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Oscar-Winning Screenwriter Jeremy Larner Dies at 88
7 Mar
Summary
- Screenwriter Jeremy Larner, known for 'The Candidate,' has died.
- Larner's screenplay for 'The Candidate' was inspired by McCarthy's campaign.
- He also adapted his novel 'Drive, He Said' into a film.
Jeremy Larner, an Oscar-winning screenwriter whose work captured the essence of political illusion, has died at the age of 88. His most celebrated work, 'The Candidate,' starring Robert Redford, drew directly from his time as a speechwriter for Eugene McCarthy's 1968 presidential campaign.
Larner's screenplay for 'The Candidate' explored the transformation of an idealistic lawyer into a politician. This film was a significant departure from his earlier work, adapting his 1964 novel into the audacious 1971 basketball-centric film 'Drive, He Said,' which marked Jack Nicholson's directorial debut.
Born in Indianapolis in 1937, Larner pursued writing after graduating from Brandeis University. His time covering the 1968 McCarthy campaign led to his acclaimed book and subsequently, the inspiration for 'The Candidate.' He passed away on February 24, 2026, in Oakland, California, after a period of illness.
