 1974 and a British Film Academy award. This critically acclaimed film was later adapted into a successful television series, 'Alice', which aired from 1976 to 1981 and starred Linda Lavin as Alice and Diane Ladd as Flo. When Ladd departed the show, Polly Holliday took over the role of Flo in later episodes, and Getchell was instrumental in creating a spin-off series, 'Flo', which centered around the character.
Throughout his career, Getchell has explored the complex relationships between parents or parental figures and children or young people in precarious situations, a theme that is evident in many of his films. However, he has also ventured into biopics, such as 'Bound For Glory' and 'Sweet Dreams', which focus on the lives of country music legends.
Despite his success, Getchell's output has been relatively modest due to his "day job" as a teacher of Literature at the University of Missouri and the University of Miami, Ohio, a position he has held since the mid-1990s. This dual role has allowed him to share his passion for storytelling and literature with a new generation of students while continuing to contribute to the world of cinema.