With great sadness, we pay our respects to Oscar and Tony-nominated MTI author Douglas McGrath, who passed away on Thursday, November 4. In 2014, McGrath received a Tony nomination for his book for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Nearly twenty years earlier in 1995, he earned an Oscar nomination for his screenplay for Bullets Over Broadway.
For Beautiful, McGrath interviewed the show's central characters in real life: Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil. Listening to their stories, McGrath vividly brought them to life onstage.
McGrath brought his talent and keen wit to the screen and stage in other works like the 1996 film adaptation of Emma (starring Gwyneth Paltrow), Company Man,Infamous, a stage adaptation of The Age of Innocence, and most recently his solo show Everything's Fine, directed by John Lithgow.
McGrath got his writing career started with Saturday Night Live in 1980 (where he met his wife Jane Martin). In a piece for The New York Times, "Thank you, Saturday Night Live, for Firing Me", McGrath chronicles how this first gig started his lucrative writing careeer in a very unexpected way.
"Doug was an incredible writer, actor, and friend," said MTI president Drew Cohen. "In addition to being a consummate professional, he also happened to be the sharpest, wittiest and most engaging person you could ever hope to have a long lunch with. More than all that, he was a family man, devoted to his wife, Jane, their son, Henry, and his entire family. He will be sorely missed by all of us."
Born and raised in Midland, TX, Douglas McGrath was honored by the Austin Film Society in 2012. In his speech, shown below, his charming knack for storytelling is undeniable. Rest in Peace, Doug.
