Peter Hedges

2.1. Birthplace and Upbringing

Hedges was born in West Des Moines, Iowa, where he was also raised. His mother, Carole Simpson, was a psychotherapist, and his father, the Reverend Robert Boyden Hedges, was an Episcopal priest. When Hedges was young, his mother left, and he was subsequently raised by his single father.
q=West Des Moines, Iowa|position=right

2.2. Education

During his high school years, Hedges attended Valley High School in West Des Moines. There, he was actively involved in the theater department, participating in an improvisational group and a mime troupe known as The Bakers Dozen. Following high school, he pursued higher education in drama at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he earned a BFA degree.

3.1. Novelist

Hedges began his career as a novelist, publishing several notable works that often served as foundations for his later film projects. His debut novel, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, was published in 1991 and later adapted into a critically acclaimed film, which significantly launched his career in the film industry. He followed this with An Ocean in Iowa, published in 1998. His most recent novel, The Heights, was released on March 4, 2010, by Dutton.

3.2. Playwright

In addition to his work as a novelist, Hedges has a substantial career as a playwright, with several of his theatrical works being produced. His plays include Oregon (1984), Champions of the Average Joe (1985), The Age of Pie (1986), Andy and Claire (1986), Teddy by the Sea (1986), Imagining Brad (1988), Baby Anger (1993), and Good as New (1995). A musical adaptation of his novel, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, premiered in 2024.

3.3. Screenwriter

Peter Hedges is widely recognized for his contributions as a screenwriter, often adapting his own novels or co-writing original screenplays that have garnered critical acclaim. He wrote the screenplay for the 1993 film adaptation of his novel, What's Eating Gilbert Grape. He also penned the screenplay for A Map of the World (1999). In 2002, Hedges received an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay nomination for his work on About a Boy, sharing the nomination with Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz. The same year, he wrote and directed Pieces of April, a film starring Katie Holmes that he dedicated to his mother. He co-wrote and directed Dan in Real Life in 2007. In 2012, he co-wrote and directed The Odd Life of Timothy Green, a film based on an idea by Ahmet Zappa and produced by Zappa and Scott Sanders for Walt Disney Pictures. His 2018 film, Ben Is Back, which he wrote and directed, explored the sensitive topic of drug addiction and starred his son Lucas Hedges and Julia Roberts. His most recent screenwriting and directorial effort is The Same Storm (2021).

3.4. Film Director and Producer

Hedges transitioned into film directing and producing, bringing his unique storytelling style to the screen. His directorial debut was with Pieces of April in 2003, for which he also wrote the screenplay. He then directed Dan in Real Life (2007), which he also co-wrote. In 2012, he directed The Odd Life of Timothy Green, again serving as a co-writer. His 2018 film, Ben Is Back, saw him take on the roles of writer, director, and producer, focusing on a contemporary social issue. He continued his work as a writer and director with The Same Storm in 2021.

4.1. Novels

• What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1991)
• An Ocean in Iowa (1998)
• The Heights (2010)

4.2. Plays

• Oregon (1984)
• Champions of the Average Joe (1985)
• The Age of Pie (1986)
• Andy and Claire (1986)
• Teddy by the Sea (1986)
• Imagining Brad (1988)
• Baby Anger (1993)
• Good as New (1995)
• What's Eating Gilbert Grape (Musical) (2024)

4.3. Films

• What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) - writer
• A Map of the World (1999) - writer
• About a Boy (2002) - writer
• Pieces of April (2003) - writer and director
• Dan in Real Life (2007) - co-writer and director
• The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012) - co-writer and director
• Ben Is Back (2018) - writer, director, and producer
• The Same Storm (2021) - writer and director

5.1. Family

Peter Hedges is married to Susan Bruce Titman, a poet. They wed in 1993. The couple has two sons: Simon, who works in private equity in New York, and Lucas Hedges, who is an actor known for his Academy Award-nominated performances.