Christopher Gore (screenwriter)

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Christopher Gore (born August 10, 1944 in Fort Lauderdale , Florida , † May 18, 1988 in Santa Monica , California ) was an American screenwriter and songwriter .

Life

Gore attended Northwestern University after finishing school . His family owned the Fort Lauderdale News and Sun-Sentinel newspapers until 1963 . After completing his bachelor's degree, he was one of the founders of the Fort Lauderdale Junior Theater in 1960 . One of his first musicals , Mary about Mary Queen of Scots , premiered with Inga Swenson in the title role at the Parker Playhouse in his hometown in November 1967. After further local theater productions, his rock musical Via Galactica was performed on Broadway in 1972. The music was contributed by Galt MacDermot , who had previously celebrated a sensational success with the musical Hair . Via Galactica , however, became a disaster, losing $ 1.2 million.

Gore then received no more Broadway commissions, but continued to write for the theater until he was commissioned with the script for Alan Parker's musical film Fame - The Road to Fame . The cheaply produced film was a huge commercial success and received five Oscar nominations; including one for the best original screenplay . This resulted in the television series of the same name , in which he worked as a story consultant during the first season. He also contributed in 1981 the story of the cartoon - Short Faeries in, for this he was for a Primetime Emmy nomination.

The success of Fame allowed Gore to set up a private business in England . He died at the age of 43 in Santa Monica of complications from cancer and was buried on his English estate.

Filmography (selection)

Broadway

  • 1972: Via Galactica (musical)

Awards

  • 1981: Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay for Fame
  • 1981: Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Individual Achievement - Animated Programming for Faeries
  • 1981: WGA Award nomination in the category Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen for Fame

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Gore, Christopher
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American screenwriter and songwriter
DATE OF BIRTH August 10, 1944
PLACE OF BIRTH Fort Lauderdale , Florida , United States
DATE OF DEATH May 18, 1988
Place of death Santa Monica , California , United States